Alumni Spotlight

Nate Morgan

Nathan “Nate” Morgan holds our June Alumni Spotlight! Nate graduated December 2018 with an Associate of Science Degree in MRI. Less than a year since graduation, Nate has moved up to Portland, Oregon where he works at an imaging center, and with his fiancé just put a down payment on their first home – and he says “I owe it all to the program and becoming an MRI Technologist!

We wish Nate the best of luck in his new career as an MRI Technologist and know he will one day be “that tech” that others look up to.

What have you been doing since graduation?
After finishing school and passing the ARMRIT and ARRT I was offered a Per Diem position at Clearview MRI in Oregon.  I am working as an MRI Technologist at two of their four locations in the greater Portland area.

What do you do on a daily basis at your job?
I screen patients, prep them to be scanned as well as tailoring my scan to their specific needs.

What do you like about your career?
I love that I am in a career where I can help others and am doing a job in a field that is ever advancing instead of stagnant.

What are your career goals for the future?
In the future I would like to become a full-time MRI Tech and if eventually work my way into a managing position.

What advice can you give current students and new graduates that can help them be successful?
Do not give up, be confident and be open minded! Every MRI Tech has their own style and tricks, be open to their help, no matter how long someone has been working, they can still be taught new things.

How did Casa Loma College help you get where you are today?
If it wasn’t for the MRI program, I might still be working a dead-end job struggling to make ends meet.  Instead I am less than a year out of school and my fiancé and I just put a down payment on our first home and we are more financially secure than we have ever been.

What was your experience like getting a job after you graduated?  Did you use any of the school’s on-campus career services?  Did you find a job right away?
I was worried about finding a job especially because my fiancé and I had moved to a different state.  Do not hesitate to ask for help from the school, they were always willing to help me and give me ideas on how to market myself and get my name out in the imaging community.  From the time I became certified I found a job within two months, which in my opinion was pretty quick for someone just out of school and new to the state.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome getting into the program? While at School?
My biggest obstacle was continuing to work as much as I could at my old job.  It was tough at times finding time to study after a hard day at work, but I am so glad I did it.  I was able to start paying back my loans while I was still in school; and, that experience of not having a day off for weeks at a time, I believe is very character building.

Transitioning into the workforce?
This job may be different than what I used to do but dealing with the public and working as a team are skills that you need for many different types of jobs.  Honestly, I meshed extremely well with all of my coworkers very quickly, so I guess I was very lucky.

What are some highlights from your time at Casa Loma College?
Definitely the other students in my class! We came from all walks of life and it was awesome getting to know them.  There were also some great teachers and honestly the whole staff from the school was very nice and I appreciate all of them.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I love to go hiking with my fiancé and exploring as many places as we can.  We also love to go target shooting in the beautiful forests in Oregon.

Where do you see yourself five years from now in your career?
I believe I will have a steady full-time position hopefully with the company I am working for right now and I hope to be the kind of MRI Tech that others look up to and do not hesitate to ask questions or help from.