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1,500
Number of open job postings in radiology (as of July 2026)
The Challenge
Demand for diagnostic imaging is growing, but healthcare employers across Michigan are struggling to find talent. In July 2026, there were nearly 1,500 open job postings in the radiography field. In 2024, Michigan hospitals reported that their radiology units were operating 10% below optimal staffing levels, contributing to long waits for imaging. Healthcare employers have encouraged staff to move into radiography roles, but entering the field often requires students relocate or commute for in-person instruction. That can make it difficult for working learners to remain employed while completing their education. Rural hospitals are most impacted by this shrinking workforce because they compete with larger hospitals located closer to educational institutions that offer the required training.
The Solution
MWTEC was created to house the Educational Programs in Collaboration (EPiC) consortium, which brings accessible education to healthcare professionals. EPiC helps colleges offer hybrid healthcare programs with online academic coursework and clinical training at local facilities. Students take classes from educators across accredited institutions while receiving the same financial aid package and degree from their home college. The work of the consortium lowers the barrier to entry into the healthcare field, allowing colleges to diversify their programming affordably, and demonstrating that colleges can share resources while maintaining strong results.
MWTEC has designed the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Radiography program as an opportunity for students to obtain entry-level employment, particularly targeting rural communities. Through this program, students learn skills of entry-level radiologic technologists, such as capturing images of patients’ internal organs, soft tissues, and bone. Upon graduation, students sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Radiography Certification exam, which serves as the final step to becoming a certified and registered radiologic technologist.
Building Partnerships
EPiC uses an innovative employer-educator partnership model. Acting as a ‘facilitator of learning,’ MWTEC brings colleges and healthcare companies together around shared workforce needs. The radiography program began with students from Bay College and later expanded to five community colleges. MWTEC manages the curriculum, technology, program infrastructure, and employer outreach. As the program expands, MWTEC will also match students and employers for clinical requirements—planning, selecting, and administering hands-on experiences at hospitals, clinics, and other facilities.
Participating employers benefit from the EPiC program as it allows employees to remain engaged in the workforce while completing their degree. The first cohort of the AAS in Radiography program achieved a 100% full-time job placement rate, with learners securing radiologic technologist roles at multiple EPiC employer partner organizations. The subsequent cohort achieved a 90% full-time job placement rate. Sandra Riley, system director of workforce development at SSM Health said, “By investing in employees' education and providing clinical learning experiences within its own hospitals and ambulatory settings, SSM Health is strengthening its recruitment and retention strategy while building a sustainable internal pipeline of highly qualified imaging professionals.”
Implementation and Impact
MWTEC worked to ensure that students were prepared for success. Students participate in virtual reality simulations, allowing them to explore common scenarios they may face during clinicals in a safe, low-cost way. Once students are adequately prepared, they gain hands-on experience at clinical sites across Michigan.
Since launching in 2023, the AAS in Radiography program has experienced significant growth. Enrollment increased from eight students in 2023 to 60 students in Fall 2026. As of July 2026, students have improved credential outcomes, with a First-Time ARRT Certification Examination pass rate of 80%. Preliminary retention for the Class of 2027 is approximately 80%, reflecting MWTEC and its partners’ continued focus on student support, clinical coordination, and employer engagement.
The hybrid learning model proved as effective as traditional in-person radiography programs while improving affordability for both colleges and students. MWTEC emphasizes career readiness. As Amanda Morgan, the EPiC consortium imaging program director at MWTEC explained, “Our goal is not simply to enroll students, but to help them complete the program, earn their professional credential, and enter a high-demand career in the communities that need them.”
Lessons Learned
Amy Lee, president of MWTEC, cites the Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) framework’s dedication to collaboration and resource sharing as key to their success, saying: “When every partner contributes its strengths [to workforce development], we move beyond isolated programs and begin building a true workforce ecosystem. That is the foundation of the TPM model, and it has become the foundation of MWTEC.”
Through EPiC, colleges share curriculum, faculty expertise, technology and other resources, reducing the burden on any one institution. Because students receive their degrees from their home institution, participating colleges and universities can collaborate without transferring enrollment or graduation credit elsewhere. This model encourages education partners to see each other as allies, rather than competitors.
The AAS in Radiology program also demonstrates that employer-led education can improve the student workforce. “SSM Health has achieved a 100% learner retention rate among participants enrolled in the inaugural cohort, reflecting both strong learner engagement and the effectiveness of the employer-sponsored education model,” said Riley.
Scalability and Future Potential
MWTEC’s model is built to scale across regions rather than expanding opportunities at one educational site. The organization is currently increasing the geographic diversity of clinical partnerships throughout Michigan, specifically across the Upper Peninsula. MWTEC has brought EPiC to Wisconsin, Missouri, and Oklahoma through their partnership with SSM Health. The University of Vermont Health Network also intends to launch the EPiC model in 2027.
Jerry Baake, system director of workforce development at University of Vermont Health Network, described why these partnerships matter: “Innovative partnerships between healthcare providers and educational institutions are essential to addressing imaging workforce shortages, improving access to care, and ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality diagnostic services close to home.”
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