Medical Imaging at the University of Exeter is celebrating 20 years of teaching and research excellence.

The programme, which was launched in 2004 to address a national shortage of radiographers, has trained more than 1,000 radiographers and consistently ranks among the best in the country.

It has active student placements in 10 NHS trusts across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, and Somerset.

Chaleigh O'Brien, 38, from Taunton, was among the first group of students to enrol on the programme in 2004, graduating in 2007.

She said: "I chose Exeter’s brand-new Medical Imaging course because I wanted to be part of something pioneering and innovative – and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.

"The programme really built my skills and confidence.

"My career so far has taken me through paediatrics and ultrasound, before moving into veterinary scanning and back to ultrasound.

"Now I’ve come full circle – I’m now a lecturer and practitioner in Medical Imaging, splitting my time between lecturing and clinical practice in ultrasound and I love seeing how much things have progressed for our current students."

(Image: University of Exeter)

Professor Karen Knapp, head of the department of health and care professions at the University of Exeter, said: "Nearly everyone who is admitted to hospital will require some form of imaging procedure, yet the NHS is facing a real shortage of radiographers.

"For the last 20 years, our programme has been training high quality graduates to step into these roles, and we’re so proud of all they’ve achieved.

"We’re now celebrating how we’ve continued to innovate and grow, in both research and education."

The government has recognised the need for 25 per cent more clinical radiographers, which would mean training 4,000 more than are currently active.

The University of Exeter has adapted to meet this need.

In the last four years, the team has launched the country’s first innovative degree apprenticeship in Diagnostic Radiography, which provides the opportunity to "earn while you learn", and a mix of time in NHS and academic settings, resulting in a full degree and a pre-registration MSc degree apprenticeship as well as an MSci to help prepare radiographers for enhanced practice.

Meanwhile, the team’s research output has grown, with projects including examining how routine x-rays could help detect osteoporosis early.