A new frontier in medical radiation science education

Our academics are at the forefront of artificial intelligence in medical radiation science and they’re teaching this emerging technology to the future practitioners of the profession.

Connecting the latest industry innovations with student learning experiences is often challenging.

But as our medical radiation experts continue to make strides in the development and education of artificial intelligence (AI) relevant to their discipline, they’re also creating new opportunities for students and research.

Last year our cross-campus discipline team collaborated to reimagine how we teach the emerging phenomenon of AI in medical radiation science. Their aim was to ensure our students are equipped to meet the needs of the future.

This collaboration contributed to the development of our new Master in Advanced Medical Radiation Practice, which is being offered for the first time in 2022.

The team designed the course to develop students’ knowledge and skills in both the current and emerging needs of the industry, rather than formalise learning for what students already do in industry or purely extending their undergraduate learning.

One subject that reflects their approach – and which the group is particularly excited about – is MRS527 Artificial Intelligence and Image Analysis.

The innovative subject is unique to our master’s course and provides students with career flexibility. In this subject, students can develop their understanding and capacity to participate and contribute to AI-based workforce or industry initiatives. Or they can develop an AI-based research project that’s then completed as their master’s project.

Some of our medical radiation experts have formed an AI research interest group to supervise students in this course and mentor other academics. The group is led by experienced researchers Professor Geoff Currie, Johnathan Hewis, Associate Professor Kelly Spuur and Professor Janelle Wheat. It also includes input from Associate Professor Cate Thomas in the School of Social Work and Arts, and early career academics Tarni Nelson, Amanda Chandler and Caroline Nabasenja.

A key focus for the group is to expand students’ understanding of emerging trends in medical radiation science, including AI, equipping them with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to meet the future needs of industry.

They are also working to grow the university’s research and contributions in the emerging areas of AI in medical radiation science.

Their latest work aims to better understand community perceptions and preferences regarding the application of AI in medical imaging. This follows previous published work by the group that explored perceptions and preferences among industry professionals and contributed to our AI research footprint of 17 journal articles, one book and one book chapter.

Professor Currie, who teaches the master’s level AI subject, has been invited to speak about the group’s work at a range of international conferences. In March 2022, he spoke at the first AI Summit in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging held in the US. He’s also an invited speaker on AI at other conferences in Poland, Pakistan, the US, Canada and Japan in 2022.

The collective work of our medical radiation experts is an exciting example of how their academic passion creates new opportunities for our students and university – while also making significant contributions to the industry and communities around the world.

By the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)