Rad Tech Faculty
Julie Washenik
Rad Tech Department Chair
Program Director
Radiation Safety Officer
Rad Tech Building, Room RT 4
Email: @email
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2941
Julie Washenik is an alumna of the Los Angeles City College's Radiologic Technology Program (2014). Julie has an A.S. in Radiologic Technology from LACC, an A.S. in Computer Science from La Guardia Community College, NY, a B.S. in Digital Medical & Communications from NYU, NY, and an Executive Master's in Healthcare Administration from USC, CA.
Julie's key responsibilities include teaching full-time in the program and administrative duties as the Department Chair and Program Director, such as program development and student learning outcomes. Her priorities as a leader include inclusiveness, integrity, and the ability to train and mentor others to serve their community.
Julie is the current Chair of the AFT 1521's Work Environment Committee (WEC). She sits on the District WEC Committee, Facilities Planning Committee, Faculty Hiring Prioritization Committee, Program Review Committee, and College Council Committee.
Julie's specialties in teaching are Anatomy and Positioning, Patient Care, Clinical Education Courses, Radiation Protection, Image Production, Quality Management and Assurance, and our prerequisite courses (Introduction to Radiologic Technology and Medical Terminology).
In her free time, Julie loves to travel, cook, bake, knit, crochet, go hiking, and do pilates. Her favorite pastimes are pickleball, ping-pong, and tennis. Julie is a huge animal lover. She has four dogs and two guinea pigs.
Joyce Obeng
Assistant Professor
Clinical Coordinator
Alternate Radiation Safety Officer
Rad Tech Building, Room RT 8
Email: obengjb@laccd.edu
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2942
Joyce Obeng is an alumna of the Los Angeles City College's Radiologic Technology Program (2014). Joyce has an A.S. in Radiologic Technology from LACC, a B.S. in Medical Imaging and Healthcare Administration from Mercy College of Ohio (2017), and a Master's in Health Informatics from Loma Linda University, CA. (2019).
Joyce's primary responsibilities include being a Clinical Coordinator, Mammography Project Manager, and Alternate Radiation Safety Officer. Joyce's specialties in teaching are Electromagnetic Radiation and Physics, Radiographic Math, Radiation Protection, Anatomy and Positioning, Fluoroscopy procedures, Computed Tomography (CT) - Cross Sectional Anatomy, Image Production, Clinical Education courses, and our prerequisite courses.
Joyce loves to travel in her free time and is a big sports fan. Joyce loves watching basketball. Snowboarding is her favorite sport.
Ernesto Reyes
Assistant Professor
Rad Tech Building, Room RT 3A
Email: reyese7@laccd.edu
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2943
Coming soon.
Eric Banes
Lecturer
Rad Tech Building, Room RT 7
Email: baneser@laccd.edu
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2940
Eric Banes, an adjunct faculty member in the LACC Radiologic Technology Program, has continued to utilize his expertise and passion for educating and inspiring students for 13 years.
Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in radiation science and licenses in Registered Technologist (R.T.), Radiation Therapy (R)(T), and Certified Medical Dosimetrist (CMD).
Beyond his academic accomplishments and teaching achievements, Eric maintains his supervision and patient care and safety administration employment role at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California - Los Angeles Medical Center.
Eric Banes is dedicated to positively impacting healthcare by empowering his students to become confident, competent, and compassionate radiologic technologists. Outside of LACC, he works with our Rad Tech students, who rotate at the Radiation Oncology Department for the observational hours required to apply to the Radiation Therapy Program at City of Hope after graduation.
Eric's teaching specialties include Electromagnetic Radiation and Physics, Radiographic Math, Radiation Protection, and our prerequisite courses.
Eric is a huge sports fan. He loves to watch football in his free time.
Aaron Burton
Lecturer
Rad Tech Building, Room RT 9
Email: burtonam@laccd.edu
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2940
Aaron is the Assistant Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Kaiser Permanente - Los Angeles Medical Center (KP- LAMC). In addition, Aaron manages the Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound departments. Aaron has been employed at KP- LAMC for over 30 years. Aaron's humble beginnings started as a technologist in general radiography, Interventional Radiology (IR), Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and for the last 15 years as a department administrator. Aaron is an alum of LACC's Radiologic Technology Program and a California State University - Los Angeles (CSULA) graduate.
Aaron's specialties in teaching are Computed Tomography (CT), Fluoroscopy, Pharmacology, and Venipuncture with Basic Life Support and our prerequisite courses.
In his free time, Aaron loves to bake.
Rachelle Castino
Lecturer
Rad Tech Building, Room RT 9
Email: casintr@laccd.edu
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2940
Coming soon.
Vanessa Havakian
Lecturer
Rad Tech Building, Room RT 4
Email: Havakiv@laccd.edu
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2940
Vanessa Havakian is an adjunct faculty and a former LACC Radiologic Technology program graduate. Prior to attending LACC, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from CSUN. Her passion is to pay it forward and help new students find their path in the Radiologic Sciences field and guide them in the right direction.
Vanessa's specialties in teaching are Patient Care, Quality Management and Assurance, Clinical Education Courses, Anatomy and Positioning, and our prerequisite courses (Introduction to Radiologic Technology and Medical Terminology). Vanessa also assists with Clinical Coordinator duties.
In her free time, Vanessa loves to travel and is a big fan of the 80s show The Golden Girls. Her favorite character is Sophia Petrillo.
Fredrick D. Lee II
Lecturer
Rad Tech Building, Room RT 9
Email: leefd@laccd.edu
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2940
Dr. Fredrick D. Lee II, Ed.D., R.T. (R), CRA, FACHE, is a distinguished healthcare leader renowned for his transformative work and unwavering commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). His academic credentials include an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix, an MPA in Executive Healthcare Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler, and a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Lee’s professional journey is marked by significant leadership roles, including his tenure as the Regional Assistant Director of Diagnostic Imaging Operations at Kaiser Permanente. In this capacity, he spearheaded strategic initiatives, developed compliance programs, and streamlined operations, resulting in increased imaging capacity and service delivery improvements. As Chief Policy Officer at Think Neuro, he continues to champion inclusive healthcare policies and forge strategic partnerships to effect policy changes.
In addition to his healthcare operations roles, Dr. Lee is the CEO and a dedicated Change Practitioner at Change Your Life...Coaching & Consulting, where he focuses on building inclusivity, psychological safety, emotional intelligence development, and organizational excellence. His teaching role as an adjunct professor at Los Angeles City College further highlights his commitment to education and student success.
Dr. Lee’s notable achievements have earned him recognition and prestigious awards, such as the Distinguished Alum & Alumnus of the Year for Loma Linda University's School of Allied Health Professions in 2020 and the Leader Excellent Achievement Distinction (L.E.A.D.) Awards from Kaiser Permanente - SCPMG in 2017. He is passionate about leading compliance and operational excellence programs and advocating for equitable healthcare services.
His certifications include Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner, Certified Positive Psychology Health and Well-being Coach, and Certified Radiology Administrator. Dr. Lee is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). He is a Certified Radiologic Technologist with a Fluoroscopy certification from the California Department of Public Health. He is a registered radiographer (R) in the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Dr. Lee’s contributions to the field are also evident in his extensive professional speaking engagements, where he addresses critical topics such as patient advocacy, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and inclusive leadership.
Pornsakdi Thammaraks
Health Sciences Counselor
Email: thammap@laccd.edu
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2256
Pornsakdi (Pornsa) Thammaraks earned his Bachelors degree in Psychology with minors in Educational Psychology and Asian American studies from UC Santa Barbara. He then went on to earn his Masters in Counseling from CSU Long Beach. His professional experiences include counseling at San Jose State University, UC Irvine, Los Angeles Harbor College, El Camino College, and also here at LA City College, when he started as an adjunct counselor in 2016. Pornsa has worked with many student populations and programs, but spent the past eight years working with nursing and health science students at various community colleges.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling, cooking/baking, and playing tennis.