Survey of R.T.s with doctorates: barriers to conducting research.

Background: In today's health care environment, the need to attract and retain doctorate-holding radiologic science practitioners and provide them the tools and resources necessary to pursue professional research funding and publication cannot be underestimated. To date, however, there have been few studies on the possible barriers that interfere with both research and professional publishing among these highly educated individuals. A review of the literature reveals that the overall lack of research and professional publishing by radiologic science professionals holding doctorates can itself become a barrier in that low academic productivity is associated with a perceived lack of professionalism, lack of respect from external health professions and the lack of creation of new knowledge.

New hybrid online graduate program in medical imaging graduates its first class of students.

According to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), the current shortage of radiologic technologists (RTs) will continue to grow and by 2010, when many RTs are expected to retire from the profession, there will be an estimated 24,000 vacancies. In response to the shortage of RTs, The MGH Institute of Health Professions has developed a fast-track hybrid online graduate program in medical imaging (MI) which is geared toward bachelor degree prepared students who are seeking to make a career change. By targeting bachelor prepared students, the Institute seeks to attract academically mature students who will make a sustaining contribution to the field of radiologic science.