Fetal MRI pioneer honoured for services to women’s health
Consultant radiologist Dr Elspeth Whitby at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has received a national award in recognition of her significant and lasting improvements to women’s health. She is one of a handful of individuals to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in its recent history. The award recognises those who have demonstrated an exceptional, long-term contribution to obstetric and gynaecological care.
Dr Whitby received the award for her dedication and work in pioneering a fetal MRI scanning service that precisely detects some abnormalities in the placenta and babies in the womb. First developed in Sheffield, the service is now available nationally, offering additional scans to women when a problem has been detected on a pregnancy ultrasound scan or there is a family history of previous problems and more detailed images of the anatomy are required. The MRI scans are performed at other centres and sent to Sheffield for review.
In addition, she has used her specialist expertise to support and train other centres to be able to perform the scans. This will ultimately lead to the creation a network of centres of excellence around the UK.
Picture: Dr Elspeth Whitby with Mr Roobin Jokhi, who nominated her for the award.
Read this report on page 5 of the August 2026 issue of RAD Magazine.
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