National Radiologic Technology Week

National Radiologic Technology Week (NRTW) 2024 will be celebrated Nov. 3-9. This year’s theme is "It’s time for us to be seen."

This week of recognition honors the vital work of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.

Roentgen was a German physicist who was experimenting with cathode rays in a darkened laboratory. He was using a cathode ray tube, a glass tube that contains a gas at low pressure and has electrodes at either end. When an electric current passes through the tube, it produces a glowing light inside.

Roentgen noticed that even though the cathode ray tube was sealed in a dark room and shielded with black cardboard, a fluorescent screen across the room began to glow. Roentgen posited that some invisible form of energy was being emitted from the tube.

The curious scientist found that this invisible radiation could pass through various materials, including wood and paper, but not dense objects like metals or bones. Feeling sure that there was some kind of rays emanating from the tube, Roentgen called them "X-rays," using "X" to indicate an unknown type of radiation. This groundbreaking discovery rocked the scientific community -- and many other fields.

In a famous experiment, he placed his wife's hand between the rays and a photographic plate, producing an image of her bones and wedding ring.

Medical imaging was one of the first practical applications for X-rays. The first medical X-ray was taken shortly after Roentgen's discovery, showing the broken bones of Roentgen's wife, Anna. X-Rays revolutionized medicine by allowing physicians to look inside the human body without surgery.

Roentgen's discovery earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.

Rad techs use X-rays, CT Scans, MRIs, and other modalities to produce imaging that helps accurately diagnose illnesses, injuries, and abnormalities. Apart from imaging, some radiology techs assist in treatment procedures like radiation therapy for cancer patients or image-guided surgeries, providing precise imaging to guide interventions. They make sure that safety is always at the forefront of every procedure, and their expertise with complex equipment is extremely valuable.

Let's not forget to thank our friendly neighborhood Rad Techs during this celebratory week. They not only provide technical expertise needed for medical care, but also bring compassion and professionalism, making them invaluable members of the patient care team.