'Careers in Radiography' is topic for latest 'Tomorrow Makers' podcast

Camping cats? Radiography vs. radiology? Physics in radiography? Christine L. Eckenrod, director of radiography, talks about all of these things and more in “Careers in Radiography,” the latest episode of the “Tomorrow Makers” podcast.

Eckenrod has spent 40 years in the field of medical imaging, a passion that was fueled by the simple desire to help people, the option to do so without being exposed to some of the gorier aspects that come along with the medical field, the excitement of the profession and the science behind it all.

“No two patients are exactly alike,” she said. “No two patients can do the exact same thing for you to get the images that you need. So, you just really have to use critical thinking. The whole creation of X-rays is all physics. It’s understanding the atom, the interactions between electrons and the atom to create X-rays, the interactions between the X-ray photons, then, and the patient’s tissue. There’s a lot of science behind the angles that we use.”

Radiography is a primary pathway to the much bigger world of radiology. Radiography, she said, is simply an X-ray, while radiology encompasses all medical imaging, including CT scans, MRI, radiation therapy, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and interventional medicine.

Eckenrod continues to discuss careers in radiography and much more, including how her cats, Moira and Lucky, are more than happy to pack up their tent for the family’s glamping excursions.

Catch up on past episodes on the “Tomorrow Makers” podcast site: www.pct.edu/podcast. Share your podcast ideas by email.