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World Radiography Day is an important event in the calendar of SoR members, as it is a perfect opportunity to promote their hard work to the world.
Taking place each year on 8 November, the date of the discovery of X-radiation by Wilhem Roentgen in 1895, World Radiography Day (WRD) is a chance to celebrate and recognise radiography professionals and support workers across the globe.
As part of the day, it is the role of SoR CEO Richard Evansand president Tom Welton to promote radiography to the world.
365 days a year
“World Radiography Day is an opportunity to place specific focus on the profession each year,” Richard said ahead of WRD 2024. “It's really nice, in addition to our ordinary work of promoting the profession - which obviously goes on 365 days a year anyway - to have a day with specific focus.”
“It’s all about raising awareness,” said Tom Welton, the current president of the Society, who was inaugurated in July.
Tom also remarked on the efforts made by students to promote World Radiography Day, praising the genuine interest they have in the profession.
“Our students in teaching hospitals are doing great work,” he explained. “Raffles and posters and promotions - they don't do that every day of the week.”
Not your normal day job
As part of the WRD promotional efforts in recent years, ahead of the big day prominent members of the Society have visited a recording facility in London, conducting a full morning of radio interviews to then be broadcast on WRD.
This year’s annual trip to the studio took place on Wednesday 6 November. Armed with a packed World Radiography Day itinerary, Richard and Tom carried out multiple interviews with various radio stations to spread the word.
Both Richard and Tom have enjoyed storied radiography careers but sitting in a recording studio and calling into radio stations isn’t something they do very often. So how was the experience for them?
“It was different,” Tom said. “It was a bit daunting. It's not something you do on your day job, is it?”
“But it was quite a nice feeling of being listened to around the country,” Tom continued. “As a radiographer, that's not always the case. So being able to get on radio stations across different areas of the country, it was quite a nice feeling.
“Having a World Radiography Day is important to promote locally. As well as with things like this [radio interviews] where you can do a more national basis."
Seeing the unseen
The radio interviews are just one of the ways the Society marks World Radiography Day.
The Society also runs a poster competition, where members submit their designs on a specific theme for a chance to have their designs published. This year’s theme was ‘Seeing the Unseen’.
Winning entries were then compiled and sent out to all members of the SoR, this year as part of the mailing for the September edition of Insight journal, to be displayed in departments around the country.
Richard said he also enjoys seeing how different radiography departments choose to celebrate the occasion, as it shows the uniqueness of each team. This usually involves setting up a display within their department.
“We’re really keen on highlighting the vital nature of radiography and healthcare,” he explained. “That’s always going to be a theme, to help promote the profession.”
“But how that comes across in individual X-ray departments and radiotherapy departments up and down the country is going to be a little bit different. And that’s great.”
Today, the Society has dedicated an area of its website to World Radiography Day. Those interested in finding out more about World Radiography Day can click here to see the winners of the SoR poster competition, find resources and check out the latest SoR news.
“Let's be proud of our profession, let's push it forward and know that we're the ones to do it,” Tom added.
Share your WRD celebrations for a chance to be featured in Synergy. Send your pictures and details of your department/celebrations to [email protected].