Fiona Rose

What is your current role?

I am a Research Radiographer, part of a Research Network at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. My role entails carrying out medical imaging required as part of research studies and clinical trials within the trust. This means my duties are varied and change from day to day, with a multitude of imaging requirements. This could, for instance, include a chest X-ray for a therapeutic study in pre-intensive care unit patients admitted with COVID-19 or computed tomography (CT) scans to assess disease progression after a course of trial drugs.

The majority of my work, however, is in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is the area I specialise in. I love MRI as I find it challenging yet very rewarding, and think the images produced are astoundingly detailed. There is always something new to learn in MRI, with technological capabilities being updated and improving constantly. Because of this, education and professional development are extremely important in my job, and in an effort to keep abreast of technical advances I attend training days and conferences.

There is also scope to carry out my own research and I am encouraged to do so. I have completed an original research project, have presented posters at professional conferences and have been guest speaker at scientific conventions. In my position I am part of a multidisciplinary team, liaising and working with a variety of other staff, including medical consultants, clinical and research staff, academic colleagues and research study sponsors.

How did you reach this position?

I have always had an interest in biology and health and originally attended Durham University when I left college to study health and human science. I took a gap year, which turned into almost 10 years travelling and working abroad, before training as a radiographer as a mature student, studying at Teesside University and qualifying about 12 years ago. After graduating, I was recruited onto a postgraduate training programme with a private healthcare provider to train on the job as an MRI radiographer. I left there to work at Newcastle as a research radiographer just over 10 years ago.

In this role I have developed my clinical skills while also completing postgraduate learning and progressing academically. I have gained an MSc in MRI medical imaging and am in the process of writing up my original research into a paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. I also presented another poster at the 2022 UK Imaging and Oncology Congress (UKIO). I think continuous education is extremely important, not only to improve your own personal skills and interests but to enhance the capabilities of the department and team. I will carry on attending training courses for professional development Most recently, I completed a cardiac MR study day covering theory and practical applications.

What support has benefited you?

I studied radiography at Teesside when the course fees were covered by a non-repayable NHS bursary. Not having to repay fees made it an easier decision to forego a salary for three years and retrain as a mature student with household bills and living costs to consider. Completing the postgraduate training programme also helped to fast-track my career in MRI so I am grateful for that opportunity.

Throughout my time in my current role, I have been fully supported by my line manager to take part in extra training to develop my skills. I have been supported both financially and with time away from the department. This has helped me achieve a high level of competency and confidence to enable the radiology research service to expand and deliver.

What do you find most rewarding?

I take great pride that my hard work and commitment to personal development has made me a valued member of the team. I get immense satisfaction from training other members of the team and sharing the knowledge I have learnt. It is also really empowering to know that I am a trusted point of contact for queries and problem-solving.

Is there any advice you can offer?

I have always enjoyed studying and think you are never too old to learn something new. Being a research radiographer comes with the challenge of a varied working day, having to think fast and problem-solve, being responsible for your own workload and striving to keep your knowledge updated, while also understanding and adhering to research procedures and good clinical practice. I am often required to work autonomously, and while that can be challenging, it is also very rewarding.