The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has etched its name in the annals of Ghana’s diagnostic radiography profession with the successful defence of a landmark PhD thesis by Ms Alberta Naa Afia Adjei, a lecturer in the Faculty.

The historic achievement, recorded on 25 September 2026, saw Ms Adjei become the first female PhD diagnostic radiographer in Ghana and the first PhD candidate from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences to defend her thesis at the KNUST School of Graduate Studies.

Ms Adjei, a PhD candidate in Medical Imaging, successfully defended her research on “Measuring Person-Centred Care in Diagnostic Imaging Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries” before two external examiners from the University of Rwanda and the University of Suffolk, United Kingdom.

Her doctoral research addresses an increasingly important dimension of contemporary healthcare: ensuring that patients' experiences, needs and perspectives remain central to the delivery of diagnostic imaging services. The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge seeking to strengthen person-centred approaches to healthcare, particularly within the context of low- and middle-income countries.

Advancing Diagnostic Imaging Research

Ms Adjei's academic journey and research interests reflect a broad commitment to strengthening diagnostic imaging practice and education. Her areas of research interest include patient-centred care in diagnostic imaging, paediatric imaging, mammography, radiation protection, and radiology education.

Through these areas of scholarship, her work intersects with critical issues in diagnostic imaging, from improving patient experiences and safety to strengthening professional education and advancing the quality of imaging services.

Her successful defence is therefore not only a personal academic achievement but also a significant contribution to the Faculty's growing research profile and its commitment to producing scholars equipped to address contemporary challenges in healthcare.

A New Chapter for Doctoral Scholarship

The milestone is particularly significant for the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, which has, over the years, established a strong foundation in postgraduate education through the training and graduation of several MPhil students.

Ms Adjei's successful PhD defence represents a natural progression in this postgraduate journey and opens a new chapter in the Faculty's pursuit of doctoral-level scholarship.

The achievement is expected to inspire and encourage further doctoral research within the Faculty, with the prospect of more PhD candidates progressing through their research journeys to successful completion.

For the Faculty, the milestone is both a celebration of progress made and a reflection of its growing capacity to nurture advanced research and scholarship in the allied health sciences.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Beyond the significance of the achievement to diagnostic radiography and the Faculty, Ms Adjei's accomplishment carries an important message for emerging scholars, particularly women pursuing advanced careers in the health sciences.

Her achievement demonstrates the possibilities that exist when academic scholarship, professional practice and research are brought together in pursuit of meaningful contributions to healthcare.

The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences and the College of Health Sciences therefore celebrate Ms Alberta Adjei for this landmark accomplishment and acknowledge the contribution of her supervisors, examiners and the wider academic community whose support has contributed to this important milestone.

As Ms Adjei's achievement opens a new chapter in the Faculty's doctoral journey, the Faculty looks forward to a future characterised by more doctoral graduates, stronger research capacity and greater contributions to healthcare through evidence-based scholarship.

Congratulations to Ms Alberta Adjei and the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences on this historic achievement.