Personal profile - I firmly believe that I have the attributes to be a successful radiologist.

Personal statement

For as long as I remember, I have been fascinated by all living things, throughout my childhood. I grew up among radiographers and doctors; they inspired me and encouraged me to choose radiography as a career. I decided to study radiography because it is a skilled, people based career that enables you to work anywhere in the world. I am highly motivated by the satisfaction of being the person who makes difficult diagnoses and therefore makes a positive difference in patient care. I also liked the fact that there are a huge number of areas that come under radiography, which gives you a lot of opportunities to specialise and study postgraduate qualifications.

Being a practical hands-on person who loves to apply her learning, I am very keen on the fact that diagnostic radiography courses are very vocational, spending about 50% of course time in practical clinical training. . I also believe that the clinical experience enhances the theory we learn in the academic blocks. I understand the importance and benefits of reflective practice in learning from experience and continued professional development, as ways of producing highly capable practitioners that maintain and improve performance standards as well as progress with innovations in this dynamic health profession. My current clinical placement is Wexham Park Hospital in Slough in radiology department. The contact with patient was a new experience for me, but a valued one. I learnt different ways of communicating with people, and became comfortable talking to patients, and also helping them do tasks we take for granted, such as changing themselves. Another skill I learnt working at the hospital was the ability to listen more effectively. Many patients, especially as they were older patients, liked to have a little chat as you went round the ward, and although this was only a short space of time, it could mean a lot to the patient. I have also previously worked as a volunteer in Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead in radiology department in 2008 and 2009. In 2010 I also did a clinical placement in St Marys Hospital in Paddington in a radiology department. I believe my strong communication skills, patience, empathy and ability to problem solve, which are all important to a Radiographer, have been developed through both my part time job and work experience that I have completed