ARRT REPORT Elizabeth Romero, Elected President of ARRT’s Board of Directors 13. What does being president look like? The daily includes The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists running board meetings, committee meetings, weekly dis- (ARRT) was founded in 1922 by the Radiological Society cussions with the CEO, attending meetings and suc- of North America, American Roentgen Ray Society, and cessfully relaying the ARRTs mission to technologists. the American Society of X-ray Technicians. In 1936, 14. Tell me one of your goals outside of ARRT? Run ARRT was incorporated, which meant there was a board another marathon. of trustees. In all of the years that a board has existed, there 15. What does this mean for the future of NMTs and has never been a president who was a nuclear medicine the board? Having a nuclear medicine technologist technologist and who was officially nominated by the becoming president gives the feeling that nuclear SNMMI-TS to sit on the ARRT’s board. That was, until medicine is better represented. It shows that ARRT now. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we decided to has always respected the technologists and what we ask the soon-to-be president and current vice-president do. This is a definite recognition. Elizabeth Romero 84 questions. And just so you don’t have 16. Who inspires you? Shalane Flanagan. to do the math, 84 is how many years the ARRT has had a 17. What does it mean to you to be the first presi- board. I called Liz on a Saturday and rapid-fired these dent? It is a really huge honor. Just being on the questions at her, much like Vogue does with its 73 questions board has been the pinnacle of my career and this to celebrities on YouTube (yes, I completely borrowed their is just like putting the flag on top of Everest. idea, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, defi- 18. Would you ever climb Everest? Maybe. nitely check it out). 19. Why did you sit on the board in the first place? I 1. What’s the first thing you thought of when you was nominated and I have always enjoyed being in- woke up this morning? Coffee...now. volved in the community of nuclear medicine to give 2. What did you want to be when you were little? A back what I’ve learned. I found this to be a really veterinarian or a doctor. great opportunity to see what is going on in other 3. Florida or NY? Florida. modalities and be able to help bring education to 4. Why did you get into nuclear medicine? I always technologists who aren’t NMTs. wanted to go into medicine. I went to a health fair 20. How do you describe yourself in 3 words? Crazy and stumbled across the nuclear medicine booth. I cat lady (she laughed) Just kidding...I can do one have never wanted to do anything else since I dis- word—driven. covered it. 21. What have previous chairs accomplished, and how 5. What credentials do you hold? RT(N), RT(CT), has that guided you? Seeing their professionalism PET, FSNMMI-TS. and how open they are because each president has a 6. Dogs or Cats? Cats; I have 3. different approach. Watching them during their pres- 7. What are their names? Tigger, Lilly, and Nona. idency and realizing that I will be coming in with a 8. Tell me your greatest achievement (outside of be- ing the first nominated by SNMMI-TS NMT on different point of view has really inspired me. The ARRT)? Having been able to balance work, ARRT end goal, regardless of background or approach and personal life. I don’t have an off time in my work though, is to do what’s best for ARRT and maintain- position and have a wonderfully supportive husband. ing the mission statement. 9. What do you do for fun? Run, downhill ski, and go 22. How did you get on the board? I was nominated by to the beach. the SNMMITS and then elected by the ARRT board 10. How many people are on the board currently? 10. of trustees. 11. What are your goals as chair? To continue support 23. How long have you been on the board? Since 2014. I of measurable benchmarks for technologists in all am in my 2nd 4-year term. I will rotate off in 2022 July. the ARRT modalities. 24. What do you hope to take from this experience? 12. Favorite song? Depends on my mood, I have 2: ‘‘All of To be a better leader. I hope that during my service Me’’ by John Legend and also ‘‘Midnight City’’ by M83. on the board I have done an exceptional job of representing all technologists but especially nuclear COPYRIGHT © 2020 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. medicine. ARRT REPORT 9A 25. How has being on this board affected your life? It 42. If you were a superhero, what would your powers has given me a lot of opportunities including repre- be? I’d be invisible to be a fly on the wall and senting many people from different backgrounds. I observe. have learned how they are certified and registered, 43. What can we expect out of you in the next few and I get to witness how they practice in their re- years? You’ll just have to wait and see. spective modalities. This allows me to ensure we are 44. Find yourself on a plane, window or aisle seat? taking the right steps to certify people to bring the Window. best care to the patient. 45. How do you unwind? Wine. 26. What positions did you hold with SNMMI-TS? 46. Find yourself on a train—are you sitting back- (She forwarded me her CV for this answer, at my wards or forwards? Doesn’t matter. request, and it’s shorter for me to tell you that she 47. Favorite designer at the moment? Frye boots and has not only been on a multitude of boards, but also Jimmy Choo heels. has chaired quite a few as well.) 48. Favorite historical person? Teddy Roosevelt for 27. Favorite book? Da Vinci Code. establishing the national parks. 28. Snow ski or water ski? Snow. 49. What do you consider to be your work philoso- 29. Favorite place to snow ski? Winter park, Colorado. phy? Persistence and tolerance. 30. Place you want to snow ski but haven’t yet? Alps. 50. Spirit animal? Snow leopard. 31. You’ve published quite a bit of work—what are 51. Best gift you ever received? My engagement ring. you most proud of? IammostproudthatIamasked It was a wonderful unexpected surprise and my hus- to contribute to books and chapters. I am so proud of band designed it uniquely for me who I am asked to work alongside, as they are tal- 52. Favorite gift you have ever given? A Viking cruise ented people. in Europe. 32. You have spoken internationally—what was that 53. Biggest pet peeve? Waiting. like? It was a great honor and it’s always intrigu- 54. What are you currently working on? A lot of things. ing because you see people with different back- Currently a presentation I am supposed to give in 3 grounds. It’s interesting to see what others are days. doing in their respective countries. To be able to 55. What is your favorite place that you’ve lived? educate and open people’s eyes to what we do in Where I’m sitting right now. the States and then bring that information of what I 56. What are you doing this very moment? Watching learned back to the States is fulfilling. I also really dolphins from my back deck and working on that enjoy visiting other countries and taking in the local presentation. culture. 57. How do you handle pressure in your career? Wine 33. Which do you prefer, working in the clinic or and running. research? I now do both. I am taking things from 58. Best advice you’ve ever given or received? One early phases and helping to get them started. My I’ve always given my research assistants: Don’t panic. love is definitely in research but I love that I can Is it fixable? If so, learn from the issue, then fix it and help bring things that have just been FDA ap- move forward. provedtopatientssotheyareabletogetbetter 59. Best advice you’ve completely ignored? Don’t eat care. that. 34. What show have you recently binge watched? 60. Who would you want to ask 84 questions to? The Fleabag. person who is interviewing me now to get even. 35. What’s your dream job? I’m doing it now. 61. Morning person or night person? Morning. 36. Favorite word in the English dictionary? Pro- 62. Karaoke? Only on certain occasions. secco. 63. When does this president start? July 2020. 37. Favorite Podcast? Don’t listen to them. I know, I’m 64. Do you prefer writing or speaking? Speaking. behind the times. 65. Do you collect anything? Shiny things (jewelry). 38. Favorite medical moment in the history of all 66. What’s a cause that’s close to your heart? Animals. medicine? Madame Curie: I mean can there be a 67. What’s the most treasured thing that you own? better representation of a step forward for women Wedding ring. in medicine and radiation? 68. What skill did you learn that you’ve used through- 39. Favorite saying? When you’re going through hell out your entire career? ALARA.