If the word “nuclear” conjures images of Hollywood style mutations, mushroom clouds and a Mad Max lifestyle after a nuclear holocaust, you’re not alone.

While images of protests around nuclear reactors make the public fear for their health, not everything associated with the word is bad, says recently appointed Charles Sturt University (CSU) nuclear medicine course coordinator and senior lecturer, Geoff Currie.

However, it is the mystery and misconceptions about nuclear medicine that has contributed to a national shortage of nuclear medicine technologists.

“The quality of nuclear medicine technologists trained in Australia has put them in demand internationally, particularly in Britain, which has exacerbated our shortage,” says Mr Currie.

It is for this reason that Mr Currie has made it his priority to address the shortage of students studying nuclear medicine.

Nuclear medicine, although often likened to radiography, investigates the body’s function rather than structure. This is achieved by injecting, ingesting or inhaling a compound tagged to a small quantity of radioactive material for diagnosis or therapy. Such practice is among the safest diagnostic imaging examinations available, says Mr Currie.

“It is an extremely interesting job with research and travel opportunities. In any day a technologist may be working in the nuclear pharmacy, performing computer analysis, injecting patients, performing clinical or research studies or all of the above,” he said.

And Mr Currie should know, having spent 17 years working in all aspects of nuclear medicine, both in Australia and the USA. 

His career highlights include a Masters Degree in Medical Radiation Science, a Masters Degree in Applied Management, accreditation in Australia, certification in the USA, a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Trust Fellowship, two Mallinckrodt Nuclear awards for technologist research presentations and a career achievement award from the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England.

Mr Currie took up his position at the University last month and will work alongside his fiancée Janelle Wheat, who has been appointed lecturer and clinical coordinator for nuclear medicine. 

“CSU graduates have something special to offer the industry, especially in regional areas, which have the biggest shortage of nuclear medicine technologists, and where early promotion to senior positions is a real opportunity,” he said.

For more information about a nuclear medicine career, visit the CSU nuclear medicine website