The ability to take classes at her own pace while working full-time as an x-ray technician is what ultimately drew Addee Badhwa to the UW-Milwaukee Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Imaging degree program offered through UW Flexible Option.
Addee, a recent graduate, first became interested in healthcare as a high school student in Shakopee, Minnesota.
“They had these programs called academies,” she says. “And when you get into high school, you get to pick which academy you want to go into. I was part of the Health Sciences Academy. So I did a lot of classes in high school that helped me try to figure out where I wanted to go. And for my last semester of high school, I actually got to do a semester in our local hospital. I would talk to all these doctors and learn the business aspect of healthcare, learn the more clinical side of healthcare, learn the surgery side of healthcare. And it was a really cool experience.”
“I learned more about radiography and about all the things x-ray techs can do,” she adds. “And that kind of jump-started me into knowing I wanted to go into the medical field. Radiography was the best option for me. It’s something that would get me into the medical field really easily, and it had great job growth. There were so many things that I could do. And I loved that with being an x-ray tech, I can do MRI or CT or catheterization (cath) lab or interventional. I can very easily change my mind.”
The medical imaging industry is expected to grow 6 percent over the next decade with an additional 16,800 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
After receiving her associate’s degree in radiography from St. Catherine University, she decided to continue her education with UW Flexible Option while working full-time in the cath lab.
“I knew I wanted to get a bachelor’s degree,” she says. “I wanted to have that [in case] I ever wanted to continue on in medicine or in a different field. The program allowed me to graduate even earlier than I expected and still accomplish my goals while working.”
Eventually, Addee is hoping to go to school to become a physician’s assistant. Like many students, a bachelor’s degree in diagnostic imaging can be a stepping stone to graduate-level coursework and programs in medicine, healthcare administration or education. In the near future, she’s working toward becoming a lead tech in the cath lab.
“I’ve been learning a whole bunch of really great procedures recently, like structural heart cases or scrubbing [into] really complicated aortic dissections. I’m actually starting to train new people here to scrub into surgeries. And I have to make sure I’m very much an expert in a lot of the devices that we use. I know that one of our doctors is doing a really cool new procedure that’s the first to be done in the Twin Cities that I got asked to help out in.”
“So just continuing to build on these really cool medical experiences and see all the newest and greatest technology is one of my main goals with x-ray, and then teaching that on to people and keep working toward my goals of becoming a PA eventually.”
Addee credits some of the leadership skills she gained in the program with her ability to adapt on the job.
“Getting those traits down and going through scenarios that I could be faced with is really good because I’ve never really led anybody or done anything like that as yet per se, especially in a professional setting. So getting those courses in, especially the leadership ones, was really helpful to me. And I still apply it every day. If I have something going wrong with one of our techs or a room is down, what we can do for this, or who I contact for this, and how we can solve workplace dilemmas.”
Cath lab can be very high-stress, with emotions running high. “Using the things that I learned in those classes definitely has helped me navigate the professional world and navigate being looked at as a person to go to for certain things or certain equipment or certain problems.”
Addee not only appreciated how UW Flexible Option courses are set up, but how communicative her instructors were. She also appreciated the fact her employer knew she was going to school and ensured she had everything she needed to be successful.
Addee credits some of her success to Sara Thor, her Success Coach.
“Because of how self-paced everything was, I would plan out my assignments or my tests and make sure I stuck to that schedule,” she says. “And don’t get me wrong, it is very hard. And if I needed more help, I could always talk to my Success Coach. Sara was very good at organizing everything and keeping me updated. If I had questions or concerns, I could go to her. Right before I decided to take six classes, I said, ‘I don’t know if I can do all of this.’ And she said, ‘If anything goes wrong, just reach out to your instructors and talk to them.’”
During one course, Addee was met with some challenges–in particular, an assignment she didn’t quite understand.
“I had a couple office calls with my teacher, and they gave me great feedback. I kept going to those office hours until I understood what I needed to do. I got the help that I needed, and I ended up getting a great score and a great grade in that class. And it was all because of how communicative and helpful everyone was in the program.”
During her last subscription period, Addee completed six courses while working full-time. To keep herself organized, Addee created a visual plan to ensure she was using her time efficiently.
“I’ve always been very good at organizing and planning things,” she said. “So I took all of my classes and my assignments, and I put them in a spreadsheet. And I kind of thought, ‘OK, this week I’m going to do these three. This week, I’m going to do these three, and then work to get everything done that I need to.’ It is very hard, but I work very well with finishing assignments. If I have my goals, I will complete them at that time.”
Addee encourages students considering enrolling in the diagnostic imaging program to take the chance.
“I would say that you should definitely do it,” Addee says. “It is a great program. It is very well-organized, and you get the help that you need. And don’t be hard on yourself if you need more time for things. Take the time that you need to finish. If you don’t have a full understanding of something, just ask. That’s what your teachers are there for. And it’s OK to slow down. It’s OK to take one class, as long as you are taking care of yourself, and you are still accomplishing your goals.”
While she says finishing the program required her to work very hard for a few months, she feels great now that she’s graduated.
“I feel so relieved and so grateful that I finished everything and got to graduate early,” she says. “It’s really nice to see that my hard work did pay off and that it was recognized.”
Are you a sonographer or x-ray technician looking to advance your career in the healthcare field? Call an enrollment adviser at 608-800-6762 or email at flex@uwex.wisconsin.edu to get more information.