Saolta University Health Care Group partner with UCC on Radiography programme

Saolta University Health Care Group is delighted to partner with University College Cork for their Radiography programme.

The MSc Diagnostic Radiography course at UCC offers an accelerated route for graduates from any health science or science related discipline to gain a recognised qualification in Diagnostic Radiography.

As part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Saolta Group and UCC, 10 students are receiving sponsorship in return for a commitment to work within the HSE Saolta Group of hospitals for a two year period after graduation. The course is delivered within the School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health, UCC.

Ann Cosgrove, Chief Operations Officer for the Saolta Group welcomed the initiative. “We are delighted to partner with University College Cork on this incredibly important course. This move will help the Saolta Group to proactively build up a future supply of radiographers while also promoting radiography as an attractive profession. “10 students were selected by UCC to take up the places sponsored by Saolta. Clinical education is an integral and invaluable component of the programme and the students are now undergoing clinical placements at our hospitals in order to satisfy the requirements of program,” she added.

Pat Nash, the Chief Clinical Officer for the Saolta Group added: “The MSc in Diagnostic Radiography will provide and equip our future radiographers with the clinical and research skills and professional attributes required to work and develop as clinicians within our hospitals.

“The Saolta University Health Care Group has seven hospital locations along the West coast. We look forward to working with these future graduates in our Radiography services across the group.”
Marguerite Frewen, MSc Diagnostic Radiography Student said: “I decided to study a masters in Diagnostic Radiography in University College Cork because I always had a great interest in pathology and diagnostics, coming from a background in general nursing. I had a strong ambition to progress into a career where I would be working with advanced and evolving technology while caring for people and radiography allows me to do both.

“I am delighted that I got the opportunity to come to one of Saolta Group hospitals for clinical placement.  I have gained valuable experience in numerous areas, in a very busy radiography department. While being on placement, I was able to enhance my learning and put my skills to practice, while having support and guidance from the radiographers working in University Hospital Galway.”

Siobhán Toomey, MSc Diagnostic Radiography Student said: “I picked radiography because it incorporates helping people, using advanced technology in diagnostics to aid in the diagnosis or treatment of patients. It offers several career prospects in modalities such as CT, ultrasound, and MRI.

“My placement at University Hospital Galway provided me with valuable hands-on experience and allowed me to interact with patients.  Working with a variety of healthcare professions has offered excellent learning opportunities,” she added.

Professor Mark McEntee, Head of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy at UCC said: “This innovative partnership with SAOLTA demonstrates excellent forward planning. Highly skilled radiographers can plan their future with SAOLTA in confidence.”

Photo Caption: UCC MSc Diagnostic Radiography Students, from left: Marguerite Frewen and Siobhán Toomey.