We are The Chrisite Oct 2025 Staff edition

Staff edition: stories

Jan’s prize-winning physics research recognised nationally

Protect yourself, protect our patients The 2025/26 staff flu vaccination campaign is now underway at The Christie. Getting vaccinated helps protect ourselves, our colleagues and our patients – reducing the pressure the NHS faces every year. Last year’s campaign at The Christie went well, but national

At the British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) conference this May, Jan Walukiewicz, Clinical Scientist and PhD student, received the IPEM Best Physics Prize for his presentation, ‘Theory and validation of a novel sampling method for SUV-peak calculation.’

uptake fell across the NHS. This year, NHS England has asked all trusts to increase uptake by at least five percentage points. Drop-in clinics are usually Monday to Friday in the vaccination hub at department 40 (old

Jan Walukiewicz

Medical Director Neil Bayman vaccinated by Ella Piggott

Sponsored by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the prize recognises the best physics proffered papers in the field of medical physics within nuclear medicine. Jan’s work addressed the uncertainty inherent in the measurement process of medical images, highlighting limitations in the current standard technique. The proposed method could help reduce inconsistency in patient results and support centres to standardise measurements internationally. The BNMS Spring Conference is a national gathering for professionals across nuclear medicine, and the prize is intended to highlight the key role clinical scientists play in driving research, innovation and improvements in clinical practice. This accolade marks a positive milestone for Jan, early in his PhD journey, and for his supervisors Dr Peter Julyan, Dr Heather Williams and Dr Jose Anton-Rodriguez. It also reflects the ongoing efforts of the nuclear medicine team and offers a glimpse of the future contributions they’re likely to make. Inspiring the future: helping open doors to NHS careers Through our ‘Widening Participation’ work here at The Christie, we’re helping young people, particularly those who face barriers, discover rewarding careers in healthcare. Each year, hundreds of students join us for open days, taster sessions and work placements across departments, from radiography to finance, showing that there’s a place for everyone at The Christie. Here are some snippets from visitors: “Seeing a medical physicist in action helped me realise my interests expand to quality control. It was so helpful to see that side of the job.” Eudora, 24 (Radiology) “I recommend any young people with disabilities to do work experience at The Christie. You don't get judged by what qualifications you have or what background you come from. I never thought a hospital would be somewhere I could work.” Annie, 19 (Finance) And staff: “In the past year, we have had the pleasure of working with several placements and witnessing their personal development has been particularly gratifying. Young individuals often require a chance, someone who believes in them and a nurturing environment in which they can flourish.” Richard Timperley, Catering Manager. “We empower young people to take ownership of their development, offering a supportive, non-pressured environment to explore responsibility and take their first steps into adulthood.” Lydia Botley, Career Practitioner. We’re always looking for colleagues to help mentor, support and inspire the next generation. To get involved contact lydia.botley@nhs.net or visit HIVE to find out more about our work experience, supported internships and employability programmes.

outpatients) near the Wilmslow Road entrance. Teams of roving vaccinators are also visiting departments to make getting your jab even easier. Please check HIVE and the weekly bulletin for the hub opening hours. No need to book, just turn up. Please let us know if you've had your vaccination elsewhere, via the e-form on HIVE.

FTSU guardian Fiona Jenkinson with champions Anne Crook and Anita Gosh

Speaking up at The Christie Thanks to everyone who took part in Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Week and helped to promote an open, supportive culture across The Christie. During the week, our FTSU Guardian, Fiona Jenkinson, and FTSU Champions ran an engagement stall at the Withington site, near department 22, sharing information about the many ways colleagues can speak up about issues and ideas. Freedom to Speak Up Week is about encouraging all staff to feel confident raising anything that affects their wellbeing, their work or the care we provide. By creating an open and supportive environment for staff, we can continue to deliver the very best care for our patients. To find out more about how to raise concerns or ideas, please visit HIVE.

5