23 Apr 2017 | 3 mins

Helen Carty: in her own words

I was born in 1944 in Dungarvan, Ireland. I obtained a Bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery Obstetrics from University College Dublin in 1967. My clinical studies were in the Mater Hospital. I initially studied internal medicine, obtaining membership of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and was subsequently elected a Fellow. Having obtained membership, I began training in radiology and completed my residency in radiology at Saint Thomas’ Hospital, London.

In 1974 I obtained fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists and became Consultant Radiologist in 1975 at the Royal Liverpool Children‘s NHS Trust, Alder Hey, becoming Director of Radiological Services there in 1977, a post I held for 27 years. I was appointed as a lecturer in radiology and orthopaedic radiology at Liverpool University, shortly after my appointment as a consultant. In 1996 I became Professor of Paediatric Radiology at Liverpool University and Alder Hey, a position I held until retirement from clinical practice in 2004. I had broad interests within paediatric radiology, and introduced interventional procedures to the children's hospital. I had a special interest in the radiology of non-accidental injuries and have lectured extensively on this subject.

Thus most of my working life was with children and their families. Both Austin and I were fortunate to be in Radiology at the time of unprecedented development, a period when many of the techniques now taken for granted such as Ultrasound, CT and MR were all developed. During that time I was fortunate in having the opportunity to introduce and adapt these techniques for use in children and to develop paediatric radiology both locally, nationally and internationally. In this capacity, I became involved in European radiology through the European Congress of Radiology, ECR, founded in 1991 in Vienna and contributed to the development of Radiology particularly in Eastern Europe following the collapse of communism. I became President of ECR in 2004, a culmination of a lifetime’s work.

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12th May 1944 to 23rd April 2017

During my career, I worked with numerous health organisations in the UK. I was Adviser in Radiology to the Chief Medical Officer between 1995 and 1998, Deputy Chairman of the Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC), and President of the Liverpool Medical Institution in 1993-94. I served on many committees of the Royal College of Radiologists, including being a member of Council and examiner, and served a four year term as Warden of the College.

I have also served as External Examiner or Supervisor of M.D. and Ph.D. theses in Dublin, Pakistan, Malaysia and Singapore. I was invited as a visiting professor or lecturer on many occasions in Asia, Australia, Europe both West and East, The Middle East, South America, South Africa and the USA. Through work, I travelled and taught and in particular I was able to help develop paediatric radiological services in many countries. I learnt at least as much as I taught and I found the whole experience both humbling and stimulating.

During my working life, I published extensively on many aspects of Paediatric Radiology, both in articles in peer reviewed journals, invited contributions to journals and books, and was editor in chief of a 2 volume textbook of Paediatric Radiology , Imaging Children, and 4 other paediatric radiology textbooks. I was granted Honorary Membership of the European Society of Paediatric Radiology, the Radiological Society of Hungary, the Polish Radiological Society and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), and the President‘s award from the Association of American Women Radiologists. I was elected Honorary Member of Council of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in recognition of services to the prevention of Child Abuse. I have also been awarded honorary fellowships of The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the Faculty of Radiologists of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and I am a Fellow ad eundem of the Royal College of Physicians of London.

In recognition of my l contributions and work in paediatric radiology, and my commitment to European radiology, I received the Gold Medal of the European Society of Radiology at ECR 2009.

The first CT scanner in Alder Hey was purchased through a public appeal which raised 1.25 million pounds. I was the medical lead for this appeal which raised the money between 1984 and 1987, a tribute to the generosity of the people of Merseyside.

Austin, also a radiologist, and I married in 1967 and we have three children and six grandchildren. Austin and I both retired on the same day to have time to spend with each other and our children. We indulge our hobbies. Some are joint—music, opera and fishing, reading, art and above all being with friends and our children. My personal hobbies are bird watching, photography, nature in all its aspects, the Burren, and woodcarving.

I was appointed DL in 2005 and through this am getting to know more about my adoptive city and the people of Merseyside. I also had the privilege of being High Sheriff of Merseyside for the year 2011-2012.