Faces of Rad Tech: Meghan Potts (‘28) Finds Her Path at Spalding

When Meghan Potts first enrolled in college, she tried majoring in psychology, dental hygiene, and nursing. None of them felt right. Today, she is part of the first cohort in Spalding University’s new radiologic technology program, and she knows exactly where she’s headed.

“It feels amazing just to be a student again,” she said. “I didn’t think I would ever be back in college.”

Searching for the Right Fit

A Louisville native and graduate of Louisville Male High School, Meghan stepped away from college and took a job at a ski resort in Wyoming. She loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do forever.

Back in Louisville, her mom suggested allied health careers like ultrasound and radiologic technology, fields Meghan had never heard of before. She found a “day in the life” video on YouTube, where a radiologic technologist walked through her workday.

For the first time, Meghan saw a health care career she could picture herself in.

“It was just so perfect, because I don’t like sitting around all the time. I like to be up and doing stuff,” she said.

Many programs had waitlists until 2027. Then her mom told her about Spalding’s new program launching in Fall 2026.

A Program Built to Meet a Need

Spalding launched its radiologic technology program to help close a growing workforce gap. Since the pandemic, demand for radiologic technologists in Kentucky has surged, but training hasn’t kept pace. Louisville’s existing programs are full, with waiting lists numbering in the hundreds.

“Spalding’s whole philosophy is to meet the needs of the city,” said Jamie Tilton, director of radiologic technology and allied health. “We wanted to give students another option, right here in Louisville, that could get technologists onto the floor and working.”

The 22-month associate’s degree is delivered in focused eight-week blocks, so students immerse themselves in one subject before advancing. Coursework is paired with clinical work, so students practice in a real hospital what they’re studying in class.

Over the course of the program, they log more than 1,000 clinical hours across pediatrics, the operating room, the emergency room, trauma, and portable imaging.

Before applying, Meghan met one-on-one with Tilton and came away inspired by how deeply Tilton cares about the program. Having someone who is excited for her and wants her to succeed, Meghan said, has made all the difference.

Learning in a New Way

Meghan is now taking anatomy and physiology. Anatomy was a course she struggled with the first time around, but this time, she’s earning strong grades and surprising herself in the process.

Part of the difference is the format. Her class covered the entire muscular system in just two class sessions, giving her time to study the details on her own before the exam.

The classroom feels different, too. Instead of large lectures, she learns alongside about 20 classmates, with a professor who makes sure everyone understands before moving on. She calls the way he explains things “perfect” for her learning style.

She also credits a change in herself. This time, she’s excited to be in school and sees a clear path ahead. She’ll begin her first radiologic technology courses and clinicals this winter.

Looking Ahead

Meghan is set to graduate in 2028, prepared to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), the credential the field requires. Graduates also have clear paths to specialize later in areas like CT and MRI. Mammography has already caught Meghan’s interest.

She plans to gain experience in Louisville, stay in Kentucky, and maybe even try working as a travel radiologic technologist to see more of the country.

For anyone considering the field, her advice is to research it “because the more I learn about it, the cooler it gets.”

And for people who might doubt they belong in college, as she once did, Meghan has seen firsthand what Spalding’s radiologic technology program values.

“They really look for people who have a passion to help other people,” Meghan said. “Not just students who get straight A’s in all their subjects.”