Potential to save lives keeps Kelly focused on mammography
Published on 30 March, 2011
Kelly Spuur is an experienced mammographer with more than two decades in the field, but she's not prepared to rest on her laurels.
"The role of the mammographer in the diagnosis of breast cancer is hugely underrated," she says. "It is a difficult imaging task to master and is often not helped by misconception of what we are aiming to do when we position and compress the breast."
Kelly says she certainly does not expect thanks for finding cancer.
"But knowing that by producing a mammographic image of the best possible quality you may be helping to save a life gives meaning to the job and keeps you striving to obtain the best possible image for every single patient," she says.
Kelly is currently the Head of Program for Medical Imaging and Medical Sonography at CQUniversity Mackay and says she's very proud to be involved with these programs in their first year.
"The facilities here at CQUniversity are world-class state-of-the-art. It is a career highlight to be able to teach in such a hi-tech spacious facility. It is absolutely fantastic," she says.
During the 2011 CQUniversity Showcase of Research in early April, Kelly will deliver a presentation (Mackay Campus Building 1, from 2.10pm Friday, April 8) about the potential for radiographers to publish research, given the rapid advances in digital technology in all medical imaging procedures.
Kelly will also talk about the worldwide potential benefits of her own research, which relates to mammographic image quality and the criteria used for quality assessment. She has also published on communication during breast ultrasound.
The image quality research has made a significant contribution to the potential for increasing consistency in the production of mammography images.
"The outcomes have provided evidence of the need for new criteria within image evaluation systems ... at the same time indicating ways in which the objectivity of the criteria can be maximised and subjectivity minimised," she says.
Kelly juggles her time at CQUniversity with work in the Medical Imaging department at Mackay's Mater private hospital "when time allows". She's just completed her PhD through the University of Sydney (examining the application and design of mammographic evaluation criteria using the presentation of the pectoral muscle) and says that looking after three children also keeps her very busy.
Originally from Sydney's Northern Beaches, Kelly completed her Associate Diploma in Diagnostic Medical Radiography in 1988 at the Department of Technical and Further Education in Ultimo, Sydney. After completing training at Westmead Hospital she then worked at Manly District Hospital and at a number of private medical centres on the Northern Beaches. In 1992 she relocated to Wagga Wagga to commence work at Wagga Medical Imaging, (now Regional Imaging - Riverina). Kelly went on to complete a Diploma of Health Science (Medical Imaging) and Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Imaging) at Charles Sturt University.
At Regional Imaging - Riverina, she worked as the Mammography Supervisor and enjoyed a close working association with BreastScreen NSW South West. As a part of a multidisciplinary team, her work focused on diagnostic, screening and interventional breast imaging. She moved into full time academia in 2008.
Prior to commencing work at CQUniversity, Kelly lectured for two years at Charles Sturt University in the area of the fundamentals of X-ray production and equipment. During this period, she also acted as Course Coordinator for the Medical Imaging program.