Kish College Radiology: all in the family

Carolyn Buhr, Malta, is a graduate of the Radiologic Technology program at Kishwaukee College and received her pin on Saturday, June 25 at the College. In the audience was her grandfather, Robert Canova, who started the Radiology Program at Kishwaukee College in 1969. “It was just thrilling to see her be pinned!” Canova said.

When Carolyn Buhr, Malta, stepped up to be pinned at Kishwaukee College on Saturday, June 25 as a symbol of completing the Radiologic Tech Program at the College, there was one member of the auditorium for whom the moment was extra special: her grandfather, Robert Canova. Canova started the Radiology Program at Kishwaukee College in 1969.

Canova was a combat medic with the U.S. Air Force from 1956 – 60 and returned to DeKalb County to work as an X-Ray Tech. When Kishwaukee College opened in 1968, Canova met Dr. Lamar Fly, the College’s first President, and mentioned that the local area could use a program to train new radiology techs. Dr. Fly responded, “Why not set up a program at Kishwaukee?” So Canova elicited the help of fellow Malta native and friend Paul Andresen and did just that. “I brought the first x-ray equipment from Aurora and put it in the old Quonset huts at the College,” he recalled. “We ended up with 36 students at nine hospital sites.” He became the College’s first Radiology Program Director, retiring in 1989.

Over 20 years under his watchful eye, Canova established the Kishwaukee Program as top-notch preparation for students pursuing a career in radiology and watched the field change from training “X-Ray Techs” to educating Radiologic Technicians. “The new digital equipment?” he laughed. “My goodness. Amazing. Just amazing what they can do now.” To watch his grand-daughter walk across the stage to receive her pin on Saturday was a moment Canova will cherish. “It was just thrilling to see her be pinned!” he said.

It is a tradition among Radiologic Tech grads at Kishwaukee College publicly thank family and friends after being pinned and bestow flowers on the people who supported and inspired them to pursue and complete the rigorous program. After receiving her pin, Carolyn Buhr recognized her grandfather, the man responsible for providing this opportunity for her and many other students at Kishwaukee College.