Stronger Together: Celebrating a Successful Inaugural Educator Symposium 
What began two years ago as an idea for a small, 20-person educator workshop culminated earlier this month as a nationwide, two-day online program with over 1,300 registrants.
On Aug. 6 and 7, educators and program directors tuned in for American Registry of Radiologic Technologist’s (ARRT) first-ever Virtual Educator Symposium. Guided by feedback from medical imaging and radiation therapy educators, ARRT designed the event to support educators in helping students succeed, strengthen program quality, and deepen understanding of ARRT’s processes and resources.
“None of us would be here without educators. Every student who becomes a skilled, confident professional gets there because someone—that's all of you—took the time to teach, guide, challenge, and encourage them,” said CEO Liana Watson, D.M., R.T.(R)(M)(S)(BS)(ARRT), RDMS, RVT, PMP, FASRT, CAE, during her introduction to the event. “The future of medical imaging and radiation therapy begins in your classrooms, labs, and clinical settings, and we're grateful for the work you do every day.” 
The symposium’s 15 sessions explored topics that directly affect their work, including certification, ethics, assessment development, academic integrity, student preparedness, cognitive modeling, item writing, and student success strategies.
The event included a presentation on artificial intelligence by special guest Amy Wilson, M.S., RT(R), RDMS, RVT, Board Director of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. See the full list of sessions and PDF handouts for each on the symposium webpage and select session takeaways in this edition of Educator Update. 
 Thank you to our educator community members who took the time to join us for the symposium and share your thoughts in our post-event survey. Initial feedback is positive. According to ARRT’s post-event survey, 93% of respondents reported having a positive experience, 89% indicated they would attend a similar event in the future, and 81% reported they were likely to apply what they learned in their educational programs. Survey comments consistently highlighted the quality of the speakers, the relevance of the content, and the value of connecting with peers and educational resources. 
“The conversations that began during the symposium will continue to inform our work moving forward. We want educators to know their feedback matters,” says Watson. “Our commitment is to keep listening, keep learning, and keep responding with resources that help educators navigate challenges, support student success, and prepare the next generation of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.”