Challenges and opportunities in educating the medical imaging practitioner workforce

The last two decades have seen unprecedented change in the technologies used within medical imaging. This includes the volume of procedures undertaken, as well as the range and complexity of imaging examinations carried out within radiology and medical physics departments. Against this background, radiography curricula have remained largely static, with a divergence of provision and the creation of silos within the regulatory frameworks which govern the education provision of the medical physics practitioner and the radiography practitioner. Both of these factors have contributed to inefficiency, a lack of undergraduate education provision for the medical physics practitioner and generalised workforce shortages which are currently being experienced within the sector.