Day highlights the role Medical Radiation Practitioners play in patients' healthcare journeys.
 

We are celebrating World Radiography Day on 8 November across Sydney Local Health District.

The day – which marks the anniversary of German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen’s discovery of X-rays in 1895 – is designed to highlight the role Medical Radiation Practitioners play in the patient’s healthcare journey.

Among those across the District celebrating World Radiography Day was Concord Hospital radiographer Ryan Tam, who was honoured last month at the Sydney Local Health District Excellence in Allied Health Awards.

He was named Allied Health Educator of the Year for his work on educating colleagues and improving clinical standards. His work was praised for promoting a culture of continued learning, excellence and evidence-based practice in the department.

Ryan said he was surprised and thrilled to receive his award.

“I didn't even know there was an award for this,” he said.

“It was a totally new thing for me. It is really encouraging. This is going to take some time to process.”

District Director Allied Health Sarah Whitney said this award recognised an excellent contribution to education to improve clinical standards and patient outcomes.

She said the District had more than 200 Medical Radiation Scientists (MRSs) who work in the Departments of Radiology, Molecular Imaging (PET-CT and general Nuclear Medicine) and Breast Screen services together with our Radiation Therapy colleagues in Lifehouse and at ICON. There are also MRS-Radiography and non-MRS staff working as sonographers outside Radiology in fetal medicine, gynaecology, vascular medicine and cardiology.

Ryan said he believed his Allied Health Award honoured the work of the many people who had supported his efforts to improve protocols and train his colleagues.

“I don't see this as a personal success; rather, it reflects the success of the collaboration and support of my department and Concord Hospital,” he said.

“All the people that I've met, including the radiologists, the orthopaedic team, the ED doctors, the physiotherapist and the radiographers … it's great that all the work that we've done has been recognised.”

Ryan has worked at Concord for more than 17 years and said he was proud of the work of his Radiography team and its commitment to its patients and the NSW Health CORE values.