Careers in Medical Imaging

 Are you looking for some career inspiration? Do you want to work with cutting edge technology in a constantly evolving industry? If the answer is yes, then a career in medical imaging could be the right choice for you.

 

Cutting Edge Technology

The technology used for medical imaging is complex and continually evolving. This means there is an increasing number of career options available depending on your interests and skills. Obviously, there are the traditional roles of medical imaging technicians or x-ray technologists that specialise in producing and diagnosing anatomical images. However, there are also information technology-based roles that offer an alternative career path within the health industry.

 

Medical imaging is becoming increasingly digitised, which means there are now large amounts of digital data. The ability to manipulate this data improves diagnostics and can improve health outcomes. In order to control and exploit all this valuable data, you need the necessary software.

 

Software Development

Software development for the health industry is a growth area. It requires specialist medical or biological knowledge, but it provides an opportunity to work with complex equipment and cutting edge technology. A career in software development involves programming applications for specific imaging equipment, applications to manipulate data for 2D and 3D images, and software for storing and retrieving data.

 

Artificial Intelligence is another growth area that requires complex software. Health-based AI programs assist with image diagnosis and also learn from every image they diagnose. AI is also paired with robotics to create machines capable of performing medical functions such as x-rays to reduce human risk. Again, robots require software and hardware programming to be able to function.

 

While programming sophisticated software and complex robots might seem exciting, it also generates another career path. Advanced technology is great while it's working, but what happens when it doesn't? That's when you need highly skilled medical imaging field services engineers to get equipment functioning again.

 

Field Support

Medical imaging field support and X-ray field support engineers are challenging roles that are critical to the ongoing success of any hospital. Not to be too dramatic, but without medical imaging field support to repair equipment, lives would be lost.

 

Medical Imaging and X-ray field support engineers fix any and every hardware and software issue. They have robust diagnostics skills and a practical hands-on approach. It is a very specialised role that is invaluable within the health industry. Not everyone is suited to the position as it requires considerable travel. Almost all work is onsite at clinics or hospitals. The role is customer facing and time-critical. However, it is also a rewarding career choice. Every day will throw up new challenges, and repairing large CT Scanning machines or robotic x-ray machines is extremely rewarding.

 

If you are interested in a career in Medical Imaging, there are several options available. Many universities now offer specialised biomedical IT courses. This is undoubtedly the path to consider if you are interested in software development, robotics or AI in the health industry. If a hands-on support role is your preference, why not consider an IT apprenticeship? There are plenty of internships, apprenticeships, and training opportunities offered through the NHS and private medical imaging support companies.