Professional Mentor Program for Imaging Technologists
Welcome to the Professional Mentor Program for Imaging Technologists (PMPIT). This program matches immigrant and international students enrolled in either the Medical Radiologic Technology (MRT) Diploma or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Spectroscopy Post-Graduate Diploma program at Red River College with a practicing imaging technologist for support and voluntary mentorship during the student’s studies.
The PMPIT currently runs three times per year to meet the needs of all eligible students in the various MRT and MRIs’ intakes. The program requires 10 hours of commitment including a minimum of five hours of conversational mentoring and five hours of job shadowing at the technologist’s place of work, plus a 90-minute orientation meeting. However, many partnerships will choose to meet for more than 10 hours.
In addition, imaging technologists are encouraged to arrange a job shadowing opportunity at the mentor’s place of work.
Partnerships meet at a time and place of mutual convenience, and support is provided to each partnership throughout the program. All partners receive a formal certificate of completion from Red River College.
Benefits to practicing imaging technologists include: enhanced cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity, greater leadership and professional development skills, and increased self-knowledge.
Benefits to students include: increased self-esteem and confidence, exposure to new areas of the profession, a deepened understanding of the workplace culture/scope/practice, and an opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment as they prepare for a successful career.
Skills required for this volunteer position include: Patience, Warmth, Coaching Skills, Active Listening Skills, Openness to Change, and Flexibility. Also, the position requires knowledge in at least some of these areas: Workplace Culture in Canada; Employment Information and Support; Career Development Options; Medical Terminology; HR/Administration in the Workplace; Ability to Role-Play/De-brief/Discuss Workplace Scenarios; Ability to support a student preparing for their exam. Previous mentoring skills are valuable but not required.
Practicing imaging technologists are invited to apply at any time and will be matched with a student for the next available program delivery. Students must be an immigrant or international student enrolled in either the MRT or MRI diploma at Red River College to be eligible for this program.