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JRCERT Update

My Journey: Serving on the

JRCERT Board of Directors

Debra Poelhuis, MS, R.T.(R)(M)

he Joint Review Committee on Education in Baptism by Fire
Radiologic Technology staff asked me to write When I first joined the board, the process for review-
about my time on the JRCERT Board of ing accreditation documents was not as automated
TDirectors, 2009 through 2015. I am honored to or technologically enhanced as it is now. Before my
share my recollections of what was a tremendously first meeting, I received 2 boxes filled with self-study
rewarding experience for me. reports, interim reports, progress reports, and substan-
tive changes. My instructions were to read them all,
An Opportunity to Give Back make notes, mail them back, and be ready to discuss
As I advanced through my career, which spans nearly them at the board meeting in Chicago—a real baptism
44 years, I always looked for something to keep me by fire! Eventually, we started receiving reports on flash
captivated and engaged in the profession I so love. I drives, then on our tablets and computers via links to
learned multiple imaging modalities, earned a master’s the JRCERT Web site.
degree, coauthored 2 textbooks, and held positions in The board also moved from having 2 meetings a
professional organizations. Maybe most importantly, I year, both of which were face-to-face in Chicago, to
met some wonderful colleagues and guided numerous augmenting them with monthly meetings held via
students into this career, with many of them becoming webinar. The meetings in Chicago entailed interact-
great friends. ing with JRCERT staff, dealing with the business and
When the call went out from the American Society financial aspects of the JRCERT, evaluating the chief
of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) in 2008 seeking executive officer, assisting with personnel issues, con-
candidates for nomination to the JRCERT Board of ducting strategic planning, interviewing prospective
Directors, I decided to throw my hat into the ring. I board members, reviewing program documents, and
was well aware of the JRCERT, as I had been a program determining final accreditation awards.
director for 18 years. I knew many of the JRCERT staff
as well as its chief executive officer. Being active in the My Experiences on the Board
ASRT, I also knew individuals who had served on the Board appointments are for 3 years, with a pos-
JRCERT board. I felt as if I had something more to offer sible extension for an additional 3 years. I served
my profession, and it was the right time in my career to 6 years, moving from first vice chair to chair my
serve in this capacity. So, needless to say, when I ulti- final year. My predecessor, Deborah Gay Utz, MEd,
mately was selected by the JRCERT for appointment as R.T.(R), radiography program director at Gadsden
a director, I was excited, albeit a little nervous. State Community College, Gadsden, Alabama, was

RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY, March/April 2016, Volume 87, Number 4 447
Reprinted with permission from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists for educational purposes. ©2019. All rights reserved.