Our members were certainly impressed by the recent Job Talk given by one of our newest members, Aruna Jago-Brown. Aruna spoke about a remarkable life and career that has taken her across the globe, spanning the worlds of science, healthcare, and education.
Aruna began by describing her long connection with Rotary. Her father, a neurophysiologist – and later a UNESCO volunteer and marine biologist – was a committed Rotarian. She recalled being taken to every meeting of his club, the Rotary Club of João Pessoa, from the age of 12, and spoke of her family hosting many young visitors over the years.
Turning to her own story, Aruna said she has always had a huge passion for travelling and science. Born in Bournemouth, she lived in various parts of the UK before attending boarding school in Littlehampton. She completed a TEFL qualification (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and began teaching kindergarten-aged children, later progressing to more senior roles. A strong sense of curiosity – and a fear of missing out – drew her back to her family, then settled in Brazil, and to further adventures abroad.
One constant in her life was a desire to keep up her English, which she did by reading the Reader’s Digest. This, she said, was where her love of medicine began. She completed A-levels (in two languages) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, starting university in Australia before completing her degree in Brazil.
Returning to the UK in 1990, Aruna discovered her Brazilian pharmacy qualifications were not recognised. She began an apprenticeship in medical physics instead, later moving into radiopharmacy, where she discovered nuclear medicine – a field she went on to master.
Aruna explained how nuclear medicine uses radioactive tracers and advanced imaging techniques to diagnose and treat conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, heart conditions, and thyroid disorders. She illustrated her talk with examples, including bone scans, prostate cancer imaging, and spoke of her involvement in developing innovative techniques to reduce unnecessary lymph node removal in breast cancer surgery – an approach that can help prevent painful swelling. Her work has included managing the manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals at Kent & Canterbury Hospital (K&C), developing new scanning methods, and publishing research on lung and thyroid cancer.
Alongside her remarkable career, Aruna has pursued extensive training, earning a physics degree while working full time, completing a master’s in nuclear medicine, and undertaking a PhD. She has held senior positions in Devon and Kent, teaches at several universities including Canterbury Christ Church, and serves as a radiation protection supervisor. She also volunteers with a domestic violence service and has even written/published a book with a colleague called “Stepping Away” for those who have suffered domestic violence. As well as joining Rotary, she has also recently joined the Jubilate Choir!
Asked what she finds most rewarding in her work, Aruna said it was seeing patients go on to live full lives, some even returning to share happy news such as weddings.
Aruna’s story is one of personal hard work and a genuine commitment to helping others – qualities that we are sure will be of great value to our club. We look forward to working with her in the days and years ahead.
Picture: Aruna pictured in Canterbury’s wonderful Westgate Gardens. Picture credit: Aruna Jago-Brown.
