Rate My Professor Daphne James

Professor Daphne James serves as Interim Head of School in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia, a position she assumed in January 2025. Previously, she held roles such as Deputy Head of School (Education & Innovation) from January 2022 to December 2024, Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning in the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing from January 2018 to December 2021, and Program Convenor for the Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (encompassing nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiography, and radiation therapy) from 2014 to 2018. Promoted to Professor following her advancement to Associate Professor in January 2021 and Senior Lecturer in January 2017, Daphne has been a Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences since February 2008, with earlier casual lecturing from 2005 to 2008 and full-time lecturing from 1991 to 1994, during which she developed the nuclear medicine curriculum. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a Senior Nuclear Medicine Scientist at Hunter Imaging Group Nuclear Medicine Australia from March 1989 to February 2008, accumulating over 30 years of clinical experience as a nuclear medicine scientist in Australia and the United Kingdom. Daphne earned her PhD in Medical Radiation Science from the University of Newcastle in 2015 and a Graduate Certificate in the Practice of Tertiary Teaching from the same university. As an AHPRA-approved Accreditation Assessor since 2014, she contributes to maintaining professional standards.

Daphne's research centers on occupational health challenges for medical radiation science practitioners, including the long-term effects of chronic low-level ionising radiation exposure, burnout, musculoskeletal discomfort related to computer use, emotional intelligence in allied health students, and pregnancy screening strategies in diagnostic nuclear medicine. Her work builds evidence to enhance awareness, education, and support, enabling practitioners to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing while minimizing radiation exposure. Key publications include 'Burnout in the disciplines of medical radiation science: A systematic review' (Shields, James, McCormack, & Warren-Forward, 2021), 'Occupational radiation exposure in nuclear medicine technologists: A scoping review' (Payne, Skilton, & James, 2025), 'Occupational burnout in nuclear medicine technologists working in Australia and New Zealand - results of a multi-national survey' (Shields, James, & McCormack, 2025), 'Systemic disregard, demoralising occupational burnout, protective maturity: The 'lived' experience of nuclear medicine technologists and the impact of COVID-19' (Shields, James, & McCormack, 2023), and 'Determining the pregnancy status of patients before diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures: the Australian experience' (James, Cardew, & Warren-Forward, year not specified in source). Through her research and teaching, Daphne equips undergraduate and postgraduate students, fostering a new generation of medical radiation scientists equipped to address occupational health risks.