This International Women’s Day 2025, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of women in the medical field. Through insightful interviews with professionals like Dr Noor Ridha, we highlight the unique challenges and triumphs of women in healthcare. These interviews offer us a window into the personal and professional lives of these changemakers, providing inspiration and guidance to the next generation of medical professionals.
Join us as we delve into the compelling narrative of Dr Noor Ridha, whose experiences illuminate the path towards a more inclusive and equitable healthcare landscape.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in radiology, and how did you navigate your journey to achieving your FRANZCR fellowship?
When I realised the part of my job I enjoyed most was solving the puzzle of the diagnosis, and what I enjoyed the least were the nights and shift work, radiology was an easy choice. The more time I spent in the radiology department learning about all of the different ways radiologists are integral to the running of any healthcare facility (diagnostic reporting, providing input at MDTs, or procedural work), the more I fell in love with the specialty.
I applied for training as a PGY3 whilst I was working in London (as part of an exchange program with the hospital I was employed in NZ) and thankfully received an offer for a training position in Auckland – perhaps the committee was impressed that I flew all the way from London just for the interview! So I moved back to NZ in November 2019 and started training the following month, and was very lucky to narrowly miss out on experiencing the COVID pandemic in London. Five years later, after multiple exams and countless nights of studying, I was finally on the other side and obtained my FRANZCR fellowship.
2. What qualities do you believe are essential for women to succeed and lead in the field of radiology?
Although I think this applies to most medical specialties, I believe one of the most important qualities for women to succeed and lead in radiology (especially when it comes to the training aspect) is being good with time management, you must be very organised as the job can be very demanding and fast-paced. Beyond training, it is very important to keep up to date with new techniques in imaging by attending conferences and taking courses as the field of radiology is constantly changing and evolving, especially with artificial intelligence starting to play a role.
3. What changes would you like to see in the healthcare industry to better support women in specialist roles, particularly in radiology?
From my experience working in New Zealand, I actually feel radiology is one of the most supportive specialties for women in specialist roles. It is one of the few roles where working from home or part-time work is an easy option allowing flexibility when it comes to work-life balance. There’s plenty of work so a woman can be as involved as she wants to be or reduce work responsibilities to allow for other life roles. Women at my workplace were well supported in training if they required maternity leave or part-time work when coming back after having children.
4. Who have been your biggest influences or mentors throughout your career?
I have had so many great mentors that it is really hard to think of just a handful of people, but I do feel that the consultants at my training hospitals who gave up their time and energy to give us regular weekly teaching were truly incredible; it’s an immense privilege to have been trained by such brilliant teachers and I always remember them when I come across cases where they taught me something that really made things “click” in my mind.
Radiology is a very challenging training program with some of the most difficult exams across all specialties but there is also immense support for the trainees; the consultants supervising are amongst the friendliest and most easy going people I’ve ever worked with, and I knew the short term torture of putting my head down and studying would lead to a very rewarding and fulfilling career in the long run.
5. What advice would you give to young women pursuing careers in radiology or other medical specialties?
As long as you enjoy what you are doing day to day, you will be happy and successful in the long run. The main piece of advice I would give to young women pursuing medical specialties is to prioritize their mental well-being; specialty training is the one of the most stressful things I have ever done and I believe women tend to be more conscientious than men, so we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be the best we can be. Despite all of this, we also tend to experience a lot of imposter syndrome and feel like we’re not good enough. There were times where I believe my mental well-being was close to rock bottom and looking back, I wish I had looked after myself more and forced myself to relax and take it easy. In the end, everything always works out as it should.
6. What can all members of the medical community do to uplift women and advance equality in the workplace?
Being aware of the many ways in which women can be treated differently than men by different staff members or patients (there were countless times I would finish seeing a patient and they would then ask, “so when do I see the doctor?”). Also, being aware of the disadvantages experienced by women who choose to have a family compared to their male counterparts, whether it be from a financial perspective or career progression, and trying to make outcomes as fair as possible.
Dr Noor Ridha's journey shows the importance of support, resilience, and continuous learning in achieving professional excellence and leadership. As we celebrate International Women's Day, Dr Ridha's story is a powerful reminder of the progress we've made and the work that still lies ahead in ensuring equality and opportunity for all in the healthcare sector.
Discover more inspiring stories and join the conversation by clicking below to read other interviews with influential women who are making a significant impact in healthcare.