A conversation with Professor Martin Graves: reflections and the future of MRI safety practice
Professor Martin Graves’ contribution to MRI physics is immense. He is a professor of MRI physics at the University of Cambridge, chair of The British Institute of Radiology’s MRI special interest group and a member of the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety. He has authored several textbooks and more than 240 papers, earning numerous honours including Freedom of the City of London. Generous to a fault with his time and expertise, it is time to turn the spotlight on Professor Graves and here he shares his personal reflections, humour and insights.
You were awarded the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of your service to the field of MRI. What did that mean to you?
It is a historic honour that dates to the Middle Ages; once it had practical status, now it is largely ceremonial, but still respected. Although untested, I’m permitted ‘to carry a naked sword’, but paradoxically not ‘to carry a sword naked’ and, if I should choose to, I could walk my sheep across London Bridge. If I had some, that is.
What influenced you most in pursuing MRI physics?
An article in 1982 by Ian Pykett, who worked in Peter Mansfield’s lab in Nottingham. I had already chosen to study medical physics after seeing Godfrey Hounsfield’s first CT scanner in the Science Museum. I think it was the first time that I really saw a practical application of mathematics in reconstructing images from projections. I thought that nuclear MRI would be the next great thing and I haven’t looked back – ie I have no other skills whatsoever. I do, of course, realise that I have been incredibly lucky to maintain a career working in a field that I love and to have worked with some very talented people.
Who would you most like to sit down with for a good chat about MRI physics and why?
The late, great Richard Feynman. Not that he is known for MRI physics, but I bet he would have some amazing insights. I suspect he would have a lot to say about how MRI has become technically sophisticated but conceptually opaque, especially in safety. He would probably roll his eyes at our endless acronyms and tell us that if we can’t explain RF heating to a bus driver, then we don’t understand it ourselves.
Tell us how your first job at St Bart’s, London, sparked your interest in MRI safety.
I was working on the 800G vertical field MRI scanner and, walking up to the magnet, I felt a tug in my trousers – due to my keys. I subsequently found out my cashpoint card no longer worked, back when cash was king.
Do you get more satisfaction being a teacher or performing the work of a physicist?
They are intertwined. I try to make my teaching engaging and spend an inordinate amount of time on my presentations to try and convey difficult concepts through visual representations.
What shift is still needed in MRI safety practice?
In my humble opinion, the biggest shift will be from a compliance-based mindset to one of proactive, embedded safety and shared responsibility. Safety must be maintained across referral pathways, device checks, workflow design, sedation and anaesthesia practices, emergency planning and interprofessional communication. Safety should be a shared obligation between radiologists, physicists, anaesthetists and referrers, not just the MRI radiography team.
What misunderstanding about MRI safety persists most strongly?
That a centre thinks that they lack the knowledge, experience or training to scan implants – many could develop their own skills and, ultimately, confidence to scan their own patients.
Why must MRI safety remain front and centre?
The fact that people are still dying in or near MRI scanners means that safety must be foremost. The smallest human error can give rise to catastrophic results.
Submitted by Barbara Nugent of MRI Safety Matters.
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