April Apple

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1 year 5 weeks

Profile

Country and place of work

Duke Sports Medicine, Duke Health Systems, Durham, North Carolina, USA

How long have you been a radiographer?

20+ years.

Where did you train?

In the capital of our state, Raleigh North Carolina in a small (150 bed) private hospital.

How long was your training?

2 years.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The people. I work in an orthopaedic sports medicine clinic. I love the doctors, they are a great group to work with, I love seeing the patients get better each time they come in. We also cover American football games, our clinic is in the press box of the Duke University football stadium on the 50 yard line.

What is the most challenging/difficult part of your job and why?

I guess trying to get images on patients that can not get into the position very well due to pain or movement restrictions.

How many patients do you help each week approximately?

We radiograph approximately 35-40 patients a day, so around 200-250 per week.

What is the most memorable or happiest moment of your radiography career and why?

Having my mother install me as president of our state x-ray society. She is also a technologist and it was a very special moment for us.

If you could change or improve one thing about your working life, what would it be?

The lack of recognition of the diagnostic technologists in the USA as an integral part of the radiology team. In the US, the diagnostic technologist is considered the bottom rung of the ladder. I consider them the back-bone of the profession.

Have you ever worked as a radiographer outside your home country? If not, have you considered it?

I have not and yes I have considered it, was just too timid to take that giant leap outside of my comfort zone.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a radiographer?

It’s been a great profession for me. Know that you can move into different areas of interest. Get the four year degree, it will open more doors in the long run, and have fun! There are so many things you can do. I personally would love to get involved in radiography of art or antiquities. That would be a great challenge and very interesting. I x-rayed some rare books once, and thought it was really cool.

How do you see the role of the radiographer/technologist developing in the future?

The sky is the limit. Technologies are changing so quickly there is no telling where we will be 20, or even 50, years from now.