SLU Radiation Therapy Students Shine at CART Conference

Saint Louis University (SLU) Radiation Therapy students Leah Mann and Lauren Hass won first and second place, respectively, in the poster competition at the Chicago Area Radiation Therapy (CART) conference in April. Mann’s poster was titled Long-Term Outcomes of Photon Radiotherapy in Pediatric CNS Tumors and Hass’s poster was titled Radiation Recall Dermatitis Induced by Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer Patients. Mann and Hass both earned a cash prize for their achievements.

Leah Mann (left) earned first place in the Chicago Area Radiation Therapy Conference student poster competition and Lauren Hass (right) took second place.

SLU Radiation Therapy students Irma Alagic, Semira Alic, Victoria Bockstruck, Erica Bondoc, Alyssa Capizzi, Raveena Chauhan, Alyssa Johann, Emily McHugh, Aslynn Steek and Kelly Stumpf all also competed in the research poster competition. In addition, McHugh and Stumpf competed as a team in the conference’s scholar bowl.

CART was founded in 1976 to provide radiation therapists with continuing education, leadership, legislative support and development of future radiation therapy professionals. The annual conference allows radiation therapists and students from the region to come together and learn, network and advance the profession of radiation therapy. The CART annual conference features a professional program for current radiation therapy professionals and a student program for students enrolled in a radiation therapy education program.

SLU Radiation Therapy Program Director Kathy Kienstra, MAT, RT(R)(T), believes the CART conference is an excellent event for radiation therapy students to attend and gain important experience.

“The conference offers the students an opportunity to showcase the SLU Radiation Therapy program, enter their research poster in a competition that allows them to present their posters on a regional level, test their knowledge of radiation therapy against other national radiation therapy programs and attend board exam review sessions with students from other radiation therapy programs,” Kienstra said.

Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of nearly 13,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.