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UK research radiographer wins ESR award for work on AI
This year’s European Congress of Radiology Radiographer Research Presentation Abstract Award has gone to a UK research radiographer for her work with AI.
Gemma Walsh is a CT and MRI lead radiographer working at the NHS Wood Green Community Diagnostic Centre, as well as being a research radiographer herself.
Ahead of this year's European Congress of Radiology, hosted by the European Society of Radiology, Gemma's research project, 'R-AI-diographers: Exploring the changing professional role and identity of radiographers in Europe in the era of artificial intelligence (AI),' was selected by the radiographers’ scientific subcommittee.
The project centred on a continent-wide survey investigating radiographers’ thoughts and opinions on the impact of AI implementation on radiographer roles, responsibilities, and professional identities, with over 2,200 participants from 37 different countries.
Gemma Walsh
Gemma Walsh
MRI radiographer wins prestigious national doctoral fellowship
Eric Onwuharine
Eric Onwuharine
An MRI radiographer at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has beaten hundreds of other applicants in efforts to achieve the National Institute for Health and Care Research's (NIHR) Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (DCAF).
Eric Onwuharine is an MRI radiographer at the Royal Stoke University Hospital who participated in the award by developing a strong research proposal and undergoing an interview as part of the DCAF process.
Mr Onwuharine will begin his three-year research as part of his PhD into improving prostate cancer pathways in the spring, and was awarded £283,000 towards his research from the NIHR.
He will continue his role at University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) during this period.
On his chosen subject, Mr Onwuharine explained every patient who receives a prostate MRI scan receives a contrast dye injection, but research suggests this is not always needed.
His proposal will look into whether radiographers can take on these reviewing and decision-making tasks in the place of radiologists. Reducing the number of contrast injection appointments will improve both patient experience and save costs for the NHS, he said.
Cardiac lead radiographer to retire after 40 years
A cardiac lead radiographer is retiring from the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) after 40 years.
Sharon Slade trained at the Bath School of Radiography straight out of school, before starting her employment in January 1984. She worked first as a dark room technician for two months, then began her career in radiography after her 21st birthday.
The RUH explained that when Ms Slade first started there was a lower age limit for those going into radiography.
On her career, Ms Slade said: "When I first started we had no CT scanners and MRI was in its infancy. I spent the first few years doing general radiography. Once CT came in I got to do that too. But in those days it would take at least 30 minutes to scan a head... now we're talking 30 seconds!
"Then I discovered the world of interventional radiology, and I was lucky enough to be the radiographer on the first ever abdominal aortic stent done at the RUH. Soon after that our first cath lab was built, and I was hooked."
Ms Slade said that in retirement, she plans to deactivate her early morning alarm, open her curtains and see what the day brings – and she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and family.
Diagnostic radiographer helps win research grant for Manchester Metropolitan University
Diagnostic radiographer James McStravick and his team have been awarded a research grant of £400,000, which will go to the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport (IoS) to research healthy ageing.
Mr McStravick is a co-applicant on the grant and also sits on the SoR Research Advisory Group.
This grant, provided by the Wolfson Foundation, will support new equipment and a biomedical imaging laboratory, the ACTIVE lab, which will enhance research in human movement and how it is affected in people with dementia, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.
The specialist imaging equipment will enhance the current MRI scanner at the IoS. The lab will also allow researchers to track changes in blood oxygenation and volume from certain diseases, simulate new environments to study psychological impact in virtual reality, use motion capture to monitor movement, and use respiratory equipment to research fatigue.
The ACTIVE lab will be complete in July and will help the IoS tackle the challenges of an ageing population in mobility, social connection, dementia, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases as well as chronic fatigue.
New discoveries in the lab will help shape and inform public policy and health practice in the city-region and nationally.
Sharon Dhadda scoops Workplace Transformation Award
Sharon Dhadda has won the Black Country Allied Health Professional (AHP) Workforce Transformation Award, for demonstrating transformation through innovation in her radiology department.
Ms Dhadda, who is radiology workforce lead at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), revamped radiology services in her department by increasing staff numbers to previously difficult-to-fill roles and introducing an apprenticeship scheme so the trust can produce its own staff.
The eight Black Country AHP Awards cover 2,200 registered AHPs across six NHS Trusts – RWT, Walsall Healthcare, Sandwell and West Birmingham, The Dudley Group, Dudley Integrated Health and Care Trust and Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Extended to local authority and private/voluntary sector, there are approximately 4,592 registered AHPs and 545 AHP support workers from primary and secondary care in the area.
Each trust selected its own winner who was put forward for the Black Country awards.
Sharon Dhadda
Sharon Dhadda
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Image credits: Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Metropolitan University, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
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