Beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, the Nuclear Medicine program will prepare students to work in hospitals, clinics, and imaging centers, where there is a high demand for individuals with this specialized skill.
Hazard Community and Technical College is introducing a new program with the Fall 2025 semester that will help set students up for success in an in-demand field. The Nuclear Medicine Imaging program at HCTC will be the first of its kind in Kentucky and will teach students the skills needed to help diagnose certain diseases like cancer and heart disease.
According to an article on Hazard Community and Technical College’s website, Dr. Jennifer Lindon, who is the president and CEO of HCTC, was quoted as saying of the new program addition, "We are thrilled to bring this unique educational opportunity to southeastern Kentucky, working closely with local employers to address critical workforce needs. This program marks a transformative step in healthcare education, preparing students for high-demand careers while strengthening hospitals and clinics across the Commonwealth."
The new program will teach students human anatomy, nuclear physics, and patient care, and they will also partake in hands-on clinical training. Nuclear medicine imaging uses radioactive materials to diagnose illnesses, and in that sense, is similar to radiology or sonography, and the skills students learn in the class will also translate to opportunities pursuing those fields, as well.
Tracey Ison, who recently joined the faculty at Hazard Community and Technical College to lead the nuclear medicine imaging program, explained that this new program will teach skills beyond what students would learn about radiology or sonography. Ison is quoted as saying, "Nuclear medicine imaging is closely related to radiography and sonography but stands apart as a distinctive field. For professionals in these areas, this program offers a chance to broaden their expertise. Multimodality — the ability to perform multiple imaging tasks — is highly valued in today's imaging landscape."
In a separate article on the school’s website, Ison explained how this new program will open doors for a better healthcare system in Kentucky: "By keeping our young professionals local for their training, we can meet an important workforce need across our region and state. We can fill rural vacancies and make the processes easier for employers because they'll have a larger pool of employees to work for them. By increasing the workforce, we can help reduce the amount of time spent on call by creating evening or weekend shifts, expanding the schedule for outpatient services and reducing patients' wait times,” said Ison.
Ison’s background includes training in radiology, sonography, and nuclear medicine. She has formed connections via working throughout Eastern Kentucky, including in Harlan, Ashland, and Hazard, and notes that she intends to use her network to benefit students in HCTC’s new nuclear medicine program, as well.
For more information about Hazard Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.