13 www.sor.org SYNERGY NEWS FEBRUARY 2014


Professor Andy Beavis is named in list of top 100 UK practising scientists


The Science Council has named Professor Andy Beavis as one of the UK’s 100 Leading Practising Scientists. Professor Beavis is a consultant medical physicist and head of radiation physics at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. He is also a founder, chief science officer and radiotherapy director of Vertual Ltd. The company provides virtual reality training systems in radiation


therapy and is a long standing CoRIPS Diamond Partner.


Prof Beavis was recognised for combining his leadership and management role in service delivery with developing an entirely new way of using virtual simulation technology to enable therapy radiographer trainees to learn and practice their skills safely. The Science Council list is being used to highlight a blind spot in the approach


of government, media and public to science, which either tends to reference dead people or to regard only academics and researchers as scientists. David Willetts, Minister


for Universities and Science, said: “If we want more people to enter a career in science we need to show that the scientific community is not some exclusive club but people with a wide variety of vocations and interests who


have rewarding careers and are making a significant contribution to the health and well-being of the UK.” Other IPEM members listed are Dr Chris Gibson, head of the National School of Healthcare Science and professional lead for Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Professor Peter Wells CBE, Distinguished Research Professor, Cardiff University School of Medicine, and Dr Heather Williams, senior medical


NEWS


physicist for the Central Manchester NHS Hospitals Trust.


The list can be viewed at bit.ly/1dNeeIj


Sonographer helps vets with image optimisation


Veterinary surgeons at the Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Victoria, London had support from an unusual source recently when Hazel Edwards, an NHS sonographer from Hertfordshire, spent a few hours with them and their ultrasound unit. The purpose was to offer tips on image optimisation, and ‘demystify’ some of the controls. Hazel said: “Not all


doctors and vets enjoy the detailed systematic training that sonographers receive when it comes to equipment control and image optimisation so it was great to have the opportunity to visit and give support. I’m a big fan of many animal charities so it was nice to be able to do something practical.” Most of the training was


done on Piper, a spaniel belonging to vet Jess Morgan, who volunteered him to be a model. “He’s a very happy, relaxed dog and was delighted to help us out by letting us practise on his liver, kidneys and bowel, just so long as we popped a little treat in his mouth now and again,” said Jess. “He was a real star.” Senior vet Alison Thomas explained: “Many dogs experience inflammatory bowel conditions so it was good for us to see how to get the most out of our machine by optimising controls on, for example, the high frequency linear transducer. As vets we have the chance to attend plenty of courses on topics like locating the canine pancreas and adrenal glands, but there are very few that teach us how


to adjust the equipment settings over and above just the basics so we were pleased Hazel could spare us the time. Although we don’t have a dedicated sonographer on our team, we are very lucky to have a full-time ‘human’ radiographer, Sue Tighe,


who produces all our radiographic images!” Hazel added: “Although


I have no background in animal imaging, other than publishing vet-related articles during my role as editor of Ultrasound, lots of rules that I use for human scanning applies equally


to dogs like, for example, settings for liver texture, gut layers, and arterial and venous flow.


“Visiting the hospital was


certainly a novel source of CPD for me.” For more information on


the work of the Blue Cross visit www.bluecross.org.uk


Alison Thomas, senior vet, with Piper and colleagues. Kick start your career in clinical research


A free meeting will provide allied health professionals with the tools and information to begin or enhance a career in clinical


health research. The event will give


information on NIHR training opportunities, advice on networking and how to find a good


mentor and will include presentations from inspirational clinical researchers.


Being a Clinical Health Researcher: Career Advice


from the Front Line will be held on 10 March, at the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, London.


Although the event is free, places are limited so


you will need to register quickly at bit.ly/KzxKRm. Turn to page 18 for a


feature on radiographer researchers: ‘Meet the doctors’.


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