WEBVTT 00:00:03.712 --> 00:00:07.048 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:78% I'm Corporal Michelle Ferderbar from Windsor, Ontario, 00:00:07.048 --> 00:00:10.969 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% a Medical Radiation Technologist posted to CFB Petawawa. 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:16.224 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% Being a Medical Radiation Technologist, or M Rad Tech, 00:00:16.224 --> 00:00:19.519 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% in the Canadian Armed Forces is an incredibly challenging combination 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:22.689 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:95% of technology, travel, and deployment. 00:00:22.689 --> 00:00:25.692 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% As part of the Canadian Armed Forces Health Services team, 00:00:25.692 --> 00:00:30.029 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% Medical Radiation Technologists work in modern diagnostic imaging facilities; 00:00:30.029 --> 00:00:32.991 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% in X-ray suites aboard Royal Canadian Navy ships; 00:00:32.991 --> 00:00:36.995 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% and in field hospitals on deployments and humanitarian missions around the world. 00:00:37.662 --> 00:00:43.376 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% A Medical Radiation Technologist in the Canadian Armed Forces does a variety of things 00:00:43.376 --> 00:00:48.131 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% including X-rays, ultrasounds, and computed tomography, 00:00:48.131 --> 00:00:50.425 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:90% depending on where you're posted to. 00:00:50.425 --> 00:00:56.681 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% So here I am typically in charge of entering an examination when a patient comes, 00:00:56.681 --> 00:01:01.478 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% explaining what's going to be happening, and then performing the X-ray, 00:01:01.478 --> 00:01:03.938 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:105% as well as doing the paperwork afterwards. 00:01:05.064 --> 00:01:08.943 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% Wherever they go, M Rad Techs serve Canada's soldiers, sailors 00:01:08.943 --> 00:01:13.239 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% and Air Force personnel with state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment. 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:17.076 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% They must also participate in maintenance of clinical readiness skills programs. 00:01:17.452 --> 00:01:22.415 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% A big piece that we don't do here in the Canadian Armed Forces clinics 00:01:22.415 --> 00:01:26.961 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% is the operating room where you get to use fluoroscopy 00:01:26.961 --> 00:01:31.424 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% and since we don't have that capability here, we go to civilian hospitals 00:01:31.424 --> 00:01:35.303 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:63% and get to practise that, and maintain our skill. 00:01:36.012 --> 00:01:39.140 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% In the Forces - and especially in field trauma settings - 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:43.019 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% M Rad Techs are interacting one-on-one with clinicians and specialists, 00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:45.396 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:70% and are a critical part of the Health Services team. 00:01:45.730 --> 00:01:50.610 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% While we are working in the clinic, we work very regular hours, Monday to Friday. 00:01:50.610 --> 00:01:55.281 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% However, on deployment and on operations, that's a very different story. 00:01:55.281 --> 00:01:59.911 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% You are on call and ready to assist whenever something might happen. 00:01:59.911 --> 00:02:02.038 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:75% So trauma happens - you're it. 00:02:02.038 --> 00:02:05.458 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:95% And that is quite the adrenaline rush. 00:02:08.253 --> 00:02:13.132 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% I wrote a paper on diagnostic reference levels in computed tomography 00:02:13.132 --> 00:02:19.013 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% and this paper was published in the Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal. 00:02:19.013 --> 00:02:24.060 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% And a few months ago, I couldn't believe it - I had my first citation, 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:29.232 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% which means that my investigation was relevant enough that someone said 00:02:29.232 --> 00:02:32.485 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% "Wow! We're going to use it as the basis of what we're going to do here 00:02:32.485 --> 00:02:35.405 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:95% at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto." 00:02:39.492 --> 00:02:42.120 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% Once they complete their military and occupational training, 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:46.499 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% M Rad Techs get posted to a Canadian Armed Forces Health Services clinic. 00:02:46.499 --> 00:02:50.336 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% During their military careers, M Rad Techs will have the opportunity to take courses 00:02:50.336 --> 00:02:53.756 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% in advanced specialties, including computerized tomography 00:02:53.756 --> 00:02:57.093 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:75% and, if selected, diagnostic medical ultrasound. 00:02:57.594 --> 00:03:03.016 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% When you join the Canadian Armed Forces, there's so much continuing education opportunities, 00:03:03.016 --> 00:03:06.519 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:78% especially within the medical radiation sciences. 00:03:06.519 --> 00:03:12.150 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% So if you have an interest in learning computed tomography theory and physics, 00:03:12.150 --> 00:03:15.987 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% there's courses that we have approved funding for, and we can take those. 00:03:16.154 --> 00:03:19.616 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% If a part-time job is all you're looking for, there are also opportunities 00:03:19.616 --> 00:03:23.286 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% to serve as a Medical Radiation Technologist with the Health Services Reserves. 00:03:26.998 --> 00:03:30.835 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% The technology that's associated with X-rays, l love how X-rays work, 00:03:30.835 --> 00:03:33.880 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:90% the physics behind it is incredible. 00:03:33.880 --> 00:03:40.720 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% I love that there's so much that we can still learn, and every day I take an X-ray, 00:03:40.720 --> 00:03:43.348 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:73% I mean, how many chest X-rays have I taken in my career, 00:03:43.348 --> 00:03:46.100 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% but there's still so many things to learn about it. 00:03:48.311 --> 00:03:55.944 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% I've done so much more than what a typical M Rad Tech does in a civilian facility. 00:03:55.944 --> 00:03:58.321 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:93% I would recommend this job to anyone.