“Now Every Student Can Excel”

How Teesside University Ensured All Students Got Practical MRI Training with Corsmed

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“How can we ensure all our radiography students get the training to excel, and not leave anyone behind?”

This was the challenge confronting Teesside University's radiography programme. Serving several hundred students annually, they discovered that MRI training quality varied dramatically depending on placement location.

Sarah Cutler, Radiography Course Lead, recalls:

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"We were struggling to ensure that all our students had an equitable experience of MRI.

Depending on the hospital placement, students would get vastly different hands-on experience with MRI."

Redressing this inequity was vital to ensure the continuing success of Teesside University's radiography programme. Approximately 60 students per year go through their 3-year BSc programme, plus additional students in their MSc and apprenticeship pathways.

Today, however, this problem has mostly vanished.

This transformation was made possible by Corsmed's MRI simulator, which gave every student the power of a personal MRI scanner, accessible 24/7 on their laptop.

Thanks to implementing Corsmed, Teesside University has been able to:

Provide Equitable Hands-On MRI Experience to All Students
Bridge the Theory-Practice Gap in MRI Physics
Create Safe Learning Environments That Build Confidence
Achieve an Incredibly High Graduate Employment Rate

1. Provide Equitable Hands-On MRI Experience to All Students

For radiography educators, ensuring all students get not just an equal clinical experience, but a consistently great one, is a significant challenge.

Clinical externships vary widely in the opportunities they offer, especially with specialised modalities like MRI.

Sarah Cutler explains the problem they faced before implementing Corsmed:

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"Students often just got to observe rather than participate and get hands-on practice experience with MRI.

There was no guarantee every student would get meaningful practice time."

This disparity could follow students into their careers, potentially limiting their opportunities in specialised areas like MRI.

Teesside's programme aims to prepare graduates who are immediately ready for the workforce, including specialised roles. So it was vital that this inconsistency was rectified.

Corsmed's simulator has completely transformed this situation:

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“Corsmed has really helped us level the playing field. Even with the large cohort of students we teach, we can now ensure they all get the same opportunity to excel.”

The MRI simulator has now become a foundational part of Teesside’s curriculum and teaching:

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"We incorporate Corsmed into our simulation days, which make up part of the placement hours. These are full days supported by MRI clinicians.

This has had a huge impact on student confidence, and much of it stems from Corsmed.”

2. Bridge the Theory-Practice Gap in MRI Physics

See the Theory Come Alive

Understanding abstract MRI concepts can be challenging for students.

Corsmed's simulator enabled Teesside's teachers to turn these abstract theories into visual representations that any student can see and grasp. As Sarah Cutler shares:

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"The simulator lets them see the consequences of their actions and how they affect the images or scan.

It has helped them understand the safety aspects of MRI much better as well."

This immediate visual feedback directly bridges the gap between theory and practice. Students can instantly see how abstract concepts from lectures translate into practical scanning, something previously impossible without an actual scanner.

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"We were struggling to ensure that all our students had an equitable experience of MRI.

But after our simulation days when we used Corsmed, they said it totally changed their outlook.

They now feel they have a deeper understanding of how to get good images and scan effectively."– Sarah Cutler

Broader Experience with a Variety of Scans

Limited scanning time in clinics means students mostly just get to practice on routine scans.

Corsmed removes these limitations, allowing students to gain experience with a diverse range of rare anatomies and scanning protocols, accessible 24/7 on their laptop.

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"Now that we have Corsmed, it's given students practical skills and a broader experience of how to scan with a wide variety of anatomies and procedures, whereas before they previously didn't have that experience."

An Unexpected Bonus – Attracting More Students

Teesside didn’t initially adopt Corsmed with student recruitment in mind.

However, its visual, interactive, and hands-on approach to learning has proven to be an engaging educational tool. One that may also enhance the overall student experience in ways that could support recruitment efforts over time.

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"Corsmed has definitely been a selling point for our radiography program, and it does attract new students in our recruitment and marketing process.”

3. Create Safe Learning Environments That Build Confidence

Learning through trial and error is essential in mastering complex skills, but this is challenging in healthcare settings where patient safety is paramount.

Corsmed creates a risk-free environment where students can experiment and learn from mistakes without consequences.

Sarah Cutler highlights the value students place on this aspect:

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"We have had feedback from students saying Corsmed lets them practice in a safe environment, an unpressurised environment.

They feel that they're able to make mistakes in a safe, controlled way that encourages them to reflect and increases their learning experience."

Sarah shares a specific success story that demonstrates the simulator's impact:

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"One student was really struggling with MRI, particularly on clinical placement. They came into the simulation session quite apprehensive, thinking they would never understand the concepts.

After using Corsmed, they left having grasped and understood the concept. They found the software really easy to use, and it helped them gain knowledge and skills they could apply in their clinical placement."

The boosted confidence and competence students develop through simulator practice have led to notable improvements in student engagement:

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"Corsmed has grown our students’ confidence.

Students now get to scan a variety of anatomical areas, and this has increased their engagement and interest in MRI."

4. Achieve an Incredibly High Graduate Employment Rate

Teesside University's radiography programme boasts an impressive employment rate, with many graduates moving directly into specialised roles. The practical skills developed through Corsmed play a key role in maintaining this perfect placement record.

Sarah Cutler explains how the simulator helps meet evolving industry expectations:

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"The standards of proficiency have changed. There's an expectation now for radiographers to have MRI or CT experience and be competent with basic scans.

Corsmed has helped students achieve that in a more equitable way. When our graduates go into their first job, they’re ready to perform."

The simulator also exposes students to career possibilities they might not otherwise consider:

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"Corsmed has shown them a new potential direction for their career. Our students now better understand the different imaging modalities they can pursue."

This exposure to specialised imaging has concrete results in graduate outcomes:

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"Many students actually go straight from graduation to specialise in more advanced roles, such as MRI and CT."

Implementing Corsmed: Simple Integration, User-Friendly Experience

For institutions considering simulation technology, questions about implementation and usability are often top concerns. Teesside's experience demonstrates that Corsmed integrates smoothly into existing curricula and is accessible to both faculty and students.

Sarah Cutler shares their positive experience with the simulator's user interface:

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"I've found Corsmed to be quite easy to pick up. We have always had positive feedback from the students that they found it simple to use and user-friendly.

It's been quite easy to incorporate into our simulation days."

The impact on the overall programme has been substantial:

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"Corsmed has massively improved our programme and simulation structure compared to previously."

The Final Verdict: A “Transformation” in Radiography Education

When asked about the overall impact of implementing Corsmed's simulator, Sarah Cutler offers a clear assessment:

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"Corsmed has been a transformation. It’s definitely made students more competent for their first job roles.

They have all been given a fair experience and opportunity to have a go at scanning. The simulator has made them far more skillful."

Teesside University's implementation of Corsmed demonstrates how simulation technology can transform radiography education. Not only are students more engaged and graduate into secure positions, they become skilled professionals ready to make a difference in healthcare from Day One.

For other MRI institutions looking to enhance their training, the message from Teesside is clear: Corsmed's simulator doesn't just supplement traditional education, it fundamentally transforms it, creating better-prepared professionals who provide superior patient care.

As Sarah summarises:

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"Our students have really had some positive feedback on the software and they've really enjoyed using it. It's made MRI more fun.

They understand the theory behind it a lot more, and it's increased student satisfaction and engagement."

Want to Enhance Your MRI Training Program?

Book a free demo with us today, and discover how Corsmed can take your MRI training to the next level.

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