“It began with wanting to give back and help people,” says Andrew Harmon, LLCC instructor of radiography. And he has done just that — helping patients, colleagues and now students.

But radiography was not a career he always had his sights set on. Right after graduating high school, Harmon went to college to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science. While taking different introductory level courses, he discovered a passion for anatomy and anthropology — specifically, the study of bones.

So later in his 20s, he changed course and decided to pursue this interest by earning an associate degree in radiography from LLCC. He worked as a radiologic technologist at Springfield Memorial Hospital, helping patients by taking quality X-ray images to aid in the diagnosis of an injury or ailment. 

He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in radiologic science from the University of Wisconsin and advanced to work in radiologic quality management, ensuring equipment was working correctly and safely, and helping technologists improve positioning skills.

“I found I really enjoyed explaining processes that helped lead to better understanding. It got me thinking about what more I could do to pass that on.” He then became an instructor for LLCC’s radiography program in 2018. He now shares his on-the-job experiences and insights with students to help them prepare for their careers.

“I look at it from the student point of view, from where they’re starting, to help them build a foundation in radiography and then expand on that,” he says.       

At LLCC, radiography students get hands-on skill practice through positioning labs and clinicals. Harmon also offers interactive learning experiences in his classroom — including Kahoot! quizzes, team Jeopardy challenges, match games and even a stomach simulation with the creative use of a zip-top bag and syrup. 

“I always try to break up lecture and have an activity that reinforces the material covered. I’m a visual, hands-on type person, and those are ways of learning that students seem to enjoy.

“In radiography, we have to be adaptive. Every day is different,” adds Harmon. “And ultimately everything we’re doing always circles back to patients and how we can help them.

Radiography graduates are entering an in-demand field with 212,100 employed radiologic technologists and technicians earning an average of $61,900 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020).