1. Who or what inspired you to join the BIR originally?
I joined BIR in my first year as a radiology trainee. I remember that it was at a BIR organised event that I met the education department faculty and was inspired at how invested they were in bringing radiology trainees into their national SIG to attract future talent across the specialty. It was after meeting them that I decided to apply for the Chair position of the Young Professionals & Trainees SIG.
2. What does the BIR offer trainees and why would you encourage your fellow trainees to get involved?
To me, the BIR has offered a great opportunity to network across multiple disciplines in Imaging that has given me great insight and value in my day-to-day job, both on a professional clinical level and growth potential for developing other areas of expertise. BIR has always provided relevant accessible courses to maintain my CPD but also access to SIGs to further develop other interests and meet new and exciting colleagues from different disciplines.
3. You have recently taken over as Chair of the AI & Innovations special interest group (SIG). What projects would you like to see the SIG develop under your leadership?
It is a great opportunity to chair this group when there is so much happening at the intersection between innovative health technologies and its implementation within the healthcare setting. This group has been set up to bring together all relevant stakeholders in the journey between the development and commercialisation of technology to its eventual implementation and adoption in clinical practice.
Our main objectives are to provide a stimulating forum for everyone working with and setting up innovative technology supporting clinical diagnostic and therapeutic practices, and to disseminate our knowledge through national courses and webinars. I am most excited about our upcoming offering for an education package to provide information that all healthcare workers need to know about AI. I think there is a need for healthcare workers to know and understand the basic principles of AI technology and how it will need to be implemented in the NHS. This course will address these topics across specialties so that everyone in a clinical pathway becomes comfortable with the principles of AI.
4. What does the SIG have planned over the next 12 months?
The AI and Innovations SIG is a unique forum for everyone working with and setting up information systems supporting radiological diagnostic or therapeutic practices, including AI. One of the aims is to explore how data can be better harnessed to improve clinical outcomes.
Over the next 12 months, we will further consolidate our in-person 2-day Annual AI event, collaborating with the Royal College of Radiologists. This event provides an overview of the whole pathway of AI development to adoption, bringing together clinicians, industry, and multi-agency partners including NICE and NHS England. I am hopeful that all the sessions will continue to appeal to our multidisciplinary audience.
We aim to introduce AI education packages in keeping with the Health Education England capability framework. We will also provide roundtable expertise through our SIG members for bespoke topics looking at success in real life working with radiology AI, as well as the further steps and routes to adoption. Our contributors this year will share their experiences, tips and best practices in the implementation of AI. Our aim is to provide expert access and guidance for industry and healthcare workers in this field so that we may share these valuable insights and establish the BIR as an industry thought leader.
5. Can you sum the BIR up in 3 words?
Inclusive, nurturing and engaging.
6. Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
My grandfather has been my biggest influence. He was a Professor of ENT Surgery from an impoverished part of India. He was recognised by the President of India for services that he provided in the clinical and healthcare technology space. He travelled to the UK and the US to further his training in the 1950–60s but went back Bihar, India because he felt he could make a real difference to the people in raising the standard of care and technology access.
He has inspired me to develop my passion in my work, by providing balance with focus on personal goals and accomplishments alongside contributing to something bigger to help others.
7. What are you proudest of in your life so far? (can be personal or career)
It has to be my three children, no matter what stage of life or career, I always consider them my greatest accomplishment. The perspective they provide has not only helped in being a mother but provided the oversight and motivation for doing what I do in my clinical, managerial and leadership roles.
8. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
I would say never to accept defeat or frustration if there was something I really believed in: “accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal”.
9. Which two medical professionals (living or deceased) would you like to spend the evening with and why?
It would have to be Dr David Sinclair and Dr Peter Diamandis who are both pioneers on improving capability of human performance, biology of ageing and lifespan extension.
10. When you are not working, how do you like spending your time?
I love reading about longevity science and human performance, especially how we can optimise ourselves physically and mentally. I find this particularly interesting because there are ever increasing demands on us from different areas in our lives, and there is so much information already out there that helps us develop systems and models to better deal with them. Other than that, I love spending time and travelling with my husband and three children.
11. Which actor would play you in a film about your life?
Freida Pinto.
12. What might we be surprised to know about you?
Irrespective of personal/professional commitments, I read a minimum of one to two books per month.
