Our Community

Our tour of The Ralph services comes to an end (for now!) with an introduction to our Diagnostic Imaging Service and the wonderful Livia, Hadar and Frankie.

Our Diagnostic Imaging Service provides images of our patients’ internal organs, tissues, bones, and more. These images are reviewed and interpreted by our team to accurately diagnose and monitor a variety of disorders. Different images are created using different equipment depending on which part of the patient we need to take a closer look at.

Here at The Ralph, we have a full range of diagnostic imaging equipment including digital radiography, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), fixed and portable ultrasound and fluoroscopy.

The tests our Diagnostic Imaging Service perform and the conditions they explore are very wide-ranging – too many to mention! Diagnostic Imaging is a core service in a multidisciplinary hospital like The Ralph and most of our patients will require imaging of some sort. Our Diagnostic Imaging Service works closely with all of our other services to ensure our patients get the best care possible.

At The Ralph, we offer an Outpatient Ultrasound service to primary care practices in our area. We also offer an image reporting and advice service. Our Diagnostic Imaging team includes both clinicians and a veterinary radiographer, so without further ado let’s meet the people behind the service!

Making it all possible…

Livia  Benigni

Livia graduated in 1997 from the University of Pisa in Italy. After graduating, Livia was a Cardiology intern and Staff Clinician at the National Veterinary School of Alfort (Paris, France); she then worked in private practice in Paris and London.

Livia trained to become a specialist at the Royal Veterinary College (University of London) and was the first RVC Senior Clinical Training Scholar (resident) in Diagnostic Imaging. In 2005 she obtained the specialisation Diploma from the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.

Livia worked for 14 years as a radiologist in the busy referral hospital of the Royal Veterinary College (Queen Mother Hospital for Animals). During her time there, Livia taught small animal radiology, ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance to RVC students and residents.

After leaving academia Livia became Head of Diagnostic Imaging at a private referral hospital (2015-2017) and worked independently, providing imaging referrals in the Greater London area.

Livia has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in the field of diagnostic imaging and has contributed to the Mattoon and Nyland textbook Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound Third edition (2014) and to the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Ultrasonography (2011). Livia is an active speaker delivering talks at meetings, congresses and CPD lectures both in the UK and abroad. Livia is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (King’s College London).

Livia is Head of the Diagnostic Imaging Service at The Ralph and will be ensuring the excellence of the Service, as well as advising colleagues with regards to diagnostic imaging techniques.

Livia shares her home with her partner, son and their rescued cat Tuco. Livia enjoys food, music, dancing and good weather.

Hadar Yanai

Hadar graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice, Slovakia in 2008 and has been working as a veterinary surgeon in the UK since then. In 2011 Hadar completed an internship focusing on Oncology in a hospital in Essex and in 2012 she completed a rotating internship in a hospital in Cambridgeshire. Hadar returned to Cambridgeshire in 2016 and continued her training in Diagnostic Imaging. Hadar has published a number of research papers on the topic of diagnostic imaging.  

Hadar’s role at The Ralph will be to acquire and interpret the images needed to diagnose conditions and perform procedures. A regular part of Hadar’s day involves having clinical discussions and providing guidance to other team members and our veterinary community.

When Hadar is not at work, she divides her attention between her daughter, husband and dog.

Hadar enjoys singing and has done since she was a child. Hadar also likes to be outdoors with her family and to travel to distant locations (preferably warm!). Hadar enjoys cooking and listening to music.  

Frankie Lodge

After graduating from Newcastle Upon Tyne Polytechnic with a BA(Hons) in Business Studies in 1984, Frankie followed a career in business. In 1999 She changed direction and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse (one of her best life decisions). Frankie worked initially in primary care practices and then moved to a referral hospital nearly 14 years ago. Working within a referral hospital allowed Frankie to follow her interest in diagnostics, and become a full-time Radiography Nurse working in both Radiography and CT, and latterly being Joint Radiography Supervisor for a team of seven.

Frankie’s role at The Ralph is to produce high-quality diagnostic images for the Diagnostic Imaging clinicians and our other clinical services.

As Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS) Frankie will ensure we are compliant with the Ionising Radiations Regulations. This involves working closely with the RPA (Radiation Protection Advisor) and includes compiling and maintaining local rules and safe systems of work.

Frankie lives locally with her husband Steve who is an Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist (for humans) and a beautiful geriatric cat “Saskatoon” Saska for short who is 19 years old. Frankie and her husband both enjoy open water swimming all year round and at times can be found either bobbing around in the sea in Dorset or the Thames in Marlow.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our Diagnostic Imaging Service. Stay tuned for our next blog, as we share the latest news and stories from life at The Ralph.

Take care,

The Ralph Team