Jonathan Mazal, MS, RRA, RT(R)(MR), and the Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists are the recipients of the 2013 ASRT Award for Outstanding Grass-roots Advocacy. Established by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists in 2003, the annual award recognizes one ASRT member and one affiliate society for their outstanding legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of the radiologic science community.
Jonathan and the OSRT have been involved in monitoring health care legislation and educating state and federal lawmakers about patient safety and the need for professional standards for radiologic technologists.
Mazal is a member of the ASRT Grass-roots Network and serves on the ASRT Committee on RT Advocacy. A supporter of establishing federal certification and education standards for radiologic technologists, Mazal has participated in a number of RT in DC advocacy events to educate lawmakers about the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill. He also was instrumental in securing cosponsors for the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act, which was introduced in Congress earlier this year. In addition to his federal advocacy efforts, Mazal is active at the state level. He coauthored a health policy manual for the OSRT and established a Health Policy Committee for the Maryland Society of Radiologic Technologists.
The OSRT has worked hand in hand with the ASRT throughout the years to secure support for the CARE bill. In the 112th Congress, the organization focused its efforts on securing CARE bill supporters and finished the session with nine cosponsors. In addition to its federal advocacy efforts, the OSRT’s Health Policy Committee monitors state legislation and participates in Ohio Department of Health subcommittee meetings to stay abreast of issues that affect radiologic technologists in the state.
