From volunteer to full-time colleague, Mason Coulon is excited about what’s next

He’s known for a long time he wants to help people. When Mason Coulon became a volunteer with Nebraska Medicine in the spring of 2024, that belief was confirmed.
“I loved it,” he recalls. “I was able to connect with so many different people - nurses, doctors, and respiratory therapists. I got to see a lot of stuff.”
Empowered by the experience, and with a desire to do more, Coulon took steps to become a full-time employee. Radiology has always been an area of interest of his, especially after volunteering in X-ray at Nebraska Medical Center, helping patients get ready for their imaging exam.
“I met with the leaders of CT/MRI to share my interest in working full-time in their area,” Coulon says.
So when a full-time position opened for a Radiology Assistant earlier this year, those leaders encouraged him to apply.
“This position is a great steppingstone for me and provides me the opportunity to work in patient care,” Coulon says, who has known for awhile he wants to purse an education in Radiology.
He has since been accepted into the UNMC Radiography Program, which is one of our Critical Career Pathway Programs. His program begins in August.
For colleagues in one of our Critical Pathways Programs, they are eligible for $5,000 in tuition reimbursement, regardless of whether they’re full-time, part-time, or casual. Those pathways include:
- AS or BS Radiologic Technology
- AS or BS Respiratory Therapy
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Nursing
- Paramedic
- Medical Assistant (MA)
- Surgical Technologist
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
This is great news for people like Coulon, who may not be able to manage working full-time with their academic coursework.
“I’m very excited to be in a place where I am able to work towards my end goal,” Coulon says.