ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has announced the 2012-2013 winners of the Jean I. Widger Distinguished Author Award and the Harold Silverman Distinguished Author Award, honoring the best peer-reviewed articles published in ASRT’s scientific journals.

Nina Kowalczyk, Ph.D., R.T.(R)(CT)(QM), FASRT; Ruth Hackworth, M.S., R.T.(R)(T); and Jane Case-Smith, Ed.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, are the winners of the Widger award for their article “Perceptions of the Use of Critical Thinking Teaching Methods.” The article appeared in the January/February 2012 issue of Radiologic Technology.

Dr. Kowalczyk is an assistant professor and Hackworth is the radiation therapy program director for the radiologic sciences and therapy department at The Ohio State University in Columbus. Dr. Case-Smith is a professor and chairperson of the occupational therapy division at OSU. 

Their study identified how radiologic science program directors perceived their level of competence in teaching and assessing critical thinking skills and the difficulties they face in implementing student-centered teaching methods. The authors found that program directors see the value in teaching critical thinking strategies and believe there is a need for professional development in critical thinking educational methods.

Jeffrey Legg, Ph.D., R.T.(R)(CT)(QM); Melanie Dempsey, M.S., R.T.(R)(T), CMD; and Laura Aaron, Ph.D., R.T.(R)(M)(QM), are the winners of the Silverman award for their article “Patient Safety Perceptions Among U.S. Radiation Therapists.” The article appeared in the spring 2013 issue of Radiation Therapist.

Dr. Legg is an associate professor and chairman of the department of radiation sciences and Dempsey is an assistant professor and director of radiation therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Dr. Aaron is a professor, director and graduate coordinator for the radiologic sciences program at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La.

The purpose of their study was to help establish a baseline for the culture of patient safety as perceived by radiation therapists. The authors surveyed 2,000 radiation therapists certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists to determine their opinions and perceptions regarding patient safety in their institutions. The information the authors collected helps therapists improve processes and enhances the patient-safety culture in their respective workplaces.

The Widger award is named after longtime Radiologic Technology editor Jean I. Widger. The Silverman award is named in honor of radiation therapist Harold Silverman, an advocate for accreditation of radiation therapy educational programs.

The ASRT membership will honor the recipients at the Honors Evening Reception June 15 at the Society’s annual governance meeting in Albuquerque, N.M.

For more information about the ASRT and the radiologic science profession, visit www.asrt.org.

About ASRT

The ASRT represents more than 150,000 members who perform medical imaging procedures or plan and deliver radiation therapy. The Society is the largest radiologic science association in the world. Its mission is to advance the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to enhance the quality of patient care.