Nuclear Medicine

Link to website maintained by the School of Health

Nuclear Medicine Technologists utilize radioactive materials or tracers for the diagnosis or treatment of diseases. When introduced into the body, a radiotracer behaves like its non-radioactive counterpart. Therefore, its location in the body can be traced by using an appropriate detector.

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist learns to prepare and administer the radiotracer, perform the radionuclide study which may include the use of a computer, and then produce a final qualitative or quantitative product, so that a diagnosis and/or treatment may be made by a physician who specializes in the field.

The Nuclear Medicine Technology program at STCC is 24 months in length, beginning in September and ending two full years later. Students spend two, three, or four days each week on clinical affiliation at Baystate Medical Center, the largest medical center in Western New England; Hartford Hospital; Manchester Memorial Hospital; or Mercy Hospital. The rest of the week is spent at the College in didactic courses. The curriculum also includes two summer sessions with extended clinical hours (four days a week). The cost for the summer session is at the School of Continuing Education rate.

Minimum course requirement for graduation in all subjects is a grade of "C" or better. A more complete description of the program requirements may be found in the Handbook for the Radiologic Health Sciences which is distributed to accepted students at the beginning of each Fall semester. At graduation the student receives an Associate in Science in Diagnostic Medical Imaging and is eligible to apply for the national registry examination given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB). The program also meets the requirements for state licensing application. The program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT).

The application deadline is March 31, 2012.

Applicants should have completed the following minimum prerequisites: College-level courses: Chemistry ( CHEM-101, or CHEM-103), Medical Terminology ( MAST-101), Technical Math I ( MATH-132), and College Physics I ( PHYS-130).

Students must also:

1. meet the technical standards established by the department. These standards are available through the Admissions Office or can be viewed at: http://health.stcc.edu/Careers/PDF/applic~1.pdf.
2. attend an informative session scheduled with the program director.
3. complete the application package which will be reviewed jointly by the Director of Admissions and the program director.
4. Students are responsible for the cost of uniforms, radiation monitors, physical examinations, health insurance, liability insurance, books, calculator, and laboratory manuals. All accepted students must undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information or other check. Depending on the findings, the student may not be allowed to continue in the program of study. For further information, please contact the Office of the Dean, School of Health.

The Nuclear Medicine Technology program will produce graduates who:

1. Provide high quality, patient-centered diagnostic patient care.
2. Communicate effectively with patients, both orally and in writing.
3. Master clinical imaging protocols and be able to effectively operate Nuclear Medicine instrumentation.
4. Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals for Nuclear Medicine clinical studies.
5. Provide quality assurance and quality control techniques to promote excellent image quality.
6. Analyze clinical studies both qualitatively and quantitatively by established Nuclear Medicine computer software.
7. Interact with a multitude of heath-care workers to promote a team approach to patient care.
8. Further their professional development by continuing education, conducting research, and being a part of the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

Programmatic Technical Standard (PDF)        Program Outcomes with Pending 2012

Upon successful completion of the requirements, the degree of Associate in Science in Diagnostic Medical Imaging will be awarded.