Riverland Community College Radiography Program faculty and students, along with staff of the New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC) presented Mary Donnelly, R.T. (R) (M) with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Certificate of Excellence Award for Clinical Educators on Feb. 6. The award recognizes a clinical educator from a JRCERT accredited program for achieving excellence in the radiologic sciences.

A clinical educator is a registered radiologic technologist who provides radiography students guidance during the time they work at a clinical site. The clinical educator provides supervision and acts as a liaison between the student and the clinical education center and the program faculty. Donnelly has been a clinical instructor with the Riverland program since 2003.

“Several Riverland students nominated Ms. Donnelly,” said Sandra Nauman, director of the Riverland Radiography program. “The students cited her excellent patient care, technical expertise and her outstanding and supportive mentoring skills.”

Donnelly was trained at the University of Minnesota and graduated from the Radiology program in 1962. She has been a radiologic technologist with the NUMC since 1975 and one of the lead technologists since 2005. She is registered in radiography and mammography. At the former New Ulm Medical Clinic, Donnelly was the Radiology supervisor. At NUMC, Donnelly works in general radiography, fluoroscopy, mammography and CT.

The Riverland Radiography program prepares students to become radiologic technologists. Clinical education opportunities at various health care facilities in southern Minnesota help students apply skills learned in the classroom. For more information, visit www.riverland.edu.