We are
RAD CHAT
Founded by Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara in 2021, Rad Chat is more than just a podcast—it's a global knowledge hub with a big vision for the future.
WHY WE'RE HERE
We've seen firsthand the challenges faced by everyone who works in radiotherapy, oncology and broader healthcare: limited funding, lack of awareness, recruitment hurdles and training obstacles—to name a few.
But these issues don't just affect healthcare professionals; they create a ripple effect that impacts patients and their loved ones. And they're not confined to the UK. Beyond our borders, the challenges are even more pronounced, with some countries facing severe shortages in radiotherapy equipment and trained professionals.
But these issues don't just affect healthcare professionals; they create a ripple effect that impacts patients and their loved ones. And they're not confined to the UK. Beyond our borders, the challenges are even more pronounced, with some countries facing severe shortages in radiotherapy equipment and trained professionals.
WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT IT
As healthcare professionals ourselves, passionate patient advocates, and champions of equity, diversity and inclusion, we couldn't just sit back. We had to do something.
So, in 2021, we joined forces to create a platform that would drive positive change. Rad Chat was born: a CPD-accredited podcast that makes advanced therapeutic radiography knowledge engaging and accessible. It's flexible learning, on-the-go, allowing you to develop professionally without compromising patient care or personal time. And because we believe knowledge should know no boundaries, it's all freely available.
But this is just the beginning. Believe us, our plans for the future are big and bold.
So, in 2021, we joined forces to create a platform that would drive positive change. Rad Chat was born: a CPD-accredited podcast that makes advanced therapeutic radiography knowledge engaging and accessible. It's flexible learning, on-the-go, allowing you to develop professionally without compromising patient care or personal time. And because we believe knowledge should know no boundaries, it's all freely available.
But this is just the beginning. Believe us, our plans for the future are big and bold.
Passionate Advocates
We’re not here to lecture—we’re here to educate, motivate and inspire. Our vision for the future is bold,and we know we can’t achieve it alone. It takes all of us, working together, to create real change. That’s why we value every voice and every contribution.
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF RADIOTHERAPY & ONCOLOGY
What do we mean by big and bold? Well, knowledge sharing isn't all we're doing—we're empowering healthcare professionals to shape the future of radiotherapy and oncology, pushing boundaries to improve cancer care worldwide.
Why? Because there's a pressing need to:
• Raise awareness about the critical importance of radiotherapy in cancer treatment
• Advance radiotherapy and oncology practice
• Reduce the health inequalities that exist globally
Some might call us brave, others might say we're idealistic. But you know what? We're proudly and passionately committed to making the world a better place through radiotherapy and oncology education and advocacy.
It goes without saying that we can't achieve this alone. It takes all of us, working together, to create real change. That's why we value every voice and every contribution.
So we ask you to: Listen and learn, spread the word about Rad Chat and connect with us.
Together, we can create a more equitable future in cancer treatment.
Why? Because there's a pressing need to:
• Raise awareness about the critical importance of radiotherapy in cancer treatment
• Advance radiotherapy and oncology practice
• Reduce the health inequalities that exist globally
Some might call us brave, others might say we're idealistic. But you know what? We're proudly and passionately committed to making the world a better place through radiotherapy and oncology education and advocacy.
It goes without saying that we can't achieve this alone. It takes all of us, working together, to create real change. That's why we value every voice and every contribution.
So we ask you to: Listen and learn, spread the word about Rad Chat and connect with us.
Together, we can create a more equitable future in cancer treatment.
PURPOSE
To advance radiotherapy and oncology practices and improve patient care.
VISION
To be the leading voice in radiotherapy and oncology education, while advocating for advancement worldwide.
MISSION
To empower healthcare professionals worldwide through accessible, evidence-based radiotherapy and oncology education.
VALUES
• Patient-Centric: We put patients first in everything we do, grounding our work in real-world needs and outcomes.
• Evidence-Based: Everything we do is rooted in scientific research and clinical best practice, ensuring we’re a trusted source of knowledge.
• Ethical Empowerment: We empower individuals to share their stories and knowledge safely and respectfully. Their wellbeing is our priority.
• Collaborative Innovation: We partner with patients, healthcare professionals, researchers and industry leaders. By combining expertise, we can drive innovation and deliver positive change.
• Globally Inclusive: We weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into everything we do, ensuring all voices are heard and all unmet needs are addressed.
• Evidence-Based: Everything we do is rooted in scientific research and clinical best practice, ensuring we’re a trusted source of knowledge.
• Ethical Empowerment: We empower individuals to share their stories and knowledge safely and respectfully. Their wellbeing is our priority.
• Collaborative Innovation: We partner with patients, healthcare professionals, researchers and industry leaders. By combining expertise, we can drive innovation and deliver positive change.
• Globally Inclusive: We weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into everything we do, ensuring all voices are heard and all unmet needs are addressed.
Team
Dream
Team
Jo McNamara
Jo McNamara works as a Senior Lecturer, teaching across health and social care courses, primarily therapeutic radiography. In addition, she’s also an accomplished researcher and has had over 40 publications, with a primary focus on workforce development, patient care, prehabilitation and rehabilitation and healthcare education. She recently won Yorkshire & Trent radiographer of the year in 2023.
Jo spent a year on secondment with Macmillan Cancer Support as their first National Therapeutic Radiographer Clinical Fellow, where she sat on the Chief Medical Officers’ Team, as one of the first AHPs to raise the profile of radiotherapy and therapeutic radiographers within Macmillan. During her time there, Jo helped develop educational tools on prehabilitation, rehabilitation and personalised care and covid resources for staff and people living with and beyond cancer.
Jo is the radiotherapy chair for the UK Acute Oncology Society, she co-chairs the Outreach and Promotion Special Interest Group with the Society of Radiographers, she co-chairs the ACCEND pre-registration group and is a Personalised Care Institute Ambassador and a Radiotherapy UK Ambassador.
Jo spent a year on secondment with Macmillan Cancer Support as their first National Therapeutic Radiographer Clinical Fellow, where she sat on the Chief Medical Officers’ Team, as one of the first AHPs to raise the profile of radiotherapy and therapeutic radiographers within Macmillan. During her time there, Jo helped develop educational tools on prehabilitation, rehabilitation and personalised care and covid resources for staff and people living with and beyond cancer.
Jo is the radiotherapy chair for the UK Acute Oncology Society, she co-chairs the Outreach and Promotion Special Interest Group with the Society of Radiographers, she co-chairs the ACCEND pre-registration group and is a Personalised Care Institute Ambassador and a Radiotherapy UK Ambassador.
Naman Julka-Anderson
Naman Julka-Anderson is a proud first-generation immigrant who moved to the UK in 1999. He retrained and qualified as a therapeutic radiographer in 2017 and now works at an advanced practice level with independent and supplementary prescriber status. He is also an allied health professional clinical advisor for a leading UK cancer charity. He has a strong focus on the patient voice, health inequities, research and education.
Naman is the chair of the radiation induced skin reactions special interest group, ambassador for Radiotherapy UK and Trekstock charities. He has published over 35 times, spoken at international conferences and his research has won awards for excellence including the prestigious Alan Nicholls award.
Naman is leading internationally recognised research for equity in skin care assessment for people who experience skin changes following radiotherapy. His tireless work over the past few years has positively impacted millions of people of colour across the world. He recently won the prestigious Chief Allied Health Professionals Officer’s Allied Health Professional of the Year award, along with the Allied Health Professional Leadership award in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion along with becoming the joint first therapeutic radiographer in history to win a Chief Allied Health Professionals Officer’s Gold award for excellence. He has been awarded London radiographer of the year twice, along with receiving the Patient’s Choice award for exceptional care from the Society of Radiographers. In 2024 he was awarded the Beacon of Light award from Black Women Rising for allyship, support and services.
Naman is the chair of the radiation induced skin reactions special interest group, ambassador for Radiotherapy UK and Trekstock charities. He has published over 35 times, spoken at international conferences and his research has won awards for excellence including the prestigious Alan Nicholls award.
Naman is leading internationally recognised research for equity in skin care assessment for people who experience skin changes following radiotherapy. His tireless work over the past few years has positively impacted millions of people of colour across the world. He recently won the prestigious Chief Allied Health Professionals Officer’s Allied Health Professional of the Year award, along with the Allied Health Professional Leadership award in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion along with becoming the joint first therapeutic radiographer in history to win a Chief Allied Health Professionals Officer’s Gold award for excellence. He has been awarded London radiographer of the year twice, along with receiving the Patient’s Choice award for exceptional care from the Society of Radiographers. In 2024 he was awarded the Beacon of Light award from Black Women Rising for allyship, support and services.
Rad Chat Advisory Team
Here are our wonderful voluntary team of professional and student advisors.
Leigha Yardley
