Profile photo of Shawna facing camera and smiling
NIF Facility Fellow and Florey Chief Radiographer, Shawna Farquharson. Photo attributed to S. Farquharson

NIF Facility Fellow Shawna Farquharson is leading the way to empower, connect, educate and inform MRI Radiographers and Technologists worldwide. Following their 2019 Annual Meeting, the Society for MR Radiographers & Technologists (SMRT), a Section of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), appointed Shawna Farquharson as its new President of SMRT. SMRT is the leading non-profit organisation that provides an international forum for education, information and research in magnetic resonance for radiographers and technologists throughout the world.

“I would like to say that I feel extremely honoured and humbled to have been elected as President of the most important organisation for MRI Radiographers and Technologists around the globe. I see it as an opportunity to both give back to all those that have supported and mentored me throughout my career, and to pay it forward to those who will become the future leaders of our profession”

Shawna is the Chief Radiographer within the NIF Node at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Austin campus. She oversees the delivery of research 3T & 7T MR based imaging for researchers within the Australian neuroscience community. Shawna first worked in MRI as a senior radiographer at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, in 1997. Throughout her career, she has supported her diverse clinical expertise with continued postgraduate education, from an Oxford MRI course at John Radcliffe Hospital, UK, to the Australian Institute of Radiography Certificate of MRI Accreditation and a Masters of Health Science at the University of Sydney, Australia. Shawna received the SMRT President’s Award in 2013 and has been an active member of user group communities such as the ISMRM Education Committee, SMRT MRI Safety Committee, and NIF Human Imaging Thematic Group. Her research has received over 500 citations, and she has trained more than 40 NIF facility users in MRI Safety.

Photo of Shawna tending to a patient in an MRI
Shawna tending to a patient on the Florey Node 3T MRI. Photo attributed to S. Farquharson

“As President, I am privileged to be in the position of helping steer the SMRT organisation into the next decade whilst preparing the organisation for the challenges ahead. I am fortunate to embark on this challenge with the support of an extremely strong leadership team and Policy Board – for which I am already grateful. I will be continuing to work closely with the SMRT Past President – Chris Kokkinos, the SMRT President-Elect – Nancy Beluk, and the ISMRM & SMRT Executive Director – Roberta Kravitz, to ensure there is continuity and strong leadership whilst we develop and transition to our new strategic plan.”

Shawna is committed to the ongoing professional education of MRI Radiographers and Technologists around the world, stating her priority objectives for her term as SMRT President to establish a monthly Virtual Meeting Education Program, develop SMRT’s Online Education Packages, and increase support and opportunities for local educational meetings.

To find out more about the Society for MR Radiographers & Technologists (SMRT), visit their website at www.smrt.org. You can follow Shawna on Twitter or reach out directly to ask about MRI access at the Florey NIF Node.