Radiography students made a movie about their education

- Don’t bring the camera any further than here, says radiographer Marius Eriksen and draws an imaginary line on the floor in front of a large MR-machine at St.Olavs Hospital

 in Trondheim.

Jørgen Hagen Bendiksen (16) and Aleksander Fremstad Askim (16) have rigged

 two tripod cameras to film an MR-examination. The result will be turned into a movie about the radiography education at HiST, and will be published on HiST’s website.

- We have already published a film, but felt it was about time to make a new one, which we hope will catch the interest of young people. These boys are in the target group, and I think they will make a good movie, says Director of Studies Benny Ehnholm.

Jørgen Hagen Bendiksen and Aleksander Fremstad Askim are looking through the first takes to check if any retakes are necessary.

The boys are currently attending the media line at Byåsen High School, and have established a student enterprise that takes on filming assignments. They have already shot a scene where Aleksander gets hurt, and he is now headed for an MR examination. The machine is equipped with powerful magnets, and the camera will be drawn to it with enormous force if it is brought too close.

Health and technique

- I had to take out all my hairclips, as my hair was standing on end, Marie Østergaard says.

She and her classmate Hanna Rivenes are standing next to the MR machine. They have never worked with this particular machine before, and are now trying to figure out how it works. The two students have nearly finished their third year of the radiography education at HiST, and will carry out the examination on Aleksander.

- We hope the movie will help young people to see what radiography really is, as it is a lot more than regular x-ray examinations, Rivenes says.

She heard about radiography through friends, and decided to apply for the study after having read some more about it.

- As a radiographer, my job is a good mix of technical work and helping patients, she says when asked why she chose this particular study.

The radiography education is placed at the Department of Technology, but also contains several health-related subjects.

Taking a look inside the patient’s head

Hanna Rivenes prepares Aleksander Fremstad Askim for an MR-examination of his head.

The camera equipment is ready. Aleksander sits down in a wheelchair, and is wheeled towards the MR room.

He is welcomed by Rivenes, who then proceeds to explain to him what is going to happen. He is placed lying down on a bed, a frame is fastened around the knee that needs to be examined and then he is taken slowly into the big machine.

They have to go through the procedure one more time. After they have finished with his knee, they also need to examine his head. This time the examination is carried out for real. Earphones are placed over his ears, and the others go into an adjoining room. Soon an image of Aleksander’s head is shown on several screens and one can start looking for injuries. The girls zoom in on several areas, but everything seems to be in order, as expected.

Marius Eriksen then helps them make a 3D image. The image may now be viewed from all angles, and the girls can choose which part of the head to take a closer look at. The image shows a lot of detail, and the two students quickly alternate between the various structures.

A 3D-image makes it possible for the students to see all the structural deatils in Aleksanders Fremstad Askim’shead.

- We have to pay attention to technological developments, and we also have to study anatomy, physiology and other subjects related to the human body. I am actually surprised that this profession is so comprehensive, Østergaard says.

The filming session is almost over, and she only has a few exams left before she can start her first job as a radiographer at the hospital in Kristiansand.

- I am excited and a little nervous, but I just have to throw myself in at the deep end, she smiles.

Andrea Hegdahl Tiltnes
Frilansjournalist