Rising Star: Chad Behrens

Chad Behrens, R.T.(R)(CT), holds an associate degree in applied science and serves as the site manager for Banner Imaging Skyline/McKee Breast Center. He is a rising star within Banner Imaging and the overall imaging field. ICE magazine recently found out more about Behrens and his imaging journey.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: I grow up in a small town called Merino in northeastern Colorado

Q: Where did you receive your imaging training/education? 

A: I attended McCook Community College in Nebraska for my pre-requisite classes and then transferred to Southeast Community College to complete the radiology technologist program. I graduated with an Associates of Applied Science. I started working the day after graduating at Haxtun Hospital in Colorado where I received training in computer tomography and received my Colorado computer tomography operator’s license. After a couple of years, I became a certified CT technologist.  

Q: How did you first decide to start working in imaging?

A: I was an accident-prone child and spent more time in the ER than most kids, this allowed me firsthand experience in the imaging world. This definitely helped pique my interest in the medical field. On a job shadowing event in the ER, I got to shadow the imaging department and that sealed the deal for me. 

Q: Why did you choose to get into this field?

A: I have always enjoyed helping people and I like to be part of the action. On my job shadowing event, I was there to be an ER nurse but after the trauma and chaos was over there was just charting and typing. At that time, I would say my typing skills were nonexistent, so charting for multiple hours didn’t seem the best fit. I noticed the imaging department was involved in every trauma event I encountered that day. I asked if I could shadow them for a little while. After a couple of hours shadowing the imaging department, I knew this was the direction I wanted to take. 

Q: What do you like most about your position? 

A: I would say I love my team and the fact that everyday there is a new situation or issues that arise that need a solution. I love being part of the solution and thinking outside of the box to figure it out. This allows me to grow and learn something new daily. 

Q: What interests you the most about the imaging field? 

A: The fast pace and the constant change, whether with each individual patient or with our technology constantly advancing. 

Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment in your field thus far? 

A: My greatest accomplishment has been my ability to have fellow staff grow in the imaging field. Over the course of my management career, I have had the pleasure of doing this in many different settings; coordinating and planning out trainings for staff to be crossed trained into different modalities, creating succession planning and training for our new leads and future managers. 

Q: What goals do you have for yourself in the next 5 years? 

A: I plan on receiving my CRA and continue to grow as a leader with Banner Imaging and eventually become an associate director for the Colorado locations. I want to help Banner Imaging expand in Colorado with additional locations and be a key member in the startup/expansion.