“I am looking forward to working at two stellar teaching hospitals that are committed to my growth as a radiologic technologist,” Jay said. “Their willingness to train new graduates in settings such as the ER, operating room and fluoroscopy makes me excited to start my role. One of my favorite parts of radiography is working in the operating room with advanced technology. Providing real-time imaging to the surgeons and the rest of the operating teams solidifies myself as a vital role in every patient’s outcome.”

Jay’s passion for radiologic sciences began in high school, she said.

She combined her interests of technology and patient care as a radiologic sciences student at Quinnipiac and in the professional world as a technologist. 

“I am passionate that imaging is truly the eyes of medicine. Without X-ray, CT, MRI and other modalities, providers would not be able to make a diagnosis and give the best course of treatment for their patients,” said Jay. “Imaging gives insight to what is going on in the human body and could mean the difference of a patient having a poor quality of life to making a full recovery. I also enjoy the technological side of radiologic sciences. We learn about areas such as image acquisition and radiation physics. I have always had an interest in both technology and working in a direct patient care environment, which makes the profession of radiography a perfect match for me.”

Next year, Jay will pursue another passion as she specializes in computed tomography.

“I shadowed computed tomography (CT) during my rotations at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and at St. Vincent’s Medical Center,” Jay said. “Both hospitals being trauma centers has allowed me to see the fast-paced workflow of this modality and how much patient care is involved. The job security of CT had also drawn me to choosing this as my advanced modality. Both hospitals that I will be working at have also granted me the opportunity to start working in the CT scan department once I pass the registry exam.”

Jay said that Quinnipiac helped her in both preparing for the job search and the professional experience itself.

“We learn about the opportunities and hiring process for radiography very early on in our academic career, even in my RS100 class in the fall of my first year,” said Jay. “My professors bring alumni and experienced professionals to talk about their experiences and guide us to a successful career. Many of the HR and hiring managers in my experience were alums of Quinnipiac or actively have employees who went to Quinnipiac. They know the high standard that the radiologic sciences program has, whether it be top notch clinical performance reviews or rigorous academics.”

“Professionalism is one of the core standards while being in the radiologic sciences program,” said Jay. “This starts in the classroom environment. Simple things, such as being on time and actively participating, translates to habits in the work environment that will set us up for success. As a part of the clinical experience in the radiologic sciences program, we are given the expectation that clinical is like a job interview every day. Our conduct influences how our clinical preceptors view us not just as students, but growing professionals.”

During her three years at Quinnipiac, Jay has been heavily involved outside of the classroom.

She is a member of the Pre-Health Professions Society. She also participated as a representative of the RS program on prospective student days. 

Notably, she has been a dedicated member of Quinnipiac University Medical Services (QU EMS) throughout her entire time at Quinnipiac. She has also served as a crew chief and safety officer for QU EMS for two years. 

“My time in QU EMS was some of the most formative experiences of university,” said Jay. “Being able to give back to my community in such a meaningful way with a hardworking, involved group of my peers changed my outlook on leadership. I got the opportunity for the last two years to attend the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation conference. Being able to represent QU EMS during these events prepared me for future endeavors professionally and in future healthcare pursuits.”

Jay expressed gratitude for the Quinnipiac community. 

“Quinnipiac has a strong sense of community both academically and socially. The faculty of the radiologic sciences program has every student’s best interest,” said Jay. “They are always willing to lend a helping hand and they take our success seriously. My peers that I surround myself inside and outside of the classroom are all extremely motivated individuals who want to succeed together, not just as individuals. Activities, such as group study sessions or simply grabbing a meal together, has made me realize that I could not have done it without them.”