By Roger A. Bowles, MS, EdD, CBET
This time of year, right after Thanksgiving, it is my turn to write The Future column and it gives me the chance to reflect on the past year and think about what is coming next year. We are wrapping up the fall 2023 semester and graduates are off to internships and/or jobs as HTM professionals. There are roughly 30 of them this semester and some of them have elected to come back in the spring to do the medical imaging systems program.
Also, this time every year, I reflect on writing this column for another year and whether another, “fresher” or younger voice should step in and relieve me. After all, the column is called “The Future,” and I’ve been doing this for several years. Both of my readers are probably getting on up in years by now. Tomorrow is another trip to the chiropractor, to get an adjustment. Apparently, I am physically somewhat out of alignment and experiencing the aches, pains, tingles and other things that come along with age. It also reminds me of my attitude, which has also been out of adjustment as of late.
In order for any program to grow, or even stay alive for that matter, adjustments and change are necessary. The past year has been a whirlwind of change, some good and some not so good. Currently, the building that houses our program is undergoing a major renovation. Apparently, asbestos countertops and floors are bad for us. Who knew? This has meant changing classrooms and moving equipment repeatedly to accommodate construction. It has meant classes interrupted by the sounds of jackhammers, circular saws, banging pipes, construction workers yelling (and singing, unfortunately), inconsistent temperatures indoors, angry hornets (that was fun), and inconsistent vision and planning from the administration. It has meant short tempers on the part of students and instructors and less than impressive first impressions of potential students and parents when doing tours. We have seen some concerned looks when leading them past boxed-up equipment and empty or torn apart classrooms. And, like any construction project, it has led to changing completion dates, missed deadlines and confusion in student scheduling.
This mess has led to a less-than-optimal attitude on my part and questions about whether or not this is all worth it. There have been days when retirement seemed like decades away and I’ve thought about exploring other avenues. After all, many universities are looking for online instructors and the motorcycle business I own is doing better every year.
On the other side of the coin, there have been exciting happenings and plans made for the future, which point to positive change. The building itself, when completed, will result in much more floor space for labs and updated equipment. This means more students! Also, a visit by Matthew Bassuk, of NVRT Labs, demonstrating the latest in VR technology, has excited us all about its possibilities. I’m excited that Texas State Technical College, at both campuses that offer biomedical equipment technology (Waco and Harlingen), will be using this technology in the near future. We know that it will help in recruiting efforts. I am personally excited about future plans with ultrasound and dialysis technologies.
We have also been assured by the administration that money will be made available for faculty to attend more professional training opportunities such as MD Expo, and purchases and training on updated equipment. This includes money for travel and a push for being more involved with regional and national organizations. Will it happen? I’m betting it will. We have already seen efforts in updating instructor salaries to try to keep up with the industry. We are excited about the future growth of the program. Adding more instructors is also on the agenda and we will hopefully be doing that shortly into the new year.
So, just like a necessary adjustment for my aging body, my attitude is also being adjusted this time of year with a renewed dedication to the future of this program and our future students. The year 2024 is going to be another great year and we are excited about the changes that are coming.
Roger A. Bowles, MS, EdD, CBET, is a biomedical equipment technology/medical imaging technology instructor at Texas State Technical College-Waco.
