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Blog written by Amanda Webster and Rita Simões- both Therapeutic Radiographers and PhD candidates
A Tag Team of Therapeutic Radiographers Pioneering Research in Radiotherapy share their career trajectories and how they have aligned.
We are Amanda Webster and Rita Simões, working together as a ‘tag team’ in the dynamic world of radiotherapy and proton beam therapy and hoping to pioneer research in radiotherapy.
Beyond our clinical roles, both Amanda and Rita are dedicating 50% of our week to pursuing PhD degrees, contributing significantly to the field of radiotherapy research.
Amanda, funded by CRUK RadNet City of London, is pursuing her PhD at UCL, while Rita, funded by a NIHR/HEE clinical doctoral research fellowship, is conducting her research at the Institute of Cancer Research. Our paths converged not only in our career choices but also in our personal backgrounds. Hailing from Ireland and Portugal, respectively, we migrated to the UK, drawn by the rich opportunities in radiotherapy research.
We both share parallel career trajectories, completing our master's degrees and gaining valuable experience with the national Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance group (RTTQA). In this role, we immersed ourselves in trials, collaborated with Translational Management Groups (TMGs) and Trial Steering Committees (TSCs), analysed data, and presented our findings at national and international forums.
Rita's journey took a pivotal turn during her time with RTTQA, where she initiated the monumental task of crafting her PhD proposal and securing funding. Simultaneously, Amanda, ventured into managing a clinical radiotherapy research team. Rita's successful PhD funding marked the beginning of her final year, focusing on predicting radiotherapy toxicities for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities.
In 2021, the stars aligned for us as we found ourselves tag teaming once again, this time at UCLH, working as specialist research therapeutic radiographers and pursuing our PhDs. Amanda commenced her PhD entitled "Motion Management in Abdominal Cancers". Our collaborative efforts span the realms of photons and protons, contributing to cutting-edge advancements in radiotherapy.
We are both passionate advocates for therapeutic radiographers engaging in and eventually leading their research initiatives. We emphasize the importance of reaching out to explore research opportunities. Attend CPD sessions focused on research, explore offerings from UCL and CNMAR, and connect with the friendly community of fellow researchers. We believe that the world of research is not just professionally fulfilling but also remarkably welcoming – a community where reaching out can open doors to endless possibilities.