Jeffrey S. Legg, Ph.D., RT(R)(CT)(QM), FASRT
Associate professor and chair
The Department of Radiation Sciences is an integral part of the College of Health Professions and shares its values. The department serves as a national leader in the education of students in the radiologic sciences and provides learning opportunities that are innovative and educationally sound. Strong linkages with clinical affiliates and their staffs are vital to the department’s success. Faculty and staff work in a cooperative spirit in an environment conducive to inquisitiveness and independent learning to help a diverse student body develop to its fullest potential. The faculty is committed to the concept of lifelong learning and promotes standards of clinical practice that will serve students throughout their professional careers. Faculty members serve as resources for professionals in practice and contribute to an expanded knowledge base in the field of clinical radiation sciences.
The mission of the Department of Radiation Sciences is to enable a diverse student body to develop its fullest potential and to graduate baccalaureate-level radiologic health professionals who demonstrate outstanding technical, communication and critical-thinking skills.
Department of Radiation Sciences’ goals
- For entry-level and second modality programs, students will be clinically competent.
- Students will attain clinical competence.
- Graduates will demonstrate clinical competence while employed in the radiation sciences.
- Students will communicate effectively.
- Students will demonstrate effective communication during their clinical experience.
- Students will demonstrate effective communication through the research project.
- Graduates will demonstrate effective communication while employed in the radiation sciences.
- Students will demonstrate critical-thinking skills.
- Students will demonstrate critical-thinking skills during their clinical experience.
- Students will demonstrate critical-thinking skills in developing their research project.
- Students will model professionalism.
- Students will demonstrate professionalism during their clinical experience.
- Graduates will demonstrate professionalism while employed in the radiation sciences.
- The department will assure program effectiveness.
History
Radiologic technology education began at the Medical College of Virginia in the 1930s with a one-year training program in radiography. This program has undergone a number of changes through the years to evolve into the current baccalaureate educational program.
A concentration in nuclear medicine technology was added in 1984 and in radiation therapy in 1992. Degree-completion programs have been added to provide an opportunity for certified technologists and therapists to complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree.
Facilities
The educational facilities for the Department of Radiation Sciences are located on the third floor of the College of Health Professions building at 900 E. Leigh St., Suite 3000. These facilities include energized laboratories in radiography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy and diagnostic medical sonography. The radiography laboratory includes a radiographic/fluoroscopic digital imaging system and a mobile unit. The nuclear medicine laboratory offers a gamma camera and working radionuclide hotlab. Radiation therapy offers an immersive virtual 3-D educational system as well as a 3-D treatment planning lab. And last, the diagnostic medical sonography lab features multiple ultrasound machines and imaging phantoms.
During the various phases of the curriculum, students will be assigned to one or more of the following affiliate institutions: VCU Health’s MCV and Children's Hospitals and multiple satellite facilities; McGuire VA Medical Center; Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center; Henrico Doctors’ Hospitals; and a variety of smaller clinics and facilities.