Past, Present, and Future: ARRT Celebrates 100th Anniversary

On Nov. 12, at ARRT’s headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, current and former staff members joined members of the ARRT Board of Trustees to mark ARRT’s centennial anniversary.

Banners highlighted important people and events in the history of radiologic technology, including:

• Sister Mary Beatrice Merrigan, ARRT’s first Registered Technologist (R.T.), 1922
• Rose Marie Pegues, R.N., the first Black R.T., 1936
• Erminda R. Clarke, R.T., the first woman to serve on the ARRT Board of Trustees, 1943

Attendees enjoyed history presentations and a demonstration of how virtual reality could assess performance in a simulated environment.

Board President Travis Prowant, M.S.H.S., R.R.A., R.T.(R)(CV)(CT)(ARRT), FASRT, emphasized the efforts R.T.s made as essential health care providers during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also thanked ARRT staff for their efforts to support R.T.s across the country. For example, staff transformed many paper processes into digital applications, making it easier for candidates and R.T.s to do business with us from remote environments.

Finally, attendees had a chance to thank Jerry Reid, Ph.D., who will retire as CEO on Dec. 31, 2022, for his efforts over 44 years with the organization. They also welcomed incoming CEO Dr. Liana Watson, D.M., R.T.(R)(M)(S)(BS)(ARRT), RDMS, RVT, PMP, FASRT, CAE.

All R.T.s can share in celebrating our anniversary by visiting the centennial page on our website to learn more about our history and to take part in our #R.T.sAreMore social media campaign. Watch your mailbox for a special centennial edition of Stories magazine, which includes a farewell Q&A session with Reid.