Bellin College radiation therapy program lands Black Tie and Blue Jean for 2021

Bellin College Radiation Therapy Program Director Amy Riemer oversees a patient.

Beginning in fall 2020, Bellin College will begin offering a three-year Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy degree. The program, fully accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), aims to give graduates of the program the skills and confidence necessary to be a leader in the field.

“The radiation therapy program perfectly aligns with our current medical imaging programs,” said Dr. Mark Bake, Dean of Allied Health Sciences at Bellin College. “The unique three-year bachelor curriculum focuses on the importance of patient care and the continuous technological advancements in the profession. We are excited to be bringing this high-demand program to the Northeast Wisconsin area.”

Students enrolled in the program will be prepared through a combination of state-of-the-art classroom education, clinical experience and laboratory practice. Graduates will be eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam. The final year of the program includes a full-time clinical internship which will provide the real-life, hands-on experience needed to be successful as a radiation therapist.

Each year, the Bellin Health Foundation hosts Black Tie & Blue Jean Extravaganza. This year’s event has been postponed because of COVID-19, but the proceeds  from 2020 will go toward purchasing a linear accelerator simulator for use in the radiation therapy bachelor’s degree program. Students will operate the equipment they will use to treat oncology patients — using the actual controls to run the accelerator and observing the beam interacting inside the body. By investing in a simulator, Bellin College will be preparing students for success while helping to improve outcomes for cancer patients everywhere.

“The Bellin Health Foundation, along with our volunteers, has a long history of providing financial support for Bellin College,” said Steve Maricque, President of the Bellin Health Foundation. “We respect and continue that tradition whenever we recognize a need that fits with our mission.  We are honored to help make this technology need a reality for our future students and caregivers.”

The Bellin Health Foundation supports the programs and services of Bellin Health and its associated entities by providing financial support made possible through philanthropy.

“The launch of the Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy aligns with the mission and vision of Bellin College,” said President and CEO Connie Boerst. “We are experts at educating healthcare professionals and this unique offering is in high demand in healthcare today. Students will walk away with an outstanding education and will be leaders in the profession. We continue to expand partnerships at the local and state level and are excited to engage in this new endeavor.

The program is unlike any offered in Northeastern Wisconsin. That uniqueness will give students another option when looking for a career.

“Our hope is that the program has a successful implementation and continues to grow and be recognized throughout the nation as the ‘gold standard’ for education and preparation of future caregivers,” Maricque said. “We will be proud in knowing that we contributed to a program that truly will make a difference for those in our community that will utilize the service in the future and improve the quality of patient care and outcomes.”