Meet the Faculty

LeAnn is a professor in the Vascular Technology Program. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging in 1992 from Oregon Tech. LeAnn then cross-trained in Vascular Technology and worked as a Registered Vascular Technologist until 1997, at which time she returned to Oregon Tech as a faculty member. LeAnn earned her master's degree in Education Administration and Supervision in 2001 from the University of Phoenix.

In her spare time she enjoys golfing and being outdoors. LeAnn also loves spending time with family, especially her grandchildren. Her motto is: "There are no dumb questions!"

Barry obtained his Master of Science Degree in Biology from Western Washington State College (now Western Washington University) in 1973. He then held a number of jobs, as varied as houseparent at a facility for troubled teenage girls, to Seasonal Park Naturalist at Olympic National Park. In 1976 he entered an AAS Program in Nursing at Peninsula College, Port Angeles, WA, graduating in 1978, and obtained his RN license.

As a Registered Nurse, Barry worked primarily in intensive care environments at Sacred Heart General Hospital in Eugene, OR prior to entering the AAS Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program at Spokane Community College in 1990, graduating in 1992. The 17 years prior to joining the Oregon Tech Faculty in September 2009, were spent employed at Bend Memorial Clinic, Bend, Oregon as a Cardiac Sonographer, then as Lead Cardiac Sonographer, in hospital, clinical, and mobile echo working environments. Barry maintains his Oregon RN license, and has RDCS and RCS registry in Adult Echocardiography.

Primary outside interests include photography, astronomy, and travel.

Rick is an Associate Professor and Program Director in the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program. He earned his B.S. degree from Oregon Tech in Allied Health with a major in Medical Technology. He then moved to Portland, OR to train in the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at the V.A. Hospital and then worked at Oregon Health Science Universtiy for several years.

Rick returned to Klamath Falls in 1999 and worked at Sky Lakes Medical Center for two years. He joined the faculty at Oregon Tech in 2002. During this time, Rick has also worked per diem as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist at Group Health Eastside hospital in Redmond, WA and Klamath Heart Clinic in Klamath Falls, OR. Rick earned his Masters in Management degree from Southern Oregon University in 2006 and is registered with the NMTCB and a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

Shirlee graduated from Portland State University in 1986 and later trained in the Nuclear Medicine Technology program at the Department of Veteran's Affairs in Portland, Oregon in 1992. She worked in clinical nuclear medicine at several hospitals in Oregon as well as Northern California, prior to coming to Oregon Tech in 2005 as an instructor in the Nuclear Medicine Technology program.

In addition to her teaching duties at Oregon Tech, Shirlee has made numerous trips to Honduras to teach nuclear medicine as a volunteer to staff at a non-profit cancer treatment center as well as at the National University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa.

Shirlee is currently serving her second term on the Oregon Board of Medical Imaging. She is also working on a Master’s degree in Radiation Health Physics from Oregon State University.

Jenny came to Oregon Tech in 1992. She is currently a professor in Radiologic Science as well as the externship coordinator for the same program. Prior to her current position she taught Radiographic Positioning for 15 years along with an assortment of other imaging classes and labs.

Jenny spends many of her days "on-the-road" visiting all the radiology extern sites. Adding to her travels, she also splits her time between the Wilsonville and Klamath Falls campuses. She says, "though traveling gets a little tiring - especially dealing with airline delays in airports - I feel that my job is one of the best jobs at Oregon Tech." She gets to see her students in the workplace applying all that on-campus knowledge to real patients - in real-life settings. "It's so rewarding to see their hard work in the classroom being utilized to diagnose illnesses to help patients get better" - "It doesn't get more real than this" she says, "I really enjoy my students. They are like my kids." Jenny is fortunate to be able to do both general radiography and mammography for several months each summer at one of her extern sites to satisfy professional development and to keep her skills current.

Jenny has been married to Scott Kellstrom since 1976. Scott was Oregon Tech Women's Basketball Assistant Coach from 2002-2010. They have two daughters and one son-in-law, all nurses! She has one grandson. Jenny has formed a close bond with many of her students, past and present, and she loves seeing them while visiting externship sites from Alaska to Arizona. "I am continually amazed when I think about the number of former students that I had a hand in teaching them a portion of their profession" she quotes. "I sure hope I did a good job!" she laughs!

Jenny's door is always open when she is on campus. Please stop by for a visit.

Gary Zimmerman trained in a 24 month hospital-based radiography program in Madison Wisconsin, before coming to Oregon Tech for one of the few undergraduate degrees available at that time. Following five years of experience as a staff technologist in all aspects of general Radiography, Fluoroscopy, Mobile and Surgical Radiography, Computed Tomography (CT), and Angiography, he started teaching as a clinical instructor in a hospital-based program in Oshkosh, and earned a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

In addition to 18 years of experience working in medical centers he holds registries in Radiography, CT, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR), and is director of the Radiologic Science Degree Completion Program, teaching five on-line courses. Gary came to Oregon Tech in 1995, and says the Medical Imaging Department attracts a high caliber of motivated students, and he enjoys working with a dedicated group of experienced professionals.

Chris Caster is currently program director. Chris has an Associate of Applied Arts degree in Diesel Technology from Oregon Tech, a Bachelor of Science degree in Vascular Technology from Oregon Tech, a Bachelor of Science degree in Pastoral Studies from Eugene Bible College and a Masters of Arts degree in Education Curriculum and Technology from the University of Phoenix.

Chris is active as an usher and teacher in his church. Chris’ hobbies include projects around the house and building and flying miniature aircraft. Chris enjoys downhill skiing for sport activity.