4th year radiography students Ashleigh Bishop, Aoife Doyle and Eleanor Wallace report on the latest successes of the Student Radiography Society at Robert Gordon University.
Third year diagnostic radiographers at Robert Gordon University (RGU) have won the prestigious RGU Union Academic Society of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
The students’ CPD events continue to go from strength-to-strength whilst raising money for their chosen charity – Maggie’s Aberdeen.
All this has been achieved with the help of the radiography community.
The latest event hosted a number of guest speakers, including Chris Arnold who is the radiology service manager for NHS Highland, British Army Regimental Sub Unit Support Officer (RSUSO), from 205 field hospital, Aberdeen Detachment; and Nancy Adam, a specialist radiographer from Sick Children’s Hospital, Aberdeen.
The event was well attended by student members and a charity bake sale and raffle raised over £400 for Maggie’s.
Chris Arnold was the first speaker. Chis shared his career path in trauma, reporting and orthopaedics and discussed the influences which led him to being involved in forensic radiography.
It was particularly interesting to hear accounts of his experiences working with various forensic companies nationally and internationally.
Students were fascinated by the involvement he had in supporting the work of a number of ballistic experts with the interpretation of radiographic evidence and the reconstruction of wound patterns.
Chris was extremely knowledgeable and insightful throughout, giving an overview of the types of work covered under the forensic umbrella term.
Chris’s extensive knowledge for this aspect of radiography helped raise student awareness and inspired them to think about it as a possible career avenue in the future.
The RSUSO* from 205 field hospital, was the second speaker. She gave an overview of the opportunities for radiographers in the medical army reserve whilst working within the NHS.
She also discussed the patient pathway in a field hospital and talked about the different clinical training, such as battlefield casualty drills.
It was particularly interesting to hear accounts of radiographers in the field share their positive experiences about working in camp Bastion in Afghanistan.
Her enthusiasm for training offered by the armed forces was clear and she has no doubt inspired students to consider this career path.
The third guest speaker was Nancy Adam, a specialist radiographer from Sick Children’s Hospital, Aberdeen.
She has worked for NHS Grampian since qualifying, and been part of the team at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital for 20 years.
In her presentation, Nancy showed us images of the brilliant Sick Children’s Hospital and the radiography department in detail, showing how they have cleverly decorated each room to a different theme to reduce childrens’ stress and anxiety.
Her talk also gave tips for imaging children and provided an overview of child specific pathologies, which was extremely helpful and insightful.
Eleanor Wallace, student charity secretary, said: "I have found being charity secretary a very humbling experience, and I am very proud of what the society has achieved and the links we have made with Maggie’s Aberdeen."
Ashleigh Bishop, society president, added: "I am extremely proud of all the students who volunteered their time to help run society CPD events, it was an honour to win academic society of the year again and raise lots of money for Maggie’s."
And finally, Aoife Doyle, society academic secretary, said: "It’s great to see the number of students attending CPD events and getting actively involved in discussion.
"I feel providing opportunities to learn about different opportunities in radiography and different patient care needs is essential for all student radiographers.
"I have really enjoyed the past two years with the society members, working together to make these events possible.”
*The guest speaker asked not to be named in this report.