Three Faculty Members Earn Dr. Patricia Book Perry Scholarly Project Award

Clarkson College awards the Dr. Patricia Book Perry Scholarly Project Award each year to faculty members who develop and complete a scholarly project benefitting the College and its students. Trish Weber, MHA, R.T. (R)(CT)(ARRT), Katie Fulton, M.S., RT (R)(VI)(ARRT) and Joey Battles, M.Ed., R.T. (R)(CT)(QM)(MR)(ARRT), instructors in the Radiography and Medical Imaging programs, earned the 2019 award for their project “3D Printing: The Future of Health Care Education.”

In their application, the group proposed the development of a 3D printing lab at the College to ensure that the institution remains at the forefront of health care education. They highlighted the growing effectiveness of 3D printing capabilities within the medical field and how implementing the technology at the College can improve student learning abilities. According to research, three dimensional models give students access to “tactile learning activities that are tailored to their specific learning needs not obtainable via static anatomic models.”

The proposal also included a recommendation for a 3D Printing Certificate within the Clarkson College Medical Imaging program. The department would implement the curriculum during the 2020-21 academic year, with coursework focused on preparing students to be knowledgeable and proficient in the 3D printing process. The certificate option will prepare technologists for hospital settings in which dedicated 3D labs are becoming more common.

The group highlighted how both the 3D printing lab and the focused curriculum would benefit the institution as a whole. Students and faculty across all disciplines can use the lab to recreate anatomical models, which encourage hands-on learning experiences and critical thinking. Implementation of the 3D lab would also be more efficient than a traditional cadaver lab because of fewer regulatory requirements and minimal staff training.

The faculty members’ proposal is in line with the goals of the award’s namesake, Dr. Patricia Book Perry who showed tremendous dedication to providing high quality education. The College created the award in her honor to support faculty members involved in the development and completion of a scholarly project benefiting the College as well as its academic programs and students. Eligible applicants must be full- or part-time faculty members currently teaching in a Clarkson College academic or professional development program who have been at the College for a minimum of three years. Along with their proposal outline and application, applicants must demonstrate measurable objectives, benefits to the College, academic program or students, and an estimated time to complete the project.