Budding radiographer leaves finance behind

Kirsty Paterson with Cancer Partners UK head of radiotherapy Sarah Hynd and centre manager Gill Boote.

When private cancer centre administrator Kirsty Paterson showed an interest in learning about the clinical side of things, her manager recognised some untapped talent and helped develop a supported career pathway that has led to her becoming a qualified assistant practitioner.

When Paterson was made redundant from the finance industry, she took an administration job at Cancer Partners UK in Southampton. “I thought would tide me over while I looked for something in the financial sector,” she explained.  “But instead it opened up a new world.  I quickly became really passionate about the advanced cancer treatments provided to patients.”

Centre manager Gill Boote recognised Paterson’s potential and said: “Even when Kirsty first joined us, she showed that she was particularly patient-focussed.  Once she began asking more technical questions I suggested she considered developing in a more structured, academic way.”

Two years on, Paterson has passed the diploma to become a qualified assistant oncology and radiotherapy practitioner, and plans to do a final year to gain a BSc degree and become a fully-fledged radiographer.  She said: “I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.  I’ve had some fantastic support from my colleagues and am now doing a job which I love. The best thing is the contact with the patients. We get the time to talk with them, and get to know each and every one of them.”

See the full report on the back page of the July 2013 issue of RAD Magazine.