St Joseph’s hosts inaugural cardiac MRI course for radiographers

St Joseph’s Hospital in Newport, Wales, has hosted the inaugural cardiac MRI course for radiographers interested in learning more about cardiovascular MRI. Twenty-four delegates from across the UK attended the two-day course, partially sponsored by Bayer.

Faculty members, led by co-directors consultant CMR cardiologist Dr Chiara Bucciarelli-Ducci and executive cardiac MRI radiographer Benny Lawton, provided didactic scientific lectures covering topics including ECG analysis, essentials of cardiac MRI, CMR safety and cardiac devices, and stress perfusion imaging. During the first day’s presentations, delegates were encouraged to take part in discussions to support learning and to relate the theoretical information to their clinical practice.

On the second day, hands-on training tailored to delegate requests was provided on the Magnetom Sola 1.5T MRI scanner from Siemens Healthineers, recently installed as part of a £1.3 million project at St Joseph’s. Being shorter and wider than some systems, the scanner is designed to offer a more spacious environment. Multiple functions allow those with breathing difficulties or claustrophobia to have their scan completed in a shorter time while maintaining high image quality.

“I am extremely pleased that our first cardiac MRI course for radiographers at St Joseph’s Hospital was such a great success,” said Dr Bucciarelli-Ducci. “The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. Key for success was an exceptional faculty of experienced professionals, amazing facilities and organisation at St Joseph’s, with a large group of enthusiastic radiographers from various parts of Wales and England.”

Picture: Delegates from across the UK attended the course.

Published on page 16 of the November 2021 issue of RAD Magazine.