The IR Juniors Podcast

Dr Teik Choon See is a consultant IR based in Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge. Dr See has been a consultant IR for nearly two decades and has worked across the hepatobiliary, vascular and interventional oncology space.
 
In this wide-ranging discussion, Dr See shares his journey into IR, and how this led him to become interested in histotripsy – a new and exciting non-invasive, radiation-free, and incision-free procedure that uses focused ultrasound waves to destroy tumours.
 
Most recently, he led the team that delivered the first histotripsy treatment in Europe outside of a clinical trial. We’re very lucky to have him share his insights about this exciting new development in the field of cancer care.

Dr. Yuji Okuno is an Interventional Radiologist based in Tokyo, Japan, and the founder of Okuno Clinics - network of centers dedicated to innovative embolic treatments for chronic pain.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Okuno shares how his deep interest in pathological angiogenesis led to the development of the “Okuno Method,” a novel technique that uses temporary embolic agents to selectively target inflammatory blood vessels. He reflects on his early clinical observations, the translational science that underpins his work, and the decade-long journey to establish a robust evidence base for musculoskeletal embolization.
Dr. Okuno also discusses the significant regulatory, academic, and business challenges he faced while launching and expanding his clinic franchise. His story is one of persistence, creativity, and a steadfast commitment to innovation in patient care.
He offers thoughtful advice to young interventional radiologists looking to push boundaries and create new pathways within the specialty.
This is an inspiring episode for anyone interested in how original ideas, grounded in science and clinical need, can lead to transformative change in healthcare.

Dr. Alex Barnacle is a Consultant Pediatric Interventional Radiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the national clinical lead for the first-ever Get It Right First Time review of IR in England.
She shares her journey from pediatrics into interventional radiology, reflects on the biggest challenges facing the specialty today, and gives an honest look into life at one of the world’s most iconic children’s hospitals.
She also tackles the gender gap in IR and why visibility, mentorship, and allyship matter more than ever.

Dr. Atul Gupta is an Interventional Radiologist from the USA and the Global Chief Medical Officer for Diagnosis and Treatment at Philips who has built an international reputation for his thought leadership on innovating within image-guided therapy.
In this episode of the IR Juniors podcast, Dr. Gupta shares his insights on how to navigate the transition into industry and how technology might be used to tackle global challenges currently faced by the field. We also take a deep dive into the various incredible devices Philips has to integrate next generation technology within Interventional Radiology.

Dr. Elie Balesh, a radiologist from the USA, has built a remarkable career as a dual specialist in interventional radiology (IR) and cardiac imaging. In this episode of the IR Juniors podcast, Dr. Balesh shares his unique journey into the field, offering a comparative perspective on the training pathways in the US and UK, and delving into the existential challenges currently facing the specialty.

With a dynamic portfolio career, Dr. Balesh expertly balances his roles as a full-time radiologist and a medical entrepreneur. He reflects on his experiences founding multiple medical start-ups and the lessons he has learned while navigating the intersection of healthcare and innovation. Whether you're in medicine, business, or another field, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration that we’re excited to share with you.