For Ghada Faddoul, Academic Chair for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging programs at The Michener Institute of Education at UHN, returning to Michener represents a meaningful full-circle moment in her career.

An alumna of both the Medical Radiation Sciences program and the MRI program, Ghada first walked through Michener’s halls as a student. Today, she helps shape the future of the profession by educating the next generation of imaging professionals.

“I’m very passionate about MRI,” she says. “Michener holds a special place in my heart because I remember my early days here as a student. Coming back now in a leadership role feels like a full circle.”

Before transitioning into education, Ghada spent more than 16 years working as an MRI technologist in a community hospital in the Hamilton area. Her time in clinical practice gave her deep insight into the profession and ultimately sparked a new passion for mentorship and education.

“I became really passionate about learners and mentorship,” she explains. “I started thinking about how I could share the expertise and knowledge I had gained over the years and help others grow.”

That passion led her back to school, where she completed a master’s degree in health science education. The experience proved transformative.

“It allowed me to step out of the framework I had been practicing in for so long and take a risk to explore new opportunities,” she says. “That was a turning point for me.”

Today, Ghada focuses on strengthening educational programs and ensuring students are equipped to succeed when they enter clinical practice.

“We want our learners to feel empowered,” she says. “They’re not going to know everything when they graduate, but we want them to feel confident and prepared to continue learning and growing in their careers.”

Reflecting on her own early experiences in healthcare, Ghada remembers how intimidating those first days in a clinical environment could be and how important mentorship was in shaping her journey.

“I remember walking into a new clinical environment as a student and feeling that sense of intimidation,” she says. “The people who made the biggest impact were those who created a safe space, who took the time to greet you, include you in conversations, and share their knowledge.”

Those experiences continue to shape how she approaches leadership and education today.

“I think women bring something unique to leadership,” she says. “There’s often a strong sense of empathy, compassion, and collaboration. Creating opportunities for dialogue and ensuring everyone’s perspective is considered is an important part of building strong teams.”

As an educator and leader, Ghada believes supporting learners goes beyond teaching technical skills.

“Healthcare education carries a big responsibility,” she says. “We’re helping to educate future healthcare providers. If we can create a positive learning environment here, one built on empathy, compassion, and respect, we’re giving our students a strong platform to succeed when they enter the clinical world.”

Ghada is also passionate about raising awareness of careers in medical imaging, an area she believes plays a critical role in healthcare but is often underrecognized.

“Imaging professionals are key members of the healthcare system,” she says. “There are so many opportunities within imaging, and people don’t always realize how diverse those pathways can be.”

For women considering a career in healthcare, her advice is simple: “remain open to opportunities and trust in your ability to grow and be a positive change agent to improve the status quo.”

“There’s no single path,” she says. “Everyone’s journey is different. What’s important is continuing to explore areas that inspire you and investing in your professional development.”

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Ghada reflects on the progress women have made and the importance of continuing to support one another.

“Women bring unique perspectives to leadership and to the way we approach challenges,” she says. “It’s important to stay grounded in our values, continue working hard, and create opportunities for others along the way.”

Above all, she believes kindness, professionalism, and respect are essential to building strong healthcare teams and supporting the next generation of professionals.

“Listening to people, valuing the work they do, and supporting one another makes a huge difference,” she says. “Those small moments of encouragement can have a lasting impact.”

For Ghada, that commitment to mentorship and education continues to guide her work every day.

“I take great pride in knowing that I have a role in helping educate the future of imaging professionals,” she says. “It’s a responsibility I carry with great care.”