Meet the team

Julie Bridson - Director North West England Imaging Training Academy

Julie is Professor of Medical Education and Head of Department of Postgraduate Medical Education and the Academic Clinical Director of the North West England Imaging Training Academy and Radiology Academy at Edge Hill University Medical School. Her main interests are medical/clinical education and training across all healthcare professions, but with a particular focus on postgraduate studies and CPD. From her professional expertise in clinical imaging, there is an inherent focus on education, training, research and enterprise in that clinical speciality.

Since arriving at Edge Hill University, Julie has attracted significant funding for both education and training awards, contract and commissioned research, enterprise, knowledge transfer/exchange and associated research. Her affinity to medical diagnostic ultrasound led to her holding senior positions both internationally and in the UK: Past-President and UK representative to the European Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (2011-2013), Board of Directors European Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (2009-2011), President of the British Medical Ultrasound Society (2008-2010), Chair of the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (2003-2006) and Chair of the United Kingdom Association of Sonographers (2001-2003).

Julie has been involved with health policy for many years and is currently working with NHS England on Advanced Practice Credential approvals, and she has acted as a medico-legal expert for medical negligence in medical ultrasound cases.

Her research interests include: differential attainment for Doctors in Training (DiT) and early interventions to improve performance, workforce issues in clinical imaging, learning needs analysis tools, impact of radiographer reporting to overall reporting portfolio and imaging support workers.

Andrew Tootell - Associate Head of Medical and Clinical Education and CPD Edge Hill University

Andrew is the Associate Head of Medical and Clinical Education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at Edge Hill University.

As a HCPC registered radiographer, his specialist areas are nuclear medicine, CT, and projection radiography. With 18 years of experience in educating and training radiography professionals, clinical technologists, medical, dental, and personnel, Andrew has been actively involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate activities at The University of Salford (2006-2024) before moving to Edge Hill University in February 2024. During his tenure at the University of Salford, he played a crucial role as the academic enterprise lead, overseeing Salford's contributions to the Northwest Imaging Academy's initiatives.

Andrew has held various external examiner positions and specialist advisor for higher education institutions across the country and positions on national committees, including the Nuclear Medicine Advisory group for the Society and College of Radiographers and the British Nuclear Medicine Society’s Radiographers, Technologists, and Nurses group. He presently sits on the Accreditation and Approval Board for the College of Radiographers and serves as the Associate Editor for Radiography, the peer-reviewed journal of the Society and College of Radiographers.

Andrew completed his PhD in 2018 and research interests focus on radiation protection and dosimetry, with numerous published papers in this field.

Linda Williams - Radiographer Lead for Imaging at the North West England Imaging Training Academy

Linda qualified as a diagnostic radiographer in 1982 and has since worked within radiology for most of her career.

She has held various positions including clinical tutor associated with University of Liverpool and Bangor University, moving into a full-time lecturer role at Bangor University as Lead Tutor for Clinical Education.

Linda then moved back into the NHS and worked in radiology management roles for over 20 years both at Countess of Chester Hospital and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre before becoming the first Chief AHP at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Linda’s passion throughout her career has been about maintaining professional standards and valuing and caring for staff and patients.

Paula Hunter - Governance & Compliance Officer North West England Imaging Training Academy at Edge Hill University Medical School

Paula recently moved into a new role with the North West England Imaging Training Academy having worked at Edge Hill for 15 years. In her new role she is responsible for Staffing, contract approvals, finance, security & risk, governance & knowledge exchange.

In her previous role, Paula worked closely with NHS England (prev. Health Education England NW) managing and administrating the Clinical Supervisor, Educational Supervisor and Leadership courses for Specialist Trainees in the North West; and managed Edge Hill University’s suite of Clinical Education modules and programmes from stand-alone CPD modules to Masters level courses working closely with external NHS stakeholders, particularly managing finance and progression.

Gill Holroyd - Professional Lead for Imaging at the North West England Imaging Training Academy

Gill has worked in Merseyside throughout her career after qualifying as a diagnostic radiographer in 1978 and is as passionate now about imaging and her profession as when she first started.

Gill’s hospital travels have encompassed all modalities, but her heart lies with CT. Radiology service management beckoned in 2000 at St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals, and she was a Quality Standard in Imaging (QSI) assessor for 10 years before retiring from the imaging shop floor in 2019.

She worked until 2022 as Clinical Collaboration Lead for the Cheshire and Merseyside Radiology Imaging Network from its formation which included leading on the development of the NW Imaging Workforce Strategy and Implementation Plan. As Lead Radiographer for the NW, she sat on the National Imaging Board and National Imaging Workforce Advisory Committee.

Gill is big into her family, sings in 3 choirs, listens to heavy rock and classical choral music and is a very biased Liverpool FC season ticket holder.

Elaine Holme - Project Manager Clinical Imaging, Edge Hill University

During her NHS career, Elaine has delivered successful Service Improvement projects within Radiology nationally and across the North West Region leading to the achievement of HSJ awards, participation in national conferences and published research. Elaine’s reputation as an effective change agent led to her appointment as a Radiology Service Manager for a three-year period. Elaine is passionate about staff development and by working in close collaboration with her clinical colleagues, developed robust relationships with other specialities leading to career development opportunities for Radiology staff.

Leading a team of Service Improvement specialists in Primary Care Trusts offered the opportunity to work with Edge Hill University, developing a stand-alone module on leadership, subsequently developed into a full programme of academic study. Elaine’s passion for people led to her appointment as a Head of Organisational Development and Education before joining Edge Hill University Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine as a Senior Lecturer, delivering a wide range of Leadership and Service Improvement Modules.

Ruth Buckley - Research Project Manager, North West England Imaging Training Academy

Ruth is the project manager for the interventional radiology research project.

Having qualified as a radiographer in 1992, she worked at University Hospital of North Midlands before moving to the Countess of Chester in 2008, where she held various roles culminating as the radiology services manager.

Ruth's passion for delivering high quality services led her to become the NW quality assurance advisor for the National Breast Screening Programme.

Outside of the radiography world, Ruth can normally be found on the ski slopes, often with a doggy companion at her side.

Esther Clarke - Training Programme Administrator, North West England Imaging Training Academy

Esther is the Training Programme Administrator for the Academy. In her role she is responsible for marketing, social media, events, administration for courses and meetings, and any other relevant support.

She has held a wide range of roles across Edge Hill University, Liverpool Council and Sefton Council, working in areas that include Special Educational Needs, Widening Participation, and Research Support.

Beyond work, Esther likes to spend her time outside birdwatching or doing historical re-enactment, though she will never say no to a relaxing evening on the couch with her cat.