Jerry Reid, Ph.D., ARRT CEO, will retire at the end of 2022, after 44 years with us. From instituting the job analyses that form the basis of our exams, to helping develop our Continuing Qualifications Requirements, Reid has left an enduring legacy. We asked him to reflect on his career— and his future.
Q: What gives you the most satisfaction about your career?
Being part of something bigger than myself. Accomplishing individual goals can be gratifying, but collaborating with others to accomplish shared goals is even more satisfying. When I started as Director of Psychometric Services, the Board shared a vision of enhancing our existing certification programs and then expanding the number we offered —things R.T.s requested. With support and enthusiasm from the Board and R.T. community, we updated our test development and psychometrics practices in my first five years. Shortly thereafter, we began rolling out 12 additional certification programs and state licensing examinations. Expanding our focus from obtaining certification and registration to include maintaining certification and registration has enhanced the value of the R.T. credential. I’m extremely proud of all we’ve accomplished together.
Q: What was your favorite part of any of the roles you filled?
When I started, there were only 12 employees. Everyone was involved in everything. In addition to facilitating the activities of item writers, exam committees, standard-setting panels, and job analysis committees, and processing exam results, I was the primary Information Technology administrator and computer programmer. I was also a contributing writer/editor for our communications, and I did whatever else needed to be done. That included unloading trucks when they pulled up with test booklets from the printer. It was fun having such a wide range of responsibilities, and it provided the perfect training for my next role, beginning in 1992, as ARRT’s executive director/CEO. Although being part of a small staff was fun, overseeing the tenfold expansion of ARRT staff during the past four decades has been exciting as well. We now have staff with much deeper expertise in our functional areas. That has allowed us to expand our portfolio of credentialing programs, provide increased service to R.T.s, and professionalize our business practices.
Q: What was the most challenging thing you’ve overseen as ARRT’s leader?
The pandemic. ARRT tries to be very systematic and methodical—setting goals, prioritizing, planning the steps to reach our goals, and executing plans in an organized fashion. Although ARRT had business continuity plans for various scenarios, none anticipated the widespread, immediate impact of the pandemic. Our Board and staff adapted to conditions and pulled together to keep moving foward. R.T.s were understanding as we adjusted operations, and we continued to provide certification and registration services with few interruptions. I kept reminding myself that what we were going through was nothing compared to what R.T.s on the front lines were facing daily. My admiration for the people we credential—and their dedication to patient care—soared beyond its already lofty level.
Q: Is there anything you want to say to all R.T.s?
It’s been a privilege to serve the profession. Your dedication to providing quality patient care has inspired me. I feel blessed to have met and worked with so many people of character and to have made so many wonderful friends. I look forward to witnessing (from the sidelines) how the profession continues to grow and evolve.
Q: What does retirement hold for you?
Spending more time with my immediate family—which spreads from the East Coast of the U.S. to Australia—is a top priority. So is traveling to places on my bucket list and spending more time enjoying them when I get there. I’ll fill the rest of my time with golf, reading books on random topics (I’m fascinated with dragonflies), and taking a more leisurely pace through life.
*Featured in Stories 2022