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Board Contacts

Below is the contact information for the Board of Directors for AEIRS

Chair of the Board

Paula Pate-Schloder, MS, R.T. (R)(CV)(CT)(VI)
Work 570-674-6303
E-mail ppate-schloder@aeirs.org

Paula Pate-Schloder completed her undergraduate work at Northern Arizona University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Radiography. She earned her Master's degree from College Misericordia in Educational Technology.

Paula has a diverse background in medical imaging and hospital administration. She was supervisor of Special Procedures at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia. Paula also was Chief Technologist at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware and served as the Risk Manager there before coming to Misericordia.

Paula has been teaching full time at Misericordia University for 18 years as both a didactic and clinical instructor. Paula also has been an adjunct faculty member at King's College in the Physician Assistant Program for 9 years. She has represented the college of health sciences on numerous committees and served for three years as Chair of the Faculty Senate. Paula has advanced certifications in cardiovascular interventional technology, computed tomography and vascular interventional technology. She has lectured at many state and national conferences and is published in Merrill's Atlas.

President

Deborah Leighty, M. Ed., R.T. (R)(BD)
Work 813-253-7416
E-mail dleighty@aeirs.org

Deborah Leighty has been the clinical coordinator for the radiography program at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida since 2005. Prior to that, she has been adjunct faculty, clinical faculty and on the advisory board since 1999.

Deborah completed her radiography education at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois in 1987. Both her bachelors (1999) and her masters (2003) degrees came from National-Louis University in Chicago, Illinois. She has been a member of FSRT since 1992, ASRT since 1999 and AEIRS since 2003. She has the "View from the Classroom" columnist for ADVANCE for Imaging and Radiation Oncology from 2003 to 2009 and was the author of a weekly blog for ADVANCE called "Lessons in Radiography" from 2009 to 2011. She is a site visitor for J.R.C.E.R.T. as well.

Deborah considers herself a transplanted Floridian after moving to Florida over 20 years ago. She currently lives in Tampa with her husband Ralph and their two very spoiled cats

President-Elect

Kenya Haugen, MS, R.T. (R)
Work 210-297-9165
E-Mail khaugen@aeirs.org

Kenya R. Haugen currently serves as the Director for Medical Imaging Technology at the Baptist Health System School of Health Professions in San Antonio, TX. She has been in the field of imaging education since 2006. Kenya received her certificate as a Radiologic Technologist from the United States Army. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a BS in Natural Sciences and earned a MS in Biology with an emphasis in Exercise Science from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Kenya received her commission graduating from UCCS and continues to proudly serve her country as a Captain in the US Army Reserves. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.

Kenya is originally from southern California and feels right at home in Texas. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She has served as the Vice President of the Reserve Officer Association and an active member of the local and national organizations for Radiologic Technologists.

Secretary/Treasurer

Jennifer Chiu, MBA RT(R)
Work 718-990-8419
E-mail jchiu@aeirs.org

Jennifer Chiu has been the clinical coordinator for the radiologic sciences program at St. John's University since 2008 and has just recently been appointed the director of the radiologic sciences program. She has been educating radiography students since 2006 while working clinically at an outpatient center.

Jennifer graduated with her BS in Management and Finance from Binghamton University, received her certificate in radiography from Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers and earned her MBA in Health Care Administration. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Dowling College expecting her EdD in Educational Administration next year.

Jennifer is born and raised in New York City and could not imagine living elsewhere as she loves spending time with family. Other hobbies include traveling and reading. She is a member of local and national organizations for Radiologic Technologists and is excited about being more involved.

Director-at-Large

John William Eichinger, MSRS, R.T. (R) (CT)
Work 843-470-8397
E-Mail jeichinger@aeirs.org

John Eichinger currently serves as founding program director at Technical College of The Lowcountry in Beaufort, South Carolina. Prior to accepting this position, Mr. Eichinger served as clinical faculty at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida and as program director in Lancaster, Ohio. Mr. Eichinger also has extensive experience in diagnostic radiology and served eight years as Radiology Department Manager.

Born in southeastern Ohio, John received his Radiologic Technology education at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital, Parkersburg, West Virginia, a bachelor’s degree from Salem College, and a master’s from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Mr. Eichinger is a member of the A.S.R.T. as well as the South Carolina Society of Radiologic Technologists where he is a member of the Council on Education. He has been a past member of the West Virginia, Ohio, and Florida societies. A supporter of programmatic accreditation, John is a site visitor for the J.R.C.E.R.T.

John lives in Bluffton, South Carolina with his greatest admirers, his two cats, and is a die-hard college sports fan with his two favorite teams being the Florida Gators and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Director-at-Large

Tracy Herrmann, M.Ed., R.T. (R)
Work 513-745-5689
E-Mail therrmann@aeirs.org

Tracy Herrmann has been a radiographer and educator at the University of Cincinnati for over 25 years. She is presently a Professor and Program Director for the Radiologic Technology program and teaches radiography courses related to equipment, image production, and image critique. Her radiologic technology education was completed at The Ohio State University and her Master's degree in Health Education was earned at the University of Cincinnati.

Tracy has been a member of AEIRS since 1988. She is a past-president of Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists (OSRT) and remains very active. She has also served as Ohio, Region VI, and Education delegate for the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and is presently a representative to the Image Gently Campaign for digital radiography and fluoroscopy initiatives. Tracy is an accreditation site visitor and team chair for the JRCERT. She has presented nationally on active learning strategies including program based learning and concept mapping and has a special interest in digital radiography and radiation protection.

Director-at-Large

Kim Metcalf, Ed. D., R.T. (R) (T) (MR)
Work 207-625-4265
E-Mail kmetcalf@aeirs.org

Kim Metcalf is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Research and Leadership at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. She was previously an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Medical Imaging Program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA.

Dr. Metcalf completed both her Radiography and Radiation Therapy degrees at Southern Maine Community College and her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Southern Maine. She also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire and a Doctoral Degree in Higher Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Metcalf has over 25 years of experience in the radiologic sciences having held clinical, management, administration, and education positions in the profession. She currently serves as a member of the Editorial Review Board for both the ASRT Radiologic Technology journal and the AEIRS Radiologic Science & Education journal. She has several publications and presentations to her credit and she was just awarded the Jean I. Widger distinguished author award along with her co-authors for the best peer-reviewed article published in the ASRT Radiologic Technology journal in 2010.

Kim lives in West Baldwin, ME with her husband David. They have two daughters, one is a sophomore at Maine Maritime Academy and the other is a senior in high school. Kim's niece also lives with them and she is also a senior in high school. Kim's hobbies include watching and feeding birds, landscaping and gardening. Kim currently serves as the President of the Maine Maritime Academy Parent's Association.

Kim has been a member of the ASRT since 1987 and a member of AEIRS since 2006. She is excited about being more involved with the AEIRS organization and seeks to support the profession of radiologic science through the mentoring and encouraging of members to conduct research and disseminate their works through publication and presentations.



Committees, Appointees, Liaisons

AEIRS Staff