Beth L. Vealé, Ph.D., RT(R)(QM)
Let’s Talk Digital Imaging! 

Outline:

Stages of Digital Image Production:

• • Signal Image: Receptor exposure, subject contrast, geometrical magnification.
  • Latent Image: Stored receptor data and contribution to final image.
  • Displayed Image: Post-processed output, brightness rescaling, LUT-based contrast, display magnification.

Digital vs. Traditional Terminology:

• • Equipment-related terms vs. clinical image-quality terms.
  • Expanding essential image qualities: brightness, contrast, magnification, noise, shape distortion, sharpness.

Dynamic Range and Bit Depth:

• • Distinguishing hardware bit depth from system-wide dynamic range.
  • Recommendations for standard terminology in clinical practice.

Beth L. Vealé, Ph.D., RT(R)(QM)
Critical Findings on Plain Abdominal Radiographs 

Outline:

• Definition of plain abdominal radiograph and incidental/secondary findings.
• Pathologies and signs.
• Conclusion.

Melanie Hail, M.Ed., BSRS, RT(R)(M)
Invisible Danger: Unveiling the Risks of Surgical Secondhand Smoke 

Outline:

Overview of Surgical Secondhand Smoke:

• Definition and sources.
• Medical environments where exposure occurs.
• Composition and comparison to cigarette smoke.
• Health risks.

NIH Study Evaluation:

• Study overview.
• Surgical masks vs. N95 respirators.
• NIOSH recommendations.

Legislation and Programs:

• State-mandated smoke evacuation laws.
• AORN Go Clear Award Program overview.

Final Tips and Takeaways:

• Key actionable insights for healthcare professionals.

Melanie Hail, M.Ed., BSRS, RT(R)(M)
Nature’s Answer to Nuclear Catastrophe: Black Fungus in Chernobyl 

Outline:

Background of Chernobyl:

• Overview of the incident.
• Current state over the past 30+ years.
• Long-term environmental effects.

Containment Measures:

• Strategies employed to manage contamination.

Discovery of Black Fungus:

• Survival mechanisms in radioactive environment.

Implications:

• Potential for nuclear waste cleanup.
• Applications in space exploration.
• Future prospects over the next decade.

Final Tips and Takeaways:

• Practical applications and insights from discovery.

Cindy Kramer, MA Ed., RT(R)(QM)
Golden Rule of Clinical Mentoring 

Outline:
Introduction to the book Greater Than Yourself by Steve Fauber

• The Golden Rule in mentoring.
• Evaluating “See one, Do one, Teach one.”
• Reflection on teaching methods.

Importance of Effective Mentoring

• Impact on future professionals.
• Adapting to technological changes.

Learning Process

• Learning styles and student anxiety.

Teaching Skills

• Providing constructive and consistent feedback.
• Giving “tough love” when necessary.
• Documentation practices.

Mentoring Impact on Educational Programs

• Completing performance and competency evaluations.

Angie Chapman, MSRS, CRA, RT(R)(CT)(MR), FAHRA
Surviving a Cyber Attack in Radiology 

Background and Types of Cyber Attacks:

• Unauthorized access, malware, phishing, social engineering, DDoS.

Impact on Healthcare:

• Targeting patient information and medical devices.
• Increasing attack frequency and severity.

Normal Downtime vs. Cyber Attack Downtime:

• Duration, operational impact, and warning differences.

Operational Strategies During a Cyber Attack:

• Staff redeployment (“army of runners”).
• Central command center setup.
• On-site radiologist coverage.

Adapting Documentation and Workflow:

• Customizing downtime forms.
• Managing patient images and reports physically.

Reconciliation, Billing, and Archiving:

• Manual entry of patient data and report finalization.
• Pre-negotiated billing extensions.
• Physical archiving of imaging media.

Objectives:

1. Define the three stages of digital image production and their roles in workflow.
2. Differentiate signal image factors from displayed image controls.
3. Identify and separate equipment, physics, and clinical image-quality terms.
4. Expand understanding of essential image qualities for comprehensive evaluation.
5. Recognize anomalies on abdominal radiographs.
6. Describe incidental findings on plain abdominal radiographs.
7. Analyze radiographs for unusual findings.
8. Identify sources and risks of surgical secondhand smoke.
9. Evaluate protective measures and study outcomes.
10. Understand legislation and programs promoting safety.
11. Apply insights to reduce exposure in healthcare settings.
12. Understand the background and aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster.
13. Explain survival mechanisms of black fungus in contaminated environments.
14. Identify practical applications for environmental and space research.
15. Identify the role and significance of a mentor.
16. Appreciate mentoring’s impact on the profession.
17. Recognize teachable and inherent traits of students/coworkers.
18. Develop tools to enhance mentoring skills.
19. Understand evaluation mechanisms used in educational programs.
20. Define cyber-attacks and common types targeting healthcare.
21. Recognize vulnerabilities in healthcare systems.
22. Differentiate cyber-attack downtime from normal system downtime.
23. Identify strategies for maintaining imaging operations during outages.
24. Understand procedures for handling patient data and reports.
25. Grasp steps for reconciliation and billing after attacks.