Florence Nightingale’s impact is the focus of event to celebrate women in medical imaging

AXREM has championed women in the medical imaging industry during International Women’s Day for the last few years, and this year the association hosted an event at The Florence Nightingale Museum at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. More than 60 female industry opinion leaders and key stakeholders enjoyed a programme of speakers including an actor as Florence Nightingale talking about her work; a video address from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health at the Department of Health and Social Care Baroness Merron; NHS England director of central commercial function, commercial directorate Preeya Bailie; head of sales at Smart Reporting and vice convenor of the imaging IT special focus group Saduf Ali-Drakesmith; Philips Healthcare business manager HPM UKI Yasmeen Mahmoud; and president of The Royal College of Radiologists Dr Kath Halliday.

Nightingale was an English social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing. She came to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, in which she organised care for wounded soldiers at Constantinople. She significantly reduced death rates by improving hygiene and living standards and gave nursing a favourable reputation.

AXREM CEO Sally Edgington said: “We have gathered to celebrate the strength, resilience and brilliance of women in our industry. I am a female leader and currently lead a fabulous all-female team, I am biased, but they really are all inspirational, supportive and hard working women and I feel truly blessed to work alongside each of them.

“International Women’s Day is not just a day to acknowledge the progress we’ve made, but a day to remind ourselves of the work that still lies ahead. It’s a day to honour the trailblazers, the changemakers and the unsung heroes who have shaped history and continue to inspire us all today.”

The AXREM Women’s Network was unveiled at the event, which will build on the work AXREM has done over the last few years to champion female leaders and women in the industry.

Picture: AXREM hosted the event at The Florence Nightingale Museum at St Thomas’ Hospital, London.

Read this report on page 5 of the April 2025 issue of RAD Magazine.