Ubuntu Stories
Jackline Thairu – Kenya
When I think about Ubuntu – “I am because we are” – my mind immediately goes back to a chain of people and moments that have shaped me into who I am today. My story in MRI has never been one of walking alone; it has always been the result of hands reaching out to lift me, voices reminding me that I belong, and hearts that believed in me even before I fully believed in myself.
I still remember the early days when MRI felt like a locked door, with no key in sight. In Kenya, the opportunities for structured MRI education were scarce, and most of what I knew came from endless self-study, YouTube videos, and the kindness of colleagues. I often felt small, unseen, and unqualified — as though advancing in this field was something reserved for others, not for me. And yet, that longing to understand MRI, to be better for my patients, never went away.
The turning point came when I met Prof. Derek Jones. In what felt like a simple encounter, he did something extraordinary: he opened a door. He introduced me to the ISMRT Future Leaders Program, and with that one act, he connected me to a world of mentorship, collaboration, and growth that I could never have imagined on my own.
From there, the Ubuntu spirit became even more real in my life. Our mentor Ms. Gail Durbridge helped us establish the ISMRT Kenya Division — not by telling us what to do from afar, but by walking the path with us. Shawna Farquharson became more than a mentor; she held our hands and guided us through the terrifying process of submitting our first abstracts to ISMRM. I remember how uncertain we felt — were we good enough? Was our work even worth sharing? But her encouragement silenced those fears, and not only were our abstracts accepted, but one even won second place. That moment was not just a recognition of the work we had done, but a reminder that we belonged in the global MRI conversation.
At every stage of this journey, I have been carried forward by others. The Future Leaders Program itself is not just about me — it’s about mentoring others. I’ve now had the privilege of mentoring 15 early-career radiographers, watching them step into their own roles as future leaders. And with every conversation, I see the same spark that once was lit in me.
But behind the milestones and achievements lies the vulnerability that fuels my passion: I know what it feels like to be left out, to believe that knowledge and growth are out of reach, to doubt whether one belongs in global spaces. I carry that with me, not as a wound but as a responsibility — to make sure no one else feels that way if I can help it.
Ubuntu reminds me that every step I have taken has been possible because others walked with me. My journey is not mine alone — it is a tapestry woven with the generosity, encouragement, and belief of mentors, colleagues, and friends across the world. And because I am, because we are, my mission now is to pay it forward: to empower more radiographers, to open more doors, and to keep reminding others that they, too, belong. This is what Ubuntu means to me.
