Meet Your Fellow Members
This series celebrates the people behind the profession and offers an opportunity to learn from and connect with MRTs working in a wide range of settings from coast to coast! Every Monday, we’ll introduce you to a different medical radiation technologist from somewhere across Canada.
| Know someone we should highlight? Let us know at maiello@camrt.ca |
This week’s member spotlight is Brad Barr RT(MR).
Can you describe your current role and area of practice within medical radiation technology?
My current role is Senior MRI Technologist at Boundary Trails Health Centre.
What originally led you to pursue a career as an MRT?
Growing up, I had a brother who had a lot of health problems. We were in and out of hospitals for many years, and I always knew I wanted to be able to help out in some way. Once I learned more about MRI, I quickly realized that this would be the perfect spot in health care for me.
What does a typical day look like for you in your department or clinic?
In a typical day at BTHC, we are always trying to get as many patients scanned in a day to help reduce the MRI wait times as much as possible. We recently upgraded to a new scanner with improved software that allows us to nearly double our patient output, and some days allow us to scan up to 60 patients in a day.
What advice would you give to new MRTs entering the profession today?
Some advice I would give to new MRTs entering the field is that you are joining at a great time. I know that’s not exactly “advice,” but in Manitoba, especially, we are in need of more MRI technologists throughout the province, and the advancements in MRI are being seen and put into practice in real time. MRI specifically is changing; what once was known as a slower pace modality has changed into a faster pace/In and out modality.
We have the opportunity to really make a difference in patient care by reducing scan times and wait times, which can speed up the time for patients to have access to surgeries or physiotherapy.
What aspects of your work do you find most rewarding?
I find it very rewarding when we can see the gratitude by patients. Some patients end up waiting so long for their exams, and to see the hard work we put in to get their exams done in a reasonable time makes it all worth it. This can be a very thankless job, but getting the thanks and appreciation from patients makes it worth it.
What is your favourite part about being an MRT?
Some of my favourite things about being a MRT would be the ability to help improve patients’ lives. Being able to help people in my community. I have also really enjoyed the advancements in technology over the past few years. In MRI, we have seen quite a bit of improvement, and being one of the first sites in Manitoba to experience these changes has been very exciting.
I am glad that MRI is a field that seems to constantly be changing. And that there will always be new and exciting advancements in the field.