Lake Elmo/Woodbury Radiologic Technology Program Coordinator’s Passion for the Field Drove Her to Teach
When Crystal Bromeling, Rasmussen College Radiologic Technology program coordinator, was in high school, she knew she wanted to work in the healthcare field someday. While she wanted to work with patients, being a nurse or doctor did not interest her; she was looking for something different. During her research, she found she was interested in X-rays. While she knew what X-rays were, she did not appreciate all of the science and hard work that goes into the profession. Even though she did not know a lot about the field, her interest was piqued, and she chose to pursue her degree in Radiology after graduating high school. Once in school, she realized how many vast opportunities a degree in Radiology would afford her, and she fell in love with the field—a love that has only grown throughout her career.
Radiologic Technology (Rad Tech) is a field where every day is different and the technology is always changing. “The degree is just the starting point. There are so many certifications and fields technologists can branch into, such as mammography, CT or cardiology,” Bromeling said.
After becoming a registered rad tech and earning her certifications in radiology and mammography, Bromeling knew she wanted to become an educator. “I am very passionate about my profession. Over the years I have seen the misconceptions of what an X-ray tech does, and the importance of having qualified radiologic technologists in the healthcare field. I wanted to teach others about the importance of this dynamic field,” she said.
In 2015, Bromeling became the Rad Tech program coordinator at the Rasmussen College Lake Elmo/Woodbury campus. “The way the Rasmussen College program is designed truly supports the profession and allows students to work on their own time through online and blended courses. The extensive and rigorous clinical experiences prepare students for a variety of specializations they can pursue after graduation,” said Bromeling.
To continue to advance and grow in the field, Bromeling joined the Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists (MSRT). MSRT was founded in 1938 to advance the radiation and imaging field, establish high standards of education and training, elevate patient care and advocate for rad techs across the state. Seeing the passion of other professionals only made her excitement for the field grow. Being a part of MSRT allowed Bromeling to cultivate her leadership skills and network with other professionals. The relationships she built with MSRT helps aid her students as she develops new clinical partnership connections.
This September, Bromeling was instated as the president of MSRT, a title she graciously and proudly accepted. With her new position, she hopes to grow membership and volunteers, giving a voice to all radiologic technologists across the state. She aims to continue to lobby for valuable legislation—a topic she is passionate about. As a technologist in Minnesota, Bromeling says, the field has become threatened by Department of Health standards allowing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to order, perform and diagnose X-rays. As an advocate for the health, safety and livelihood of patients and rad techs, Bromeling has been on the forefront of pushing for stronger legislation to protect the field and all those impacted by it. Her belief in the importance of highly trained rad tech professionals drives her work.
Seeing students light up when they make the connections from their classwork to their lab work and eventually to their clinical experiences excites Bromeling and compels her to do more for her students. She says, “My students are everything, I am so proud of the work they do to elevate and advance this profession.”
Learn more about the Rasmussen College Radiologic Technology Associate’s degree program.
