James Harcus

Profile

I qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer from University of Leeds in 2002 upon which I worked at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as a radiographer across a range of specialities.  In 2004 I began my training in musculoskeletal image interpretation (reporting) at University of Bradford. After leaving Leeds in 2007 I took up a post in a large general practice surgery near Pontefract, West Yorkshire.  I ran a small imaging service consisting of X-ray and ultrasound and during this time I completed my MSc in chest and abdominal image interpretation (reporting) and also my postgraduate certificate in musculoskeletal ultrasound back at the University of Leeds.

After being a visiting and associate lecturer for a number of years, in 2012 I took up an academic post as a lecturer, and subsequently Senior Lecturer, at Sheffield Hallam University.  I completed my postgraduate certificate in higher education teaching and became a fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2014.  My roles over the seven years I was at Sheffield Hallam included both undergraduate and postgraduate programme lead, admissions lead, and faculty radiation protection supervisor, as well as leading several programme validations.  For nine months between 2017 and 2018 I undertook a part-time secondment post to help establish the UK's first clinical academy for reporting radiographers.

In December 2018 I took up a teaching and scholarship role at The University of Leeds as a lecturer in Diagnostic Imaging, back where I had started nearly 20 years earlier, and teaching on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.  I continue to have involvement in the radiographer reporting academy project and undertake some clinical musculoskeletal ultrasound sessions outside of my work at the University.  

Research interests

My current research and professional interests include:

• academy-based learning for radiographer reporting
• clinical reporting and preliminary clinical evaluation (commenting)
• advanced clinical practice roles by radiographers
• the role of the external examiner in radiography programmes
• developing international collaborative practice
• distance-learning in higher education

Qualifications

• MSc Medical Imaging (radiographic image intepretation); University of Bradford
• PgCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Educuation; Sheffield Hallam University
• PgCert Diagnostic Imaging (musculoskeletal ultrasound); University of Leeds
• BHSc(Hons) Diagnostic Radiography; University of Leeds

Professional memberships

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Health and Care Professions Council
• Society and College of Radiographers

Student education

I am currently one of the admissions tutors for the undergraduate radiography course.  I currently teach on modules across all three years of the undergraduate programme, particularly on image interpretation and anatomy, and am subject lead for research projects and international learning.  At postgraduate level I lead on clinical reporting and image interpretation in diagnostic imaging.       

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine
• Specialist Science Education