Can you share your journey into interventional radiology and what inspired you to pursue this specialty?
I have always enjoyed medical procedures and thought I would end up in a surgical specialty. All that changed one day when I was a General Practitioner: I was working in ICU and we had a patient in the unit with pancreatitis who was not doing too well. He developed a large pancreatic pseudocyst and was too unstable for surgery. The doctors in the unit recommended CT guided drainage of the pseudocyst and I was very curious to know how that is done. I quickly volunteered to go with the patient to the radiology unit for the procedure, which I also got to assist in. After the procedure the patients condition improved dramatically and he was discharged about 3 weeks later. That was a career pivot for me. I became so fascinated about everything IR and started doing more research around it: how minimally invasive procedures can solve complex clinical challenges reducing hospital stay, recovery time and, in many cases, risk to the patient. I was also drawn to how innovative IR is: many procedures we do now started as new solutions for managing pathological contexts in a minimally invasive manner. The following year I applied for a Diagnostic Radiology residency in my home country, Kenya, which I completed 2 years ago and went ahead to apply for fellowship, which I started at the University of Toronto in July 2024.
How do you balance work and personal life in a demanding field like interventional radiology?
It requires a lot of intentionality and emotional intelligence. I am still seeking that balance, because fellowship is very demanding in terms of work and mental application. It helps to develop a daily self-care routine: I am a Christian and make it a point to start my day connecting with God to sets a positive tone for the day. I am deliberate about creating time to rest each evening and connect with friends and family over the weekends. I’m lucky to have a strong support system who are able to step in and support me both morally and in everyday activities, for example childcare. I have made it a point to communicate with my family and prepare them for seasons where I have to focus on work-related tasks and dedicate more time to them when work eases up.
In terms of work, I strive to prioritize tasks and complete them as efficiently as possible in a timely manner, one at a time. I have learnt to accept setbacks and make adjustments to my plans and schedules as need be. I am also learning how to set both professional and personal boundaries.
What advice do you have for women who are aspiring to enter the field of interventional radiology?
Embrace the learning process. The IR learning curve can be steep and plagued with a number of challenges by virtue of the complexity and number of procedures performed as well as the volumes in some centers, but stay focused on your goal and do not give up. Be patient with yourself.
Focus on progress rather than perfection. Any little advancement in skillset and knowledge compounds over time. Embrace a growth mindset and take any mistakes as learning opportunities. Celebrate any small achievements along the way.
Seek out opportunities for career growth. Learn the most from any teachers and mentors willing to support you as you pursue IR. If possible, attend IR conferences and meetings. They serve as excellent platforms for getting to know what’s new as well as networking with others passionate about IR.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to chase your dreams. They might just come true!
What steps can women take to foster a supportive and collaborative community within the interventional radiology field?
It is important to recognize and celebrate each other’s strengths and work together avoiding unhealthy competition. This can be done by building professional relationships and offering mentorship to younger doctors. When women come together great things happen!
More women should take up leadership positions at both our workplaces and in professional associations to influence the IR culture from a place of authority. We need to be more involved in the setting up of both hard and soft policies that influence the practice of IR.
What role do you think diversity plays in enhancing the practice of interventional radiology?
I am very fortunate to work in a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Human beings are diverse: by embracing diversity, a health system benefits from the perspectives of persons from different backgrounds and experiences, creating a culture where new ideas and innovative approaches can thrive. An inclusive working environment has been shown to attract and retain talented professionals.
Diversity also enhances patient experience and overall patient care: numerous studies have demonstrated greater patient satisfaction when seeking medical attention from physicians with racial concordance.
It is also pivotal in inspiring the next generation of doctors to consider IR as a specialty: when they see someone with whom they share common ground practicing and excelling in the profession, they start to see themselves in such roles, which can act as a strong driving force,
In the context of Global health, what can be done to advance Interventional Radiology in developing countries?
In my country, Kenya, IR has grown over the last few years, though there is still a great deal to do. Support in terms of training would really promote IR. Many residents and practicing radiologists have interest but are limited by the available training opportunities. Opening up fellowship positions to radiologists from developing countries would go a long way, even as we develop our own training institutions. Some organizations such as RAD-AID and Road2IR make visits to developing countries to build capacity for practicing IRs and their teams (including nurses and radiology technologists) in terms of teaching of specialized IR techniques and offering guidance in the setting up and running of an efficient IR service. This has contributed tremendously to our IR practice as a country.
Establishment of a good supply chain of consumables would also contribute to the growth of IR. We mainly rely on third party vendors who sometimes sell IR equipment at high prices and sometimes provide items that are not of optimum quality. We sometimes struggle to get specialized catheters and wires because they are not carried by the vendors. The supply chain is also unstable: it operates on demand and supply which translates to stockouts from time to time.