Louise Jordan

Click the video to watch Louise talk about her career.

What is your current role?

Six months ago, I decided to make the jump from working as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)/Projectional Radiographer to becoming a full-time Research Radiographer in Newcastle upon Tyne. I always knew that the field of medical imaging was a constantly evolving environment with regard to emerging technologies and research, and this is what really grabbed my interest in the role.

One aspect of my current role is that I am linked to the National Consortium of Intelligent Medical Imaging (NCIMI). This is a sort of collaborative, involving the NHS, private industry and academic institutions, all with the shared goal of transforming healthcare through artificial intelligence and medical imaging. At present, I am involved in collecting and curating a vast dataset of chest radiographs. These images will then be anonymised and used by a private sector company to develop an algorithm for the automatic detection of pneumothorax and correct tube placement. The work involves having to communicate regularly with a wide variety of people, including engineers, academics and medical professionals. When I first qualified as a radiographer, it never occurred to me that I could be involved in such cutting-edge research, so it really does demonstrate that opportunities for role extension exist.

As a research radiographer, I am also still heavily involved in clinical work across many modalities, including MRI, computed tomography (CT) and projectional radiography. Much of the work carried out is directly linked to ongoing clinical trials and so a lovely aspect of the role is getting to know patients who often return regularly as part of a study.

The largest clinical proportion of my role is dedicated to MRI and as a team we are very well supported in terms of having access to further educational resources to develop and refine our practice. I recently had the opportunity to attend a cardiac MRI course and also completed an Excel specialist course offered by Microsoft.

How did you reach this stage in your career?

I took a bit of an unusual route into radiography. I originally completed a music degree at the University of Sheffield. This might seem miles away from my current role, but it provided me with the tools to be able to develop research ideas and follow them through. It was a module in the physics of sound and hearing that got me thinking about a career in the healthcare/technology field and radiography provided a good combination
of both elements.

I obtained my BSc in diagnostic radiography from Teesside University in 2015 and went on to work as a rotational radiographer at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. It was here that I developed an interest in MRI, and two years later I started working as a senior radiographer, specialising in MRI, at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (part of the same trust). This post provided me with a wealth of general MRI experience and gave me the confidence to apply for my current role of research radiographer.

The transition has been a huge learning curve as working in research requires the ability to manage your own workload. I completed my Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and non-medical referrer training, and have had to become familiar with research terminology and carrying out tasks such as anonymising data.

What support has proved useful?

Since stepping into my new role, I have been actively supported and encouraged by both my manager and the other members of my team to really go looking for learning opportunities. I have been given the time and understanding to adapt to a role that is quite different from anything I have done previously. It is not unusual for my colleagues to send me details about a course they think would interest me.

Regular constructive feedback has also been very helpful, and the opportunity to raise any issues or difficulties in a supportive environment has also demonstrated the hallmark of positive and successful team dynamics.

What do you find most rewarding?

I think that the amount of support that I am given when it comes to having the time for, and access to, learning
opportunities is definitely very rewarding. There is a shared understanding that competence and ability stem from real encouragement from those around you. It is also very rewarding to be able to work a bit more autonomously than in previous roles and to know that my work is contributing to positive changes for patients.

Do you have any advice on pursuing a similar career?

I think many people have a very preconceived idea of what working in research involves and I would like to tell
them that it doesn’t just involve talking about methods and reading articles all day!

I think if you’ve ever had an interest in how healthcare is changing or you’ve wanted to be actively involved in seeing how clinical trials can improve patients’ lives, then you should consider research. Spend time becoming really competent in your current role/modality by actively engaging in CPD and looking for learning opportunities. There is always the option to shadow other radiographers in areas you might not have much experience in, and this a great way of building confidence.

Some of my current work is quite unusual, particularly being involved in areas such as artificial intelligence and carrying out cadaveric imaging for a hip-resurfacing trial, so seek out new experiences and projects to get involved with.