It has been a long road, but the AADMRT School for x-ray technicians is about ready to begin. As of January 1st, training and education will be available to new students with a desire to become dental x-ray technicians. The schooling will have multiple sections and may take the student up to two years, or as little as one year to complete because the State of California requires technicians to complete this education before a state issued test is given, it was imperative that the AADMRT provide this service to its members by owning all the materials needed.
I recently returned from the Park City meeting, (Duane Perry did a fabulous job with this) where many members came to me and said they have at least one employee that would like to get his or her California limited permit. As the conference went on, more and more members approached me, asking when the training they need for their imaging centers will be available. I began to realize that there is a desperate need for more limited permit technicians in California and, most likely, other states as well.
Right now the AADMRT School Task Force is working out the kinks in the school training curriculum so everything will be ready and available to our members, hence the reason for the January 2005 launch. I am quite sure we will have many applicants to our new and fully accredited school as soon as it is ready. This means that many of you will now be in somewhat of a teaching position, or in other words, a mentor.
Each of us began with a mentor. As a mentor you can help develop and shape another. Being a mentor carries a lot of responsibility. Do you remember when you first started in the field of imaging? Who took you under his or her wing, and remember all the things that person taught you? You listened carefully to what was being taught, trying to understand and grasp as much as possible. You did not want to let your mentor down. You wanted to show them you could not only do the job, but be great at it.
Now that you may have this roll as a mentor, it must be taken very seriously. Show the student everything you know about dental imaging. Encourage them to read articles (back issues of Currents is a great start), encourage research (i.e. computer graphic skills), assist them when they need help, and allow them to make mistakes along the way so they can grow. By teaching these new students everything we know, they may end up brighter, better educated and extremely motivated to excel in the field of dental imaging.
Our own future depends on these new people to take over our rolls. Let?s make a big impression on these minds and demonstrate all we have to offer. Because someday when the student becomes better than the teacher, we have just reaped the greatest reward.