UC San Francisco’s inaugural Radiologic Technologist Training Program & Leadership Academy officially kicks off this June, providing students a direct route to one of the most in-demand careers in healthcare.
The 18-month program was created following a 2024 gift from the Crankstart Foundation, Tipping Point Community, and the IGNITE Fund, aimed at building a workforce of medical practice coordinators, medical assistants and radiology technologists at UCSF.
Radiologic technologists play a vital role in early diagnosis and patient care planning but are currently experiencing a shortage both locally and nationally.
“We recognized critical gaps in radiologic technologist staffing. With this program, we are able to take employees who already work at UCSF, or from the community as well,” said Radiology Program Educational Consultant Tosca Bridges.
Program Director Michael Jones said “at its core, this program is about widening the circle of opportunity while strengthening the care our communities rely on. By investing in people, those already serving at UCSF and those aspiring to enter healthcare, we’re building a workforce that reflects our values, meets real patient needs, and prepares us for the future of medicine. This is what it looks like when access, excellence, and purpose move forward together.”
"This program exemplifies UCSF’s mission to serve as an anchor institution in the communities we serve. Through partnerships with community organizations, City College of San Francisco, and the San Francisco Unified School District, UCSF is expanding access to educational pathways and creating opportunities for local community members to pursue training that supports long-term economic mobility.” said Jennifer Nazareno, Associate Dean, Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA). "We are especially excited that many members of the UCSF community who live and work in the Bay Area will be able to take advantage of this opportunity. We look forward to seeing how participants in the program will grow their careers and contribute their talents to the future UCSF and UCSF Health workforce.”
Pathways to entry include graduates of the Career Pathways Initiative, UCSF employees, as well as external candidates. Program graduates will be eligible to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification and contribute to delivering faster, high-quality patient care.
The inaugural cohort consists of 15 students who were selected through a competitive, non-lottery process from a pool of 120 applicants.
To ensure the program’s success, UCSF has established key collaborations with Learning & Organization Development, Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA), City College of San Francisco, and San Francisco Unified School District . These partnerships will further strengthen UCSF’s impact across the Bay Area and at locations such as St. Francis, St. Mary’s, and Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.