Where Diagnosis Becomes Direction

Dr Meraj’s journey into radiology did not begin with technology – it began with meaning. During her early years in surgical training, she witnessed the visible triumphs of cancer treatment. Patients would leave the hospital disease-free, families relieved, outcomes celebrated. Yet, what fascinated her most was not the surgery itself, but what came before it.

Radiology, she observed, was the quiet architect of every decision. It was the starting point of the patient’s journey – the moment uncertainty met clarity. Imaging guided diagnosis, determined treatment pathways, and often shaped outcomes long before the first incision was made. That realisation became pivotal.

“I realised I wanted to work at the beginning – where detection starts” she reflects.

This insight led her to radiology, and ultimately to breast imaging with interventional radiology, a sub-specialty where technical precision meets deeply personal care. Here, imaging is not abstract data – it directly influences lives. Through minimally invasive, image-guided procedures, diagnoses can be delivered with accuracy, speed, and sensitivity. For Dr Meraj, this balance between science and human connection remains at the heart of her professional identity.

A Career Forged in the NHS

Dr Meraj’s clinical foundation was shaped within the demanding and structured environment of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), With a career spanning over many years, she developed a reputation for diagnostic excellence, leadership, and unwavering commitment to patient care.

She spent a decade as a Consultant Radiologist at Bolton Hospital NHS Trust, working within one of the UK’s busiest breast units offering Breast Screening and Symptomatic Services. As Radiology Lead, she was responsible not only for clinical delivery, but also for clinical governance, quality improvement, and risk management – roles that demand both precision and resilience.

Working within multidisciplinary teams, Dr Meraj refined her expertise in multi-modality breast imaging and interventions, collaborating closely with breast surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, and breast care nurses. These years taught her that excellence in healthcare is rarely individual – it is collective, systematic, and built on trust.

She also became actively involved in breast cancer research trials, contributing to peer-reviewed scientific publications. Parallel to her clinical responsibilities, she cultivated a passion for education and mentorship – serving as a GMC Associate Examiner, a lecturer at Edge Hill University, and later as an accredited GMC appraiser.

Innovation Beyond the Clinic

While clinical excellence remained central to her work, Dr Meraj increasingly recognised the systemic pressures facing modern healthcare – rising patient volumes, workforce shortages, and growing clinical complexity. It was here that her interest in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and service design took shape.

She became the principal evaluator for the first-ever live NHS deployment of an AI solution in breast imaging, a landmark initiative that marked a turning point for clinical AI adoption in the UK. This project demonstrated improvements in diagnostic accuracy and workflow efficiency. It also highlighted the critical role of healthcare’s greatest challenges: how to integrate innovation safely, ethically, and at scale

The project was highly regarded and received multiple awards and was featured in leading scientific and technology publications, positioning Dr Meraj as a trusted voice at the intersection of medicine and technology.  Dr Meraj presented this work at the leading AI and Digital HealthTech conferences. She devised groundbreaking AI evaluation strategies, paving the way for future AI deployments. As part of her engagement with NHS Digital, Dr. Meraj shared her expertise and insights with NHS AI Lab focus groups.

Her expertise led to advisory roles with health-tech companies and participation in major initiatives such as the Greater Manchester Regional Enterprise Imaging Procurement – one of the largest region-wide imaging programmes in Europe.

Her collaboration with Google Health DeepMind on breast cancer screening further underscored her global outlook and commitment to advancing population health through responsible innovation.

Building a Service, Building Trust

Perhaps the most defining milestone of Dr Meraj’s career came when she relocated to Dubai to build a comprehensive breast care service from the ground up. This was not merely a professional transition – it was a test of leadership, adaptability, and cultural intelligence.

Drawing on decades of NHS experience, she is working to establish a dedicated, multidisciplinary breast care hub, at NMC Royal Hospital DIP in Dubai. This breast care clinic is integrating advanced imaging technology, internationally benchmarked protocols, and patient-centred pathways under one roof. But technology alone was never the goal.

“The true measure of success isn’t just in the systems we implement” she explains, “but in the trust we build.”

In a region where cultural perceptions and fear can delay screening, Dr Meraj focused on community engagement, education, and compassionate communication. Over time, the impact became visible – not just in clinical outcomes, but in behaviour.

Mothers began attending screenings with daughters. Preventive care replaced crisis-driven visits. Fear gave way to empowerment.

For Dr Meraj, these moments represent the essence of healthcare leadership: when services do more than treat illness – they reshape attitudes and strengthen communities.

Women, Leadership, and Healthcare

As a woman leading complex healthcare services across different systems, Dr Meraj’s journey has also deepened her perspective on leadership itself. She views leadership not as authority, but as advocacy and responsibility – particularly in creating opportunities for others.

Each challenge, from resource constraints to complex clinical decisions, has reinforced her belief that leadership must balance strategic vision with empathy. She sees mentorship as essential, especially for women navigating demanding clinical careers.

“Leadership is not just about expertise” she notes. “It’s about creating platforms where others can grow, contribute, and lead with confidence.”

The Future of Radiology and Breast Imaging

According to Dr Meraj, radiology is at a critical inflection point. On one side lies unprecedented technological progress – AI-driven diagnostics, advanced imaging modalities, and data integration. On the other are mounting systemic pressures: rising disease prevalence, access disparities, workforce shortages, and misaligned economic models.

In the coming years, she believes artificial intelligence will evolve from a supportive tool into a true clinical ally, embedded into workflows to enhance precision and efficiency. In breast care, AI is becoming a proactive partner, enabling a shift from population-based guidelines to truly personalised, risk-adapted pathways and precision screening.

Care delivery will become more centralised and networked, enabling standardisation of quality across regions. Sub-specialisation will deepen, data security will demand greater vigilance, and a robust, patient-specific AI stewardship will be a non-negotiable standard in imaging.

Yet, Dr Meraj is clear-eyed about the risks.

“The real challenge isn’t technology – it’s integration” she says. “Innovation often moves faster than implementation frameworks and reimbursement models.”

Without thoughtful adoption, even the most advanced solutions risk remaining theoretical conceptual rather than transformative.

Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders

When asked what guidance she would offer to aspiring leaders and professionals, Dr Meraj’s response is both reflective and empowering.

“Lead from insight” she advises. “Begin by observing, listening, and understanding the reality on the ground. Credibility is demonstrated, not declared.”

She encourages professionals to advocate boldly for ideas that create genuine impact, even when those ideas challenge consensus. Above all, she urges individuals not to undervalue their unique perspective.

“In a world that often rewards conformity, your distinct lens is not a weakness – it’s your greatest strength.”

Her message to those shaping the future of healthcare is clear: own your role, cultivate your network and speak up to redefine what excellence truly means.

Shaping the Next Era of Excellence

Dr Shaista Meraj’s career is a powerful testament to what modern medical leadership can achieve when expertise, innovation, and humanity converge. From NHS leadership to AI-driven transformation, from building services to building trust, her work reflects a singular vision: healthcare that is intelligent, integrated, and profoundly human.

As breast imaging enters a new era of excellence, leaders like Dr Meraj are not merely adapting to change – they are shaping it, ensuring that progress never loses sight of the people it is meant to serve.