Nuclear Medicine Technology program
Undergrad majorJoin the field of precision medicine.
Do you want to provide doctors with the data and images to help them diagnose and manage disease?
Nuclear Medicine Technologists work on the cutting edge of the radiology field to more precisely diagnose and treat patients with diseases from cancer to Parkinson’s. These healthcare professionals work with a growing number of radiopharmaceuticals and high-tech imaging instruments to help pinpoint health problems.
If you would like an active career where no two days are the same and your objective is caring for and treating patients, this may be the right career for you. UW-La Crosse’s accredited program offers three years of solid academic and laboratory preparation at UWL and one year of internship experience at a partnering clinical site.
Nuclear medicine technologist jobs
Employment of nuclear medicine technologists has seen dramatic growth over the past 30 years as new radiopharmaceuticals and imaging technologies are continually developed. Employment of NMTs is expected to grow 5 % from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
After completing a nuclear medicine technology bachelor’s degree program, students must pass the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board exam, to become a certified nuclear medicine technologist (CNMT).
With this certification, graduates can work anywhere in the world with a variety of career routes. Most become practicing nuclear medicine technologists who work with patients in a healthcare setting, but other routes are available in industry and government.
Positions
- Nuclear medicine technologist
- Quality assurance specialist
- Radiation safety officer
- Education
- Data Analyst
What is Nuclear Medicine?
You’ve likely have heard of an X-Ray, CT scan or MRI. These are only a few of the tools used to visualize what’s happening inside of a patient’s body. A nuclear medicine technologist uses not only images, but also radiopharmaceuticals — radioisotopes bound to biological molecules — that trace the function of a particular spot in the body whether in the lungs, heart, kidney or other areas. Nuclear medicine technology professionals work with a team of doctors, nurses and technologists to diagnose and treat patients. Nuclear medical procedures are safe, both for the patient and the technologist.
What distinguishes UWL’s Nuclear Medicine Technologist program?
UWL’s program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT).
The instructor for pre-professional courses managed a nuclear medicine department for 14 years and served as an active NMT for 23 years. Clinical Assistant Professor Aileen Staffaroni is also active in the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) at the regional and national level.
Graduating students of UWL’s Nuclear Medicine Technology program find work in the field. For the past seven years, the program has had 100 % placement of students in related careers.
Students have access to a nuclear lab where they use instrumentation and radioisotopes that are used at clinical internship sites.
UWL’s program is possible through partnerships with clinical internship sites at UW Health in Madison; Gundersen Health System in La Crosse; and Fairview in Minneapolis. Students also have the flexibility to choose additional locations for clinical internships at Mayo School of Health Science in Rochester; Northwestern Medicine School of Nuclear Medicine Technology in Chicago; Marshfield Clinic Nuclear Medicine Technology Program; Aurora Health Care’s Nuclear Medicine Technology Program in Milwaukee; and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
UWL has an internship partnership program that is available to those students who are interested in preparing for careers in NMT in industry. Siemens Medical Solutions offers an internship to graduates of the program, preparing students to enter industry careers.