Celebrating International Women’s Day – Jill McKenna

I am a proud and dedicated radiographer with over 35 years of experience in radiology, advanced diagnostic imaging and complex clinical operations. I currently serve as chief allied health professional and head of clinical operations at AM Diagnostic Imaging, part of the Affidea Group, where I provide strategic leadership across a diverse portfolio of diagnostic services nationwide. My responsibilities include clinical governance, quality assurance, professional standards, workforce development and operational performance, ensuring that safe, effective and patient-centred imaging services are delivered consistently and at scale.

My career began in 1994 in north-east England as a diagnostic radiographer, where I built a strong clinical foundation before specialising in CT and MRI. Alongside full-time clinical practice, I completed my MSc, submitting a 25,000-word dissertation just five days before my son was born, an experience that shaped my resilience and academic discipline. I then progressed to the role of superintendent radiographer at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Newcastle upon Tyne, becoming the only diagnostic radiographer within a radiotherapy department and later serving as pre-treatment superintendent, leading diagnostic imaging integration within oncology pathways.

I am a nationally recognised expert in MRI and diagnostic imaging and the past president of the British Association of MR Radiographers, where I contributed to national policy, professional standards and education frameworks. I previously served as a mentor on The Society of Radiographers’ clinical leadership programme, supporting the development of future clinical leaders. I am also a Quality Standard for Imaging and UKAS imaging services assessor, and a Royal College of Radiologists serious incident review assessor, reflecting extensive expertise in governance, risk management and quality improvement.

I have played a pivotal role in transforming diagnostic infrastructure across the UK. I was instrumental in designing and implementing its first sustainable community diagnostic hub, establishing new benchmarks for accessibility, efficiency and environmental responsibility. Building on this success, I led the delivery of a £50m community diagnostic centre in Somerset, a complex collaborative programme with the NHS and independent sector that significantly expanded diagnostic capacity and improved patient pathways.

My clinical expertise includes advanced MRI applications and oncological imaging. I developed and led MRI-guided radiotherapy programmes for complex cancer cases, including head and neck, cervical and prostate malignancies, and brachytherapy. I have extensive experience in dynamic contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted imaging, contributing to cardiac and oncology research at national and international levels.

I have also worked in elite sporting environments as a radiographer at the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. I continue to drive strategic growth, service transformation and patient-focused innovation across UK diagnostic imaging services, maintaining a strong commitment to safety, workforce excellence, sustainability and high quality patient care.

My leadership style is collaborative and data driven, combining clinical credibility with commercial awareness to deliver resilient services, align stakeholders and support workforce wellbeing, as well as ensuring equitable access, excellent patient experiences and sustainable diagnostic care across evolving healthcare systems that are nationally and internationally recognised.

Read the full International Women’s Day feature on pages 6 and 7 of the February 2026 issue of RAD Magazine.

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