NYS bans John Patrick University program from issuing new X-ray tech licenses

In a dispute that has left hundreds of aspiring X-ray technicians from New York in limbo after spending thousands of dollars in tuition, the state has barred an Indiana-based university that partnered with regional hospital systems from issuing new licenses, saying it lacked proper accreditation and students were not appropriately supervised.

A June 10 letter from the state Department of Health to John Patrick University of Health and Applied Science ordered the school to stop soliciting and enrolling students for the distance learning program, which has been offered in New York since 2021. Along with the accreditation issue, state officials said students were not being directly supervised by state-licensed radiologic technologists.

The university responded with a lawsuit filed in state court Tuesday, calling allegations that students weren't properly supervised "vague, unfounded assertions." It included affidavits from six radiology experts — including managers from Northwell Health and NewYork-Presbyterian, which offer tuition discounts to their employees and their families — that students at their facilities were supervised by licensed practitioners. Since 2021, the state has issued licenses to 79 of the program's graduates. 

The university's lawsuit, which seeks to reverse the health department's decision, also said the state's claim that the school needs accreditation from a national organization called the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) was a change that bypassed the state's regular rulemaking procedures.

John Patrick University froze new enrollments after the DOH letter was received.

According to court records, 571 students are currently in the program and approximately 85% either live in New York or intend to ultimately become licensed in the state. More than 90 students were expected to graduate between August and September of this year. 

The lawsuit includes signed statements from more than 200 students saying the health department's decision "jeopardizes my professional future and ability to financially support myself."

In a statement to Newsday sent by John Patrick University President Michael Dubanewicz, the school said it will "continue to advocate fiercely on behalf of its students and graduates," and said the state’s actions were "neither appropriate nor supported by the current New York regulations as they are written."

State Health Department spokeswoman Danielle DeSouza said in an email to Newsday that the department "cannot comment due to pending litigation."

In the June 10 letter from Charles J. Burns, director of the state Health Department's Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection, Radioactive Materials Section to Dubanewicz, the agency said it will only accept training certifications from accredited programs, and only accreditation from JRCERT is "being accepted at this time."

Burns also warned that if the school offers a course of study in radiologic technology without "compliant accreditation and subsequent compliance with student supervision requirements, the Department will be compelled to pursue administrative penalties."

JRCERT did not return requests for comment. 

It is unclear whether the state's decision will impact graduates of the program who previously received their licenses.

The 60 credit program offers students a pathway to a career as a radiologist in about two years, depending how many courses they take. Each credit costs about $667, or a total of $40,020, not including discounts.

Local health systems including New Hyde Park-based Northwell Health, Manhattan-based Mount Sinai Health System and NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital signed agreements with the school allowing students to obtain clinical experience at their facilities, as well as tuition discounts for employees and their families.

A spokesman for Northwell Health said the health system is aware of the situation but is still assessing the impact and had no further comment.

Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian did not respond to request for comment.

Radiologic technologists maintain the imaging equipment, prepare patients for procedures and take the X-ray images. With some additional certifications they can also perform other diagnostic imaging such as CT scans and mammograms. 

The median annual wage for radiologic technologists and technicians was $77,660 in May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workers in the lowest 10% range percent earned less than $52,360, while those in the highest 10% earned more than $106,990.

A Change.org petition titled "Let Us Work: Stop NY from Destroying JPU Radiology Careers," had 2,257 signatures as of Friday. It calls on state officials in Albany to reverse the health department's decision.

"They’re blocking licenses, killing job offers, and wrecking futures over a made-up technicality," the petition states. "If this doesn’t get reversed, it won’t just cost us careers."

Long Island students interviewed by Newsday, who did not want to be identified because they're worried about their current jobs at Northwell facilities, said the program was appealing because they could take courses online while continuing at their current jobs. But now they are stuck with thousands of dollars in loans and no word whether they will be able to eventually get a license.

"Northwell actually sent employees emails saying you can be an X-ray tech in 16 months," said one student. "It seemed like a great option."

Currently, 25 students recently passed their American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam, the final step before seeking a license from the state, according to court records. Another 25 are applying to sit for the exam.

As of June 23 only 12 students have requested to withdraw from the program, according to the court filings.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.