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Assistant Professor/Clinical Vanessa Flores, MEd, RT(R)(ARRT), director of clinical education for the Master of Science in Imaging Sciences program, once dreamed of being a professional photographer.

While Flores ultimately decided to become a radiologic technologist, she found a way to adapt her passion for creating images within the context of a career in health care.

“I wanted to help patients,” Flores said. “This still allowed me to be a professional and to still take pictures of what is going on inside the human body, to assist doctors in the diagnosis of patients.”

When Flores joined the medical imaging sciences program faculty in July 2023, she brought almost 20 years of teaching experience as an associate professor and radiation safety officer for the radiologic technologist program at St. Philip's College.

“My favorite thing is seeing when the students get their “a-ha” moment,” she said. “Seeing their confidence level build up as they are going through the program makes me happy.” 

In addition to teaching radiation biology and protection and radiographic procedures and lab, Flores coordinates clinical placements for students, who begin clinical rotations in their second semester while continuing to take classes. 

“The students are going to be well versed in the roles and leadership skills they are going to need,” she said, noting that medical imaging technologists play an essential role on the health care team.

“You often can’t do operating room procedures without having some form of medical imaging available,” Flores said. “Many medical conditions are going to require an X-ray, CT or MRI.”

The Master of Science in Imaging Sciences program welcomed its first cohort of students in fall 2023.