Professor Maryann Hardy qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer in 1989 after completing a three-year Diploma of the College of Radiographers. She then worked in several hospitals clinically while simultaneously studying for a BSc (Hons) with the Open University before taking up a temporary three-year post in academia in 1998. That initial three years turned into 24 years and has provided opportunities for both personal and professional growth allowing Maryann to fulfil her ambition to make a difference to people lives, both patients attending for diagnostic radiography examinations and the radiographers delivering their care.
Maryann completed her MSc in Healthcare Practice in 2002 and was the first Diagnostic Radiographer to be awarded Department of Health funding to undertake a PhD, completed in 2007. She was promoted to Professor in 2009 and since then has held a range of academic roles that influence the delivery of education and learning across different educational disciplines.
She is currently Professional Lead for Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Bradford where she promotes purposeful, experiential learning and assessment material that encourages the integration of theory and practice within solution focused scenarios that promote autonomy, accountability and responsibility for decision-making relevant to contemporary clinical practice.
She has successfully held a number of roles external to the University to support the continuing education and development of Diagnostic Radiographers and wider medical imaging professions. These include being Vice President for Education at the British Institute of Radiology (2016-19) and President of the UK Radiology congress (2014-16), roles that have been undertaken by only a handful of radiographers and even fewer females. As such, she acts as a role model for others aspiring to achieve and overcome the boundaries of profession and circumstance.
Maryann has mentored and supported students and healthcare professionals from across the globe to develop self-belief and change practice through continued education, viewing themselves as active participants in the learning process rather than passive recipients. Above all, she encourages all she meets to remain curious, be interested, ask questions and be tomorrow all that you strive towards today.