UCSD Medical Center

The San Diego Community College District at the San Diego Mesa College site offers a 24-month Radiologic Technology Program. The University of California Medical Center is a Clinical Affiliate with San Diego Mesa College and is one of eight clinical training sites in the San Diego Community.
 
The Radiologic Technology Program is part of the Community Allied Health Programs and students should apply through the Special Admissions Office by contacting the San Diego Mesa College Special Programs Admissions Clerk in the Admission's Office (619) 388-2684. Eligibility of enrollment in this program is determined by a special admission procedure.

 The Radiologic Technology Program administered through San Diego Mesa College has been serving the San Diego Community for over 30 years and during that time has graduated approximately 900 - 1000 students. The "Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology" and the "California Department of Health Sciences" accredit this program.
 
The successful completion of the Radiologic Technology Program qualifies the student to sit for the national certification examination given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Successful completion of this examination provides the student with both a national certification and also the required California State License "Certified Radiologic Technologist" (CRT).
 
This Radiologic Technology Program serves as the basic prerequisite for many of the advanced Imaging Training Programs housed at The UCSD Medical Center: Sonography, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Oncology.

 

The Radiologic Technology Program is an intensive 24-month program that strives to provide excellence in radiography education. The student's time is divided between didactic ides at San Diego Mesa College and clinical hours at their assigned clinical site. By the conclusion of the 24-month training program the student will have 2025 hours of clinical training/practice.
The UCSD Medical Center as well as the other clinical affiliates offers a wide variety of clinical experiences for the student radiographer. The student will have active clinical assignments in all aspects of General Diagnostic Radiology: fluoroscopy, thorax, upper and lower extremities, spines and pelvis, abdomen and GI/GU tract, head and neck, surgical procedures, pediatric procedures, trauma and emergency radiology and mobile/portable exams. In addition to the General Diagnostic training they may have elective rotations in other more advanced imaging modalities such as Computed Assisted Tomography, Angio/Interventional, Nuclear Medicine, Sonography, Radiation Therapy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The UCSD Medical Center is a major clinical affiliate with San Diego Mesa College and accepts up to six students as a home base for direct clinical training each year. In addition The UCSD Medical Center is the major clinical training site for trauma and mammography for the entire San Diego Mesa Program.

The UCSD Medical Center, Department of Radiology has seven imaging divisions, two hospital sites and two free standing clinics and is staffed by approximately 70 technologists, 70 staff radiologists and physicists, 34 physicians residents and fellows in radiology plus other ancillary personnel. The department performs more then 180,000 radiographic examinations/procedures annually. There are 60 imaging units that incorporate the newest technology including electronic imaging (PACS) available to better serve patients and the community. The department strives to maintain a friendly, personal and efficient approach to patient care.

This is a set curriculum for a certificate program in radiology. A grade of C or better is required in all radiology courses. The student may add general education ides to meet the requirements for an AS degree.

First Semester (Fall)
RADT 105 Basic Radiologic Technology
RADT 130 Patient Care
RADT 199 Radiographic Positioning I
RADT 251A Directed Clinical Practice

Second Semester (Spring)
RADT 110 Recording Media and Processing
RADT 120A Radiographic Exposure
RADT 120B Radiographic Exposure Laboratory
RADT 200 Radiographic Positioning II
RADT 251B Directed Clinical Practice

First Summer
RADT 252 A Directed Clinical Practice

Third Semester (Fall)
RADT 211 Radiographic Positioning III
RADT 220 Radiographic Technique
RADT 230 Radiologic Science
RADT 252B Directed Clinical Practice

Fourth Semester (Spring)
RADT 240 Radiation Biology
RADT 241 Sectional Anatomy
RADT 243 CT and MRI Imaging
RADT 253A              Directed Clinical Practice

Second Summer
RADT 253B              Directed Clinical Practice
RADT 242 Organization of Radiology
RADT 248 Mammography I (Optional)

Constantly (66% - 100%) be required to:  Stand, walk, see, talk, reach, hear, feel, handle, push/pull greater than 50 lbs.

Frequently (34% - 65%) be required to :  Finger, bend/stoop, kneel/squat, and lift-21 - 50lbs., carry up to 20 lbs..

Occasional (1% - 33%) is required to :  sit, crawl, climb, lift over 50 lbs., and carry over 50 lbs.

Students must maintain a "C" averages at all time throughout the program.
Students are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
Students are required to follow all San Diego Mesa College Policies and all the policies of their assigned clinical hospital/site.
Students are expected to arrive on time and attend all scheduled ides and clinical rotations unless you obtained an approve absence.


Students who complete the Radiologic Technology Program from San Diego Mesa College will receive a Certification Certificate in Radiology.

They are also eligible to sit for the National Test American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT). Many of the clinical sites including The UCSD Medical Center provide the students with a Program Complication Certificate for the Clinical Portion of their training.

The San Diego Community College District determines tuition and fees. This information is available through the Special Admissions Office at San Diego Mesa College (619 388-2684).

Students do not receive stipends from their assigned clinical sites.

This is a time intensive program. Course times and clinical assignments are developed within a set schedule. Students should be financially prepared before entering the program. A student should not expect to engage in any substantial amount of part-time employment. However, some students choose to work but their work hours need to be arranged around the program schedule.

Prerequisites
Completion of the following prerequisites (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of "C" or better is required.
1.  Biology 160, Human Anatomy & Physiology (4 semester units) within
the last five (5) years.

2.  Computer Business Technology 180, Microsoft Office (2 semester
units).
 
B. Competence in Mathematics
 
1. Obtain a skill level of 4.0 on the Mathematics Assessment test.
2. Or, contact college-counseling service for recommended math or
 business courses that demonstrate competency. A grade of "C" or
better is required.
 
C. Career Exploration
 
To receive credit for these requirements, the applicant will complete a minimum of 50 hours of actual experience in a medical imaging department. Direct experience includes any activity that requires direct care, handling or transporting of radiology patients. Experience in ancillary imaging modalities such as sonography, MRI, or CT also meets the requirement.
 
The UCSD Medical Center requires all pre-radiology students that need "Career Exploration" to apply at the Volunteer Office (619 543-6370). The Volunteer Office is the keeper of records for these required hours of "Career Exploration" and will send a letter directly to the Special Admissions Office at San Diego Mesa College.

3-Step Admission Process:
 
* APPLY AT SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE, SPECIAL ADMISSIONS CLERK
 1. To begin, submit an application to the special admission clerk in 1-400 at
 San Diego Mesa College.

2. As prerequisites are completed with documentation and career exploration is
 also documented, add to the application.

3. When the application is complete (A,B, & C above), the applicant will receive
the priority number for the available id waiting lists. (Fall 2002, Fall 2003,
& Fall 2004) Documentation indicating completion of entrance requirements
 must be submitted before a priority number on the waiting list can be issued.

Please refer to the San Diego Mesa College web page for additional
information

http://www.intergate.sdmesa.sdccd.cc.ca.us/Welcome.shtml


on the application process or call the San Diego Mesa College
Special Admissions Clerk at (619 388-2684).
 
Clinical sites for Radiology Students enrolled in the San Diego Mesa College Radiologic Technology Program are assigned by a lottery system. Clinical affiliates' ability to accept students is limited to their resources and available technical staff.
 
The UCSD Medical Center is approved to accept up to six (6) students in each id for their Clinical Training.

Please inquire at San Diego Mesa College, Special Admissions Office
(619 388-2684) to apply to the Radiology Program.

If you would like to do your "Career Exploration" at UCSD Medical Center, please contact the Volunteer Office at (619 543-6370). Inform them that you are a pre-radiology student and need to have volunteer hours in the Department of Radiology.

Please do not call the Radiology Department directly.