Yogan Kisten

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Country and place of work

Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Western Cape, South Africa.

How long have you been a radiographer?

10+ years.

Where did you train?

School of Radiography (Groote Schuur Hospital), Peninsula Technikon, now known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

How long was your training?

5 years.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Being the Student!

What is the most challenging/difficult part of your job and why?

Breaking the barriers and resistance to change. Ultrasound Radiography in the government sector of some hospitals in SA, is still in its infant stages compared to that of the private sector and many hospitals in the developed countries.

There is still a massive gap between the ‘very rich’ and ‘the very poor.’ The challenges of implementing the responsible use of ultrasound are also a major problem. The huge concern arises in the private sector, when many of the General Practioners (GPs) are still scanning patients, without proper or formal ultrasound training. (I wonder why? Profit gain? Or lack of training facilities?)

Employment of sonographers or obtaining the required training themselves would be the solution; however, implementation in itself is a challenge.

How many patients do you help each week approximately?

I guess that in education, the answer would vary. Indirect domino effect would apply. If we as an institution help train one sonographer, that has a potential of helping 50 patients a week, then indirectly we would be helping 51 people – the 50 patients and the person trained.

What is the most memorable or happiest moment of your radiography career and why?

Being awarded the Nelson Mandela Scholarship by Mr Nelson Mandela (2003) is in itself memorable. The opportunity to network, evaluate protocols and pursue a PhD in Doppler ultrasound research in the UK, further highlighted many happy moments.

Working and studying abroad allowed me to be able to make a comparison with ultrasound healthcare in a ‘developed world’ like the UK, to that of a ‘developing world’ like rural parts of South Africa.

Living, learning and adapting to the UK environment has also implanted pleasant memories of further appreciating what ‘little’ we in South Africa, already have.

If you could change or improve one thing about your working life, what would it be?

To implement the attitude of ‘Lets make Love, not War’ not only in my working life, but in the lives of others too. Overcoming discrimination and exploitation. Let us share our wealth and knowledge equally.

Why are certain professions ‘threatened’ by extended roles of radiographers? ‘Skill mix’, and even distribution of workload, increases productivity, knowledge and experience. Why are professions like radiography still fighting the awareness battle? Why is there still a big gap among healthcare professions, in terms of status and hierarchy? Why are there so many ‘chiefs’ and so little ‘Indians’.

By the way, I like my job and people I work with, however, if the answers to the above questions could be solved with proper rectification, then I think all our working lives would improve.

Have you ever worked as a radiographer outside your home country? If not, have you considered it?

Yes, I have worked as an advanced practitioner (ultrasound) in many UK NHS and University hospitals, and would recommend it as a learning experience for those considering to work outside their home country.

For me, it has been an amazing experience. Seeing a fox and a hedgehog in real life, was one of the many first time experiences. Calling the ‘water tank’ a ‘geezer’ sounded funny to my UK flatmates. Only to realise that one of them referred to their supper as ‘tea’. It was a wonderful and delightful work, study and living experience.

Global knowledge can be so valuable. Working abroad has also made me realise that the, radiography profession, ultrasound facilities, research and type of illnesses affecting patients in the ‘developed world’ are similar, yet so different, to that of the ‘developing world’. Poor socio-economic conditions singled out, would be one of the many factors that could effect the results.

The developed world is well equipped with modern technology, while the developing world is affected with severe illnesses and pathologies. By interacting or merging the two, we could help resolve many world-wide illnesses.

As much as I’ve gained great knowledge from the UK, I could safely say that I was also able to share some knowledge that I had gained in SA, with UK colleagues. It’s interesting that some pathology that are commonly seen in rural South Africa, have only been seen in text books by some colleagues in the UK. Information exchange and global collaboration is a key result of working outside one’s home country.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a radiographer?

Explore the field of radiography prior to you taking up the course. Do you have what it takes to become a radiographer? Spend enough time in the radiography department, chat to many radiographers already in the profession. Some may love it, and others may not. You be the judge…
If its working, learning and helping sick people is what you about, then radiography may be for you, without a doubt.

How do you see the role of the radiographer/technologist developing in the future?

Skill mix and the implementation of extended roles of radiographers, not only in South Africa, but worldwide too. More trained reporting radiographers. Further research and innovation strategies in the radiography profession.

Technology transfer without caution could be destructive, but in saying that its responsible use in the radiography profession could be extremely constructive and beneficial to primary healthcare medicine in years to come.