the weekly source for radiology professionals

The Benefits of Online Continuing Education

I have worked in the field of medical imaging for over 25 years and it is amazing how quickly the technology and clinical applications have changed, particularly for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. The fast growth and increasing complexity of medical imaging technology means that everyone involved in this field must remain current in order to compete.

Web-based Online education is a simple, cost-effective way for you as a busy imaging professional to obtain the mandatory continuing education (CE) credits you need in order to maintain your certification. The beauty of online education is that it can be done anywhere and anytime that is convenient for you, during breaks at work or at home. I love it because it is easy and convenient, no travel is involved, and all you need is an internet connection. Online education can also be fun because it caters to a variety of different learning styles. You can find self-directed courses that you do at your own pace or webcasts and archived lectures if you enjoy listening to a speaker such as you would in a classroom environment. There are also interactive tutorials for those that like visual simulation and exercises that are designed to help with learning and retention. Many online courses contain images, animations, video, interactive movies and quizzes. I particularly love tutorials with medical case studies and images. And don't worry; the online platforms are also easy-to-use.

There are a wide variety of courses that are available online today which cover clinical and department topics that are relevant to you and your specialty or modality. Besides using web-based online education for recertification, you can also find courses on subject matter and imaging modalities that could help you to plan your career path. Online educational courses are developed by leading subject-matter experts with content structured to support the evolving role of the practicing technologist. You can choose from subjects such as anatomy and physiology, radiology, radiation therapy, cardiology, nuclear medicine, mammography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, as well as management or business-oriented subjects. You can also learn more about different diseases and conditions that affect our patients.

Visit and register for free at: The Online Learning Center

First Post

In what kind of setting do you practice? Please describe what it's likeworking in that kind of setting.

I work for Philips Medical Systems, a global leader in diagnostic imaging systems, healthcare information technology solutions, and patient monitoring and cardiac devices. Philips is a wonderful company to work for and for two years I have worked as an Online Course Developer. I work out of a home office in Connecticut which is challenging at times but it has also been a lot of fun.

How/why did you get into your particular field?
My love for medical imaging, combined with being able to develop learning tutorials, as well as work with other talented authors is a wonderful and fun way to earn a living. Educating allied health professionals, such as technologists, sonographers, nurses and other medical professionals and helping them to maintain and obtain their continuing education requirements is a rewarding and important role of the Philips Learning Center.

What are your greatest professional accomplishments thus far?
Thus far, I have developed 16 courses for the Learning Center including a five-part series on anatomy, physiology and pathology using MRI and CT. Inspiring technologists to continue learning is a great accomplishment for me.


What are your professional goals for the future? I plan to continue to develop educational courses for allied health professionals and I look forward to developing new skills in e-learning and instructional design that will engage and motivate the learner.

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