Please note that the programme timing will vary according to the time-zone offset for your country. The course is run synchronously according to UK time (GMT) (BST).
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The World’s Favourite MRI Course, based on the World’s Best-Selling MRI Book
Our course started life as the famous Oxford MRI Course in 1992 and has been running continuously ever since engaging and educating thousands of radiographers, radiologists, physicists, researchers, technicians, engineers, nurses, assistant practitioners, veterinary surgeons and anyone with an interest in the exciting world of MRI. MRI in Practice is now also available as an online course for participants living in North America, Canada, Central Europe and Australasia.
Where is the Online Course Offered?
The online course uses geo targeting technology and is currently offered in three time zones, GMT, CDT and AEDT. Participants can attend from any of the countries listed in the tabs below. Please note that the course is delivered synchronously and there may, therefore, be a time offset to the programme if you are not resident in one of the time zones stated above.
Why Choose MRI in Practice - The Course?
Make an Informed Decision:
We are very aware that you have a choice when it comes to CPD and MRI courses. If you are a manager, you will be looking to make a clear evidence-based decision on which course can get your new staff up-to-speed with MRI within your training budget. If you are a radiographer, looking to fulfil CPD requirements, or wish to learn the underpinning principles of MRI in a format that is applied to your day-to-day work, then please consider the following points.
We invite you to scrutinise our credentials and compare them to any other course available because we are confident that our MRI course ticks all the boxes.
Reputation and legacy
Presenters who are qualified to teach
Compact & comprehensive programme
CPD NOW endorsement from SCOR UK
State-of-the-art Presentations
Almost 100% delegate satisfaction scores
International Accreditation
Recognised Academic Rigour
Subject Experts who are Also Formally Qualified to Teach
Before deciding on which course to apply for - take a close look at the qualifications of the course presenters. It goes without saying that web sites are generally unregulated, non-peer-reviewed and often written by enthusiastic amateurs, but you might be surprised to find that there are live courses offered by learning companies who look perfectly bona fide and charge high fees for courses - but who have no formal qualifications to be offering educational products or services. The course presenters are very often not qualified in MRI or education.
Such courses offer worthless "awards" that have no CDP accreditation or professional-body endorsement. If you are trying to decide between MRI in Practice and an alternative course - perhaps offered by a web-site, private consultancy or "learning company" - be sure to ask for hard evidence that the people who will be teaching on the course are qualified to do so.
Don't get caught out - checking is as easy as 123 - for every trainer or presenter who will be teaching on the programme, ask to see the following three certificates, without these they have no business trying to sell you educational services:
- Anyone teaching MRI should have plenty of clinical experience but should also be educated to at least Masters level in MRI. Mastery of a subject is a non-negotiable pre-requisite for anyone intending to teach that subject - bona fide Masters graduates will have the letters MSc after their name.
- In addition, lecturers who teach post-graduates (such as radiographers or radiologists) should hold a doctorate in education. That is a firm expectation in higher education. They MUST as a minimum, hold a post graduate qualification in learning and teaching. Without this certification, it is ethically questionable as to whether they should be teaching, as they do not hold the necessary qualifications to do so.
- To ensure quality and an appreciation of the the student experience, they should ideally be affiliated with a recognised higher education institute such as holding a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
It is quite unacceptable for a non-qualified person to perform medical imaging - it is not ethical. In the same vein it is equally unacceptable for a non-qualified educator to teach medical imaging. If you are considering using a so-called "learning company" who cannot show evidence of having presenters who are qualified educators as outlined above - we invite you to scrutinise our credentials below.
Our Qualifications
Expand the tabs below to find out why we can be trusted with your learning!
Clinical Expertise
Presenters must know their subject. MRI is taught in the context of many different disciplines and we encourage an interdisciplinary approach. However the approach varies according to the intended audience. Pure physics is best taught by physicists, but they may have limited knowledge about applying the learning to clinical scanning. Cross-sectional anatomy and abnormal pattern recognition is probably best taught by radiologists, but they may not have a deep understanding of the underpinning principles of MRI. Cathy and John are both clinical MRI specialists having worked in both the healthcare diagnostics field, and MRI research (Oxford University) from the early days of MRI. Importantly, in addition to their postgraduate qualifications in MRI and education, they are also both qualified radiographers. Having a background in clinical radiography allows Cathy and John to tailor the lecture content to be at exactly the right level for the target audience. In CPD - application to practice is everything and it is something that lecturers from other disciplines - such as physics or radiology are not likely to be able to provide.
We can also keep right up to date with current technology, because unlike other "learning companies" we have access to state-of-the-art MRI scanners right on site at our teaching venue, including 3T high-field and 1T open systems. We also foster close links with the major manufacturers, being a preferred education provider for Philips Healthcare, Toshiba, Oxford Magnets, Schering and Bracco and Cobalt Imaging. This allows us to keep keep fully up-to-date with clinical and educational advances and link theory with practice in a way that no other educator can match.
Qualifications in Learning and Teaching
As professional academics, Cathy and John both hold Master of Science degrees in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and are both fully-qualified doctors of (medical) education.
These qualifications are important because In addition to mastery of their subject, credible course presenters should be qualified in teaching and learning because that is their role.
Cathy and John are also both Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. The HEA vision is for students in UK higher education to enjoy the highest quality learning experience in the world and we bring that philosophy to everything we do - including MRI in Practice - The Course.
We are not aware of any other MRI course of this type that is presented by a faculty who are all qualified in both MRI and Education at this level. Please consider this when choosing which MRI course is likely to address your needs. If a course provider is not qualified to teach, it is ethically questionable as to whether they should be selling educational services. Some commercial MRI courses are delivered by speakers who are not qualified in either MRI or Education!
Résumé: Dr Catherine Westbrook EdD, MSc, DCR(R), PGc(LT), CT Cert, FHEA
Dr Catherine Westbrook is an independent teaching consultant providing teaching and assessment in MRI and radiographic related subjects to clients all over the world.
Catherine has worked in MRI since 1990 and has a Doctorate in education, a Master of Science degree in MRI, a Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching and a Fellowship in Advanced MRI . She is also a qualified clinical teacher.
Catherine has taught the MRI in Practice course since its inception as the Oxford MRI Course in 1992. She has also been involved in the development of, and teaching on, many other national and international courses. These include the first and the longest-running distance learning Masters course in MRI, the first reporting course for MRI radiographers and the first undergraduate course for Assistant Practitioners in MRI.
Catherine is the author of “MRI in Practice” - the World's best selling book in the field of MRI* (nominated for the British Medical Association Book of the Year 2019) “Handbook of MRI Technique” and “MRI at a Glance” (nominated for the British Medical Association Book of the Year 2017) and many other chapters and research articles. She has been President of the British Association of MR Radiographers, Chairman of the Consortium for the Accreditation of Clinical MR Education and Honorary Secretary of the British Institute of Radiology.
Résumé: Dr John Talbot, EdD, MSc, DCR(R), PGc(LT), FHEA
John developed an early interest in MRI as a school-leaver in 1978. He was one of the first cohort of practitioners to gain an MSc in the field of medical imaging (MRI) in 1998. In education John is an expert in the field of technology-enhanced learning and the educational psychology of computer-based learning. His doctoral thesis examined cognitive task load in the field of mobile learning.
Academically, John was formerly Education and Research Radiographer at Oxford MRI/Oxford University. He then enjoyed a long academic career as a senior lecturer leading modules in the fields of MRI, medical and healthcare education, research methodology and physics - acting as supervisor for students undertaking master of science degrees. John also created computer-based, mobile-learning and distance-learning resources for all of the above topics.
John is now a freelance consultant in technology enhanced learning for MRI education via mobile and computer-based platforms harnessing the power of multimedia, HTML5, and computer generated imagery. He is co-writer and co-presenter of the MRI in Practice International MRI course and also creates the learning materials, web content and multimedia resources for this world-renowned course. He is currently working on a web-app for mobile devices to accompany the course.
In publishing, John is:
• Co-author and illustrator of MRI in Practice (Wiley- Blackwell)
• Technical illustrator of MRI at a Glance (Wiley- Blackwell)
• Technical illustrator and image editor of Handbook of MRI Technique (Wiley- Blackwell)
• MRI chapter-author of Medical Imaging- Techniques, Reflection & Evaluation (Elsevier).
In ePublishing and mobile learning John is an Apple developer and also an app developer for Google Android. He also created the CGI content for the online resources for MRI in Practice (Wiley- Blackwell).
Our Programmes - Super-Flexible for Every Kind of Delegate
MRI in Practice Online: 4-Day Course
This is our 4-day online course programme. The content is identical to the live course, and is presented by Cathy Westbrook and John Talbot. This course covers a different important theme every day. In the USA (only) this course is offered on a pay-per-day basis.
The lectures are delivered via high definition streaming video. Q&A sessions are co-ordinated live via Zoom webinar.
To attend you just need a fast broadband connection and a PC or Mac with a webcam (compulsory) and microphone.
Benefits
- The principal benefit of attending the online course is that delegates will not require to pay for travel and accommodation.
- In addition to the reduced course fee this represents a massive cost saving of up to £500 per delegate.
- Delegates enjoy all the benefits of the full course - but from home.
- Enjoy a front-row seat view of our awesome graphics.
- Open a bottle of wine! (optional)
- Ideal for those wishing to gain a full understanding in MRI in a compact and concise delivery.
- Most importantly - participants can stay safe!
You can find more details about the lecture content in our brochure and from the tabs below.
Download our brochure
Keep our course details handy to show your manager or colleagues, or compare to any other courses you may be considering.
- Full list of lectures
- Lecture content
- Course Programme
- Course Rationale
No Thanks
Lecture Content
Streaming Video
The online course uses a combination of HD streaming video to present our trademark CGI graphics and user-friendly analogies that give our course an unsurpassed conceptual clarity that our participants really love.
Some online course providers present their lectures directly from Zoom - which always looks jerky and tends to lose connection, here is an example of what you can expect from our lectures…
Click the tabs below to learn more about each lecture.
Artefacts (Extrinsic) (Talbot)
Artefacts (Talbot) 83 minutes
Aim: to facilitate the understanding of the appearances and cause of common artefacts and their remedies. May include:
- Aliasing
- Nyquist ghost
- Magnetic susceptibility artefact
- RF Anomalies
…and more.
Artefacts (Intrinsic) (Talbot)
Artefacts (Talbot) 66 minutes
Aim: to facilitate the understanding of the appearances and cause of common artefacts and their remedies. May include:
- Out-of-phase signal loss
- Chemical shift
- Phase mismapping
- Magic Angle
…and more.
Basic Principles (Westbrook)
Basic Principles (Westbrook) 57 minutes
Aim: to investigate the fundamental principles of MRI including:
- Nuclear structure
- MR active nuclei
- Alignment
- Precession and resonance
- Signal generation
- Relaxation processes
Flow and MRA (Talbot)
Flow and MRA (Talbot) 80 minutes
Aim: to provide an overview and basic understanding of the appearances of flow including:
- Time of flight, entry slice phenomenon, and flow anomalies
- Post processing and the maximum intensity projection algorithm
- Inflow, Phase Contrast, Black-Blood, BOLD and Fresh Blood Imaging,
- Mechanism of flow-dependent MRA sequences
- Advantages & disadvantages in clinical use
For the three-day version of the course this content is included in the artefacts sessions.
Gradient Echo Pulse Sequences (Westbrook)
Gradient Echo Sequences (Westbrook) 183 minutes
Aim: to investigate the advanced mechanisms of gradient echo imaging and their clinical uses including:
- Principles of Gradient Echo Pulse Sequences
- Weighting in Gradient Echo Pulse SequencesThe steady state (advanced concepts)
- Coherent gradient echo
- Balanced Gradient Echo
- Incoherent gradient echo
- Steady state free precession
- Fast gradient echo
- Echo planar imaging
- Diffusion Weighting
Image Contrast (Westbrook)
Image Contrast (Westbrook) 68 minutes
Aim: to evaluate the various mechanisms responsible for image contrast in MRI including:
- Molecular make-up of fat and water
- T1 recovery
- T2 decay
- Diffusion Weighting
- Image weighting characteristics
- Introduction to pulse sequences
Instrumentation (Talbot)
Instrumentation (Talbot) 100 minutes
Aim: to investigate types of equipment used in MRI and their safe use including:
- Magnets: principles of, construction, homogeneity.
- Shielding
- Shimming
- Gradients
- Radio Frequency: shielding, transmit/receive coils
k-space and data acquisition (Westbrook)
k-space and Data Acquisition (Westbrook)
1.5 hours (x2)
Aim: to explore in-depth the principles that underpin data acquisition in MRI including:
- k-space functions and characteristics
- Data sampling techniques
- k-space traversal
- k-space filling in basic and advanced sequencing
- k-space filling modifications including parallel imaging
Protocol Optimisation (Westbrook)
Protocol Optimisation (Westbrook) 63 minutes
Aim: to facilitate the understanding of the factors that affect image quality; their mechanisms and trade-offs including:
- Signal to noise ratio (SNR)
- Contrast to noise ratio (CNR)
- Spatial resolution
- Scan time
- Decision making strategies
Revision (Talbot)
Revision (Talbot) 60 minutes
Aim: to consolidate the basic knowledge gained through self-marked timed evaluation:
- Basic Principles
- Contrast Mechanisms
- Instrumentation
- Basic Pulse sequences
- Image Optimisation
Please note, the on-line course offers revision activities after each session or at the end of each day.
Safety (Talbot)
Safety (Talbot) 78 minutes
Aim: to review all MRI safety issues including:
- Static-field - spatial gradient dangers
- Time varying gradient-field – nerve stimulation
- Secondary (RF) field dangers - heating & antenna effect
- Cryogens – quenches and anoxia
- Contraindications for MRI
with real-life examples of safety incidents from around the world.
Spatial Encoding (Talbot)
Spatial Encoding (Talbot) 94 minutes
Aim: to facilitate the understanding of gradient functions for the purpose of spatial encoding including:
- An introduction to data sampling
- Slice selection
- Frequency encoding
- Phase encoding
- Fourier Transformation
Spin-Echo Pulse Sequences - Fundamentals (Talbot)
Spin Echo Pulse Sequences (Talbot) 60 minutes
Aim: to investigate the basic mechanisms of spin echo imaging including:
- T2* effects
- RF rephasing
- Single and dual echo spin echo
Spin-Echo Pulse sequences - Fast Spin-Echo and Inversion Recovery (Talbot)
Fast Spin Echo Pulse Sequences (Talbot) 68 minutes
Aim: to investigate the basic mechanisms of fast spin echo imaging and Inversion recovery sequences including:
- Fast Spin Echo, advantages and trade-offs
- Driven Equilibrium
- Inversion recovery
Our Presentations - Widescreen HD
MRI in Practice Slide
Genuine slide from a competitor course
As professional educators we understand that the success of a course hinges not only on the expertise and presentation skills of the lecturers, but also on the quality of the learning materials. All of our presentations are put together using state of the art widescreen presentation software with bespoke HD images and video. The above comparison will give you some idea of the difference that makes to a presentation. On the left is a slide from our MRI Instrumentation lecture, on the right is a slide from another commercial MRI course. Slide the handle to compare.
In terms of content, if you are paying for a high-quality learning experience, we think you deserve better than inaccurately labelled images and recycled web content. For this reason, we have spent the last 10 years creating computer-generated imagery (over 700 individual models in total) that show all of the fundamental principles of MRI - including a fully-equipped virtual MRI scanner. These models have been rendered into high-definition video to create our ground-breaking graphics and animations. When we show you the magnet solenoids, the gradient coil or the RF transmit coil you not only get to see what these components actually look like, but we can dismantle the scanner right in front of your eyes to show exactly how these components relate to each other physically and functionally. Because our course is constructively aligned with our book (not just named after it) the slides also present the relevant page numbers as a revision aid for delegates. Our HD graphics bring MRI concepts alive in a way that no other MRI course can match.
Frequently asked Questions
Is there an exam?
Unlike some other courses, we do not make you sit an exam! As qualified educators we understand that summative assessments are only appropriate for courses having an award. This type of course is a CPD course - so it supports the learning outcomes prescribed by the Society and College of Radiographers CPD NOW programme. There is no requirement for an exam. We do however use formative assessment - revision and quiz sessions. These informal sessions are designed to support and consolidate your learning and are self-marked.
Why are there no clinical sessions on the programme?
Some providers pad out their MRI courses with clinical sessions, here are the reasons why we do not
- In our experience most employers prefer to train their staff in the clinical aspects of their role in the workplace using time-trusted hands-on learning.
- Radiologists usually have their own preferences when it comes down to the choice of imaging plane, or the protocol used, this is unlikely to be the same as the method taught in a generic presentation.
- Every scanner is different in terms of configuration, gradient speed, coil choice, pulse sequence availability and field-strength, there is no "one size fits all" clinical method.
- In view of the above, we feel that to "teach" a generic clinical approach to neuro, cardiac, breast, MSK etc. that applies to every scanner, at every field-strength and to cover every angle is a tall order - and is highly likely be counter-productive when not tailored to your own local preferences.
- For new installations or manufacturer-specific techniques you have a fantastic resource in your expert applications specialists.
- Finally - time costs money so we feel that all of the above can be better covered in a book - which can be studied at leisure, read in your own workplace and can cover far more than a 60-minute lecture.
The testimonials say your graphics are amazing - why are they better than those on any other MRI course?
We all know what "death by PowerPoint" can be like. There is nothing more boring than listening to someone read out lists of bullet points. We don't do that - after five years in the making the latest version of our course utilises highly detailed computer generated models, rendered into photo-realistic HD wide-screen.
Why do we go to these lengths? Because our delegate feedback constantly reinforces the view that dynamic computer generated imagery brings difficult concepts to life in a way that nothing else can. MRI is all about motion - flipping vectors, tumbling molecules, spinning nuclei, our lectures can show this all happening right in front of your eyes, and it makes a massive difference to learning.
Why are delegates not permitted to bring any type of electronic device into the lecture hall?
This is regrettable, but unfortunately necessary. Intellectual copyright theft is becoming very prevalent. Criminals strip the DRM content from our books and make them available as free downloads. Our range of mobile apps were illegally shared to the point that we could no longer justify the development time and expense to keep them updated. We have foiled 10 attempts to make bootleg recordings of our course content over the last few years. These have been both audio and video recordings using covert equipment. On one occasion the perpetrator had been "sent" on the course solely to make recordings of all the lectures using a concealed camera.
Be assured - it is not necessary to make recordings - organisers often include a copy of the book, and there is also a companion website that allows access to some of the important animations from the lectures. If you have the new edition of our book MRI in Practice you do not even have to make notes - because the course and book are constructively aligned.
From 2021 we are planning on releasing all of the content in our own streaming video channel - so you can access the lectures 24/7 on demand.
I have previously attended an MRI course from another provider. May I apply to attend just for an individual day or days?
There are some good courses out there - and there are some that are not so great. We occasionally get enquiries from people who have attended a course offered by another provider and have found that they didn't quite get what they wanted. They state that they found the course lacking depth, they may have discovered (too late) that the faculty had no teaching qualifications or found the content too clinically-orientated when they really needed to learn the underpinning principles of MRI. If this describes you - we think it's great that you want to come on our course to help fill the gaps - but we don't advise missing out the first two days. There are a few important reasons:
- Most importantly - you will gain no CPD points because accreditation is awarded on a whole-course basis.
- All of the lectures are designed to build on the knowledge gained in previous sessions. If you haven't seen these lectures you will not get the full picture. Of course you do not have to attend all four days in one go - why not come for the first two days and then come back for the additional extras when you are ready.
- Finally, it is unlikely that the content covered by the other course will map against ours. We are educational specialists and we know from long experience that accreditation for prior-learning is a very difficult thing to assess. In a nutshell, our content will be different from the course you have attended. We can guarantee that you will not have had the same experience or learnt the same things that our course offers.
Why is the online course price approximately the same as the live course price?
Because web development, video production and secure video hosting costs us more than hiring venues for a year. The online course should really be charged at a higher rate than the live courses but we have kept the price competitive.
As a delegate you will save hundreds of pounds that you would have spent on travel, food and accommodation.
Accreditation
In total, our course has been accredited and endorsed by the following prestigious institutions:
✓ Accreditatiebureau ADAP onderdeel van Stichting Kwaliteitsregister Paramedici
✓ The American Society of Radiologic Technologists
✓ The Australian Institute of Radiology
✓ The British Institute of Radiology
✓ The European Federation of Radiographic Societies (EFRS)
✓ The Forum for Professional Development - Norwegian Society of Radiographers
✓ The Ghana Society of Radiographers
✓ The IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Croatia
✓ The Institute for Professional Development of Physicians in Sweden
✓ The Kuwait Institute of Medical Specialisation
✓ The Malta MRI Radiographers Society
✓ Norsk Radiografforbund
✓ The Qatar Health Congress
✓ The Romanian Radiology Society/College of Physicians,
✓ The Romanian Society of MRI Radiologists
✓ The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
✓ The Society of Radiological Technicians and Nuclear Medicine Technicians of Serbia.
✓ Trinity College Dublin
✓ The UK College of Radiographers (CPD NOW)
✓ The University of Malta
✓ The University of Sharjah (Emirates),
✓ The University of Zagreb
We do not believe that any other MRI course in the World has so many affiliations, and we are very proud to have the support and accreditation from these institutions.
Testimonials
Feedback from the people who really count…
We know that delegate feedback is an essential tool in our course development. The following comments are from anonymous feedback questionnaires returned by our course delegates over the last few months. Please note that the scores shown are typical of the feedback we get (almost 100% rating of “excellent” across the board for our course content and delivery). Please swipe (or click the navigation arrows) to read what they said about the course.
Apply for a Course Near You!
Green markers show active venues. Red markers show previous venues.
Choose a location
UK Venue (2010-2019) - Linton House
51.888400, -2.071188
Famalição Venue 2021 - Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave
41.406685, -8.515304
Birmingham Venue (2000)
33.43317, -86.72253
Columbia Venue (2018)
38.94134, -92.31678
Dallas Venue (2002)
32.92916, -96.66286
Chicago Venue (2019) Rush Medical Centre
41.873662, -87.669419
Aalst Venue (2008-2012) - Salons Carlton
50.9348, 4.03976
Oslo Venue - Thon Hotel Opera
59.909500, 10.7524000
Stockholm Venue (2011) - Bayer
59.374737, 18.014759
Copenhagen Venue (2007-2012) - Siemens
55.73319, 12.37967
Dublin Venue (2003-2010) - Trinity Centre, St James Hospital
53.341, -6.29367
Lisbon Venue (2018) - Ecole Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa
38.776, -9.09804
Malta Venue (2010) - Mater Dei Hospital
35.90149, 14.47723
Zagreb Venue (2010) University of Zagreb
45.80101, 15.97116
Nairobi Venue - Sarova Panafric Hotel
-1.28974, 36.81119
Johannesburg Venue (2010-2014) Campus Park
-26.03964, 28.02316
Beograd Venue (2010) - Bežanijska Kosa Medical Centre
44.83126, 20.38289
Bucharest Venue (2010-2012) - Howard Johnson Hotel
44.44629, 26.09921
Jeddah Venue (2011) - Abdul Latif Jameel Hospital
21.5999, 39.20548
Riyadh Venue (2014) - King Faisal Specialist Hospital
24.67151, 46.67593
Kuwait Venue (2013)
29.32433, 47.90977
Doha Venue (2020)
ITQAN Clinical Simulation and Innovation Center
Hamad Medical Education Center
Doha, Qatar
Hamad Medical Education Center
Doha, Qatar
25.295779, 51.509607
Doha Venue (2010)
Hamad Medical City
25.2953, 51.50479
Abu Dhabi Venue (2015) Fatima College of Medical Sciences
24.317630, 54.604858
Doha Venue (2010-2020) - Hamad Medical Corporation
25.2953, 51.50479
Sydney Venue: Novotel City Central
-33.881794, 151.202684
Melbourne Venue (2009): Novotel St Kilda
-37.8655, 144.97459
Amsterdam Venue - Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging
52.292103, 4.956998
Sacramento Venue (2019) - Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
38.558432, -121.374577
Sharjah Venue (2008 - 2011) University of Sharjah
25.285282, 55.474305
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