Last October, Northside Hospital quietly opened the doors of the Northside Hospital School of Radiology. No admissions essay, no four-year commitment, just eighteen months and a promise. The hospital had watched radiology jobs pile up faster than anyone could fill them, so it opened the Northside Hospital School of Radiography, growing its own workforce, student by student. Tuition runs a fraction of comparable programs, and Northside Hospital offers further competitive discounts for students who join the organizational workforce. The first class graduates in December 2026.
The two people who built the Northside Hospital School of Radiography did not have years to plan it. Jamie Bailey, Program Director, and Abby Carter, Clinical Coordinator, joined Northside in mid-August 2025 and started building the program from the ground up almost immediately, writing curriculum, setting up the simulation lab, and lining up clinical rotations across five hospitals and more than seventy imaging locations statewide. The inaugural cohort walked into the classroom on October 20 and started clinical education the following week. We sat down with Jamie to talk about what that first year looked like, and why she believes this program is unlike anything else in the county.
Q: You had only a few months to build this from nothing. What did that actually look like?
A: It was fast. Abby and I joined in mid-August, and we were developing processes, resources, and systems while we were already teaching our first students. Our students entered the classroom on October 20 and started clinical rotations the next week. Despite the pace, they showed up every day with enthusiasm and professionalism, and they have consistently exceeded what we expected of them.
Q: Who is this program really for?
A: People who are passionate about patient care, committed to lifelong learning, and ready to build a rewarding career in medical imaging. We see people from all walks of life, some students in their 40’s and 50’s looking for a career change. Then we see the other side of the spectrum, a fresh-faced 20-year-old ready to start their career and change the world.
Q: What does a typical day look like for students?
A: They start with lectures covering anatomy, patient care, and radiation safety, then move into our energized X-ray lab to practice positioning before they touch a patient. From there, they rotate through Northside's hospitals and outpatient centers, working supervised shifts alongside registered technologists until the classroom skills become second nature.
Q: What has surprised you most about this first year?
A: How much we grew right alongside our students. While they were learning the art and science of radiography, Abby and I were learning Northside's systems and building the foundation for every class after this one. It has been one shared journey of teamwork and growth, and watching our first cohort come full circle to become mentors. Beyond that, our real goal is for them to stay long after the guarantee ends. We support this with modality internships and leadership development to ensure a real path forward. Some will come back as mentors and preceptors, which is the heart of what we are building here.
"Eighteen months. One promise. One new career."
By the Numbers:
Twenty-plus students in the founding class last October, with a second cohort already selected to begin this fall. Eighteen months from first day to graduation, with rotations spread across five hospitals and more than seventy imaging locations in North Georgia. With tuition discounts, robust career growth opportunities, and commitment to excellence; Northside Hospital is excited to see the positive impact this program will have on our students and communities.
"You could be in your fifties and start over, or eighteen and fresh out of high school. There's a lot of opportunity here for everyone." Karl Sadler, Operations Director, Northside Hospital Cherokee