It is National Radiologic Technology Week! Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Radiologic Technologist

Meet Peter Burghardt

What has your career journey been like and where do you work?
I've been an X-ray tech since 1993, then started in leadership roles in 2003. I came to Bassett as a manager in 2005. Now I oversee the medical imaging departments in Oneonta, Delhi, Cobleskill, and Sidney.

Why do you enjoy what you do?
I've always wanted to help people. I was very motivated to choose this field because of the technology. CT scan, MRI, and X-ray are really interesting technologies and those drew me in.

I am also very much a people person and love working with different people. I'm part of a great team and we bounce different ideas off one another. We keep the energy alive and keep things fun at work every day. When you're enjoying what you do, it's not like you're really working, it's like being with your second family.

Meet Lisa Webster

What do you do?
I've been an X-ray tech since 1980! Over the years I've expanded to CT, mammography, nuclear medicine, and now I'm supervisor for multiple areas.

Tell me about CT scanning. Why might someone see you for that?
CT scans are 3D cross sectional imaging performed to see a wide range of conditions throughout the body from head to toe. Looking for medical issues such as strokes, trauma, cancer, fractures, just to name a few.

Why do you enjoy what you do?
I love this field - I love helping people. In my more recent years, I've enjoyed working with students. I hire lots of students from training programs across our area who come to our sites for their clinicals. It is great to invest in both young people's lives and in Bassett's future. It's been a fantastic career for 46 years.

Meet Donna VonDauber

Where do you work?
I do mammograms in the Clinic Building in Cooperstown and X-rays at Hamilton-Madison Health Center.

Why do you enjoy what you do?
Lots of people in my family are in healthcare. I wanted to carry on that tradition, but I didn't want to be a nurse. Being able to take pictures to help people is what brought me to radiology.

Meet Aaron Rothe

Where do you work?
I work within the Nuclear Medicine Department at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, NY.

Why might someone see you?
Patients come to Nuclear Medicine for a variety of diagnostic imaging procedures that help physicians evaluate how different organs and systems in the body are functioning. We use small amounts of radioactive tracers to obtain images that help diagnose, monitor, and guide treatment for many different medical conditions.

Why do you enjoy what you do?
I enjoy being able to make a difference in people's lives. I enjoy the combination of technology, patient care, and problem-solving that nuclear medicine offers. Every patient and every day brings something different, which keeps my job interesting and rewarding. I especially enjoy helping patients feel comfortable, answering their questions, and knowing that the work we do helps physicians make important decisions about their care.

Meet Katrina Caringi

Where do you work?
I work in Cooperstown and Cobleskill. I'm a multi-modality tech, so I do X-ray, bone densitometry, and mammography.

Why might someone see you for bone densitometry?
DEXA scanning is essential for osteoporosis assessment. It helps us know how strong your bones are so we can estimate your risk of having fractures in the future - hopefully to prevent them.

Why do you enjoy what you do?
It is very satisfying to complete a high-quality exam because I know it will help the reader's assessment, aid in their diagnosis, and ultimately improve outcomes for the patient. Plus, I work with some really incredible people. It's always a joy to come to work every day.

Meet Rob Kucharski

Where do you work?
I do vascular ultrasound, mostly at Hartwick Seminary and then Cobleskill on Tuesdays.

Why might someone see you?
Vascular ultrasound looks into the veins and arteries in the body. It's useful for a lot of different reasons. We examine arteries to check the circulation in your the neck, legs, arms, and abdomen; and check for aneurysms, especially in the abdominal aorta. We look for blood clots in the veins. We measure the size of veins to prepare for arterial and coronary bypass surgeries. We also check for pseudo aneurysms, which is an injury to an artery and abnormal pooling of blood in the tissue.

Why do you enjoy what you do?
I enjoy helping people. I enjoy being with people. My patients can be pretty fun.

Meet Sam Hempstead

Where do you work?
I work at OSS - Oneonta Specialty Services.

What sort of Rad Tech are you?
I do X-ray.

Is there anything interesting about your job that you think people would like to know?
X-rays can show more than people think. Patients come in asking, "This is only going to show my bones, right?" But no, actually, there is a lot more to X-ray than they realize.

Why do you enjoy what you do?
I really want to help my community, and this is one way to make an impact on people's lives in a positive way. I enjoy face-to-face communication. I enjoy meeting new people. I also enjoy that I must think critically and think outside the box. Because no two people are the same and no two situations are the same, no two X-rays are the same. You have to think on your feet and be creative.