The push to bring nuclear medical professionals to regional areas is gaining greater industry support, with the donation of a high-tech gamma camera to Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) nuclear medicine laboratory in Wagga Wagga, NSW.

With a half million-dollar price tag for a new machine, the Marconi Medical-donated equipment is only nine years old and is expected to assist greatly in teaching practice and with research opportunities.

Such an acquisition shows the “fabulous contribution” from industry to education, said CSU’s head of Clinical Sciences Associate Professor Karen Francis - a sentiment echoed by recently appointed Nuclear Medicine senior lecturer and course coordinator, Geoff Currie.

“This is an example of how industry and education can work hand-in-hand. It allows tertiary institutions, such as CSU, to move ahead with research and in turn provides industry with the highest quality graduates,” Mr Currie said.

Associate Professor Francis said the donation was made possible through the work of Mr Currie and fellow Clinical Sciences lecturer, Janelle Wheat, who have worked extensively in the nuclear medicine industry before they were appointed to their CSU positions earlier this year.

“This is evidence of what working collaboratively with industry and businesses can do,” Associate Professor Francis said.

“And the outcome of encouraging industry professionals to move over to tertiary education results in major benefits for everyone involved – the students, the education institutions and the businesses.”

The gamma camera, which is the main piece of equipment used in nuclear medicine, performs techniques that students would be exposed to in a clinical setting. According to Nuclear Medicine Technology second year student, James Hunter, it will be an “immeasurable benefit for current and future students”.