Imaging Professional Recognized for Excellence

Amie Sasser

It’s not hard to understand why Edgecombe Community College’s Amie Sasser recently received the coveted Imaging Professional of Excellence Award from the North Carolina Society of Radiologic Technologists (NCSRT). The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the medical imaging field.

The CT and MRI (Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging) instructor and clinical coordinator has been working in the profession for 19 years. Since starting her job at ECC five years ago, she has made strides in recruiting students to the CT program, which uses X-rays to take images of the body, and the MRI program, dedicated to creating detailed scans relying on magnets and radio waves.

Sasser was nominated by a colleague who wrote glowing remarks in a nomination letter.

“My nomination letter listed many things that I have accomplished working in the imaging profession,” said Sasser. “These were things I considered to be part of my job, but it made me realize that all of those little things added up, and more importantly, made an impact.”

Those efforts include expanding recruitment, building partnerships with major health systems such as Duke and WakeMed, and advancing imaging practices that improve patient care. Before joining ECC, Sasser helped elevate the role of imaging in clinical decision-making.

“Many of my accomplishments have been behind the scenes,” she said. “Developing new protocols to lower radiation dose in CT, obtaining accreditation for scanners, implementing screening programs like Low Dose Lung Screening CT for early detection of lung cancer, and Coronary Calcium Scoring CT for early detection of stroke and heart attack.”

Sasser received the award during the NCSRT conference at the Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center in Concord. The organization is the state’s leading professional association for medical imaging professionals and radiologic technologists, promoting excellence in imaging and patient care.

A member of NCSRT for five years, Sasser was also elected to a one-year term as secretary during the group’s quarterly board meeting. She continues to serve as volunteer coordinator.

“The award I received was very humbling, but having the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors is truly an honor,” she said.

Sasser credits her colleagues, past and present, along with Rick Mastman, ECC’s CT and MRI instructor and consortium director. Mastman was her instructor eight 18 years ago when she completed her CT and MRI degree at ECC. “It is an amazing opportunity to be mentored by someone who has developed so many CT and MRI technologists across the state,” said Sasser.

As a member of the Board of Directors at NCRST, Sasser will now have the opportunity to connect more closely with instructors from other schools and with administrators from various hospitals across the state.

Sasser said, “while we do already have the best CT/MRI program, this networking will only improve it.”