The MUSC Department of Radiology has partnered with One World Health to offer a global health elective to interested senior radiology residents in either Uganda, Africa, or Managua, Nicaragua.
Our international elective allows senior residents to collaborate with a MUSC faculty mentor and the Ugandan or Nicaraguan physicians to ensure the potential benefits of the equipment are being maximized. Residents work with MUSC and the site’s faculty to develop a practical educational curriculum and leverage data-sharing applications to discuss challenging cases via teleconference from Charleston.
The experience culminates with a four-week rotation, where the resident participates in daily activities of the clinic, works with local practitioners to optimize image acquisition and interpretation, performs image-guided procedures, and delivers didactic lectures. Our residents gain valuable skills in cultural competency and development of educational materials. They are exposed to a different range of pathology, learn to maximize limited resources, and gain valuable experience in image interpretation when advanced imaging techniques are not available.
MUSC has agreed to fund the residents’ salary and benefits while on international rotations, and the Department of Radiology has established a Global Health Fund, which helps offset resident expenses associated with the rotation. The Global Health Fund also accepts tax-deductible donations to allow continued support of future residents who undertake this elective. Our residents have also been successful in applying for and receiving funding from the MUSC Center for Global Health and the ACR. We endeavor to create a lasting partnership with our colleagues in Uganda and Nicaragua and to be at the forefront of global radiology as medical imaging continues to disseminate throughout the developing world.
