Meet Aidan Leong

From lecture halls to mountain ranges in Nepal, Group Manager – Radiation Therapy Education & Training, Aidan Leong’s career has taken him across the globe, following his combined passion of curiosity and patient care. 

Aidan is known for his enthusiasm towards his endless pursuit of knowledge, but what drives him most is a commitment to providing care for patients, with almost 20 years of experience as a radiation therapist (RT).

An unlikely calling 

Born in New Zealand, Aidan studied at the University of Otago in Wellington, where he now also teaches and supports research as a senior lecturer. Following his graduation, Aidan worked in clinical research, data management, and even an immunology lab, before finally realising his true passion for radiation therapy. 

His move into the field of RT was accidental, as it’s not a widely known area of practice.  

Seeking a role where he could integrate a technological aspect into a patient facing industry, Aidan stumbled upon an RT guest speaker at a careers evening and never looked back.

“It’s that fast-paced evolution of practice, but also that engagement, and building relationships with patients, their families, and being able to contribute to their treatment journey that drew me in” he said. 

In 2018 Aidan began his journey at Bowen Icon Cancer Centre as the Clinical Research Lead for Radiation Therapy, before moving into his current role at the beginning of 2023. 

“Seeing the frontline practitioners engage with our programs – it’s inspiring to see the passion and enthusiasm they have for enhancing the care delivered to their patients,” Aidan said. 

Aidan recently led the education program for radiation therapists at Bali International Hospital, supporting the launch of Icon’s first cancer centre in Bali. This included delivering components of the program remotely, as well as coordinating in-person training, which brought together experienced staff from across the broader Icon network to provide direct, on-the-ground support. 

“Along with the challenges of language barriers and limited exposure to advanced cancer care technology, it has been rewarding to learn about their local setting and approaches to practice,” he said. 

“The standard of care and experience we now have across Icon is incredible, and it really does go back to the patients, as they are the reason we all show up for work each day.” 

Adapting and evolving  

Aidan recognises that due to the rapidly evolving environment of radiotherapy, difficult scenarios often arise as technology and complexity of knowledge increases. 

“The way in which we learn has needed to change because our roles are becoming more digital, and increasingly engaging with artificial intelligence,” he said. 

“Our training has needed to evolve and keep pace; just like we are leveraging technology in the clinical setting, we have also needed to develop it in the educational setting.” 

“We’re consistently adapting to these new automations and technologies, as they are helping us enhance the treatment journey, returning back to that central focus of patient-centred care.” 

Shaping the future 

As the global cancer burden continues to grow and treatments become increasingly sophisticated, Aidan acknowledges the dual nature of the RT field as both exciting and challenging. 

His advice to emerging RTs is clear – be bold, trust in your abilities, and don’t hesitate to lean on mentors and supporters along the way. 

“The future of radiotherapy is exciting, not only for the technological advancements, but also for the standard of patient care. It’s motivation that inspires you, knowing you are making a positive impact not only a patient’s life, but also the ones closest to them.”