In partnership with the RAD-AID Ghana team and the Ghana Association of Radiologists, I helped to develop a breast imaging fellowship curriculum that was approved by the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in April 2023. To date, 5 Ghanaian post-graduate breast imaging fellows have begun their training at Korle Bu Hospital and 37 Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. I have developed close virtual relationships with all of the current breast imaging fellows and have delivered multiple virtual lectures and focused teaching sessions to them over the last three years. My visit to Ghana from September 30, 2024 through October 5, 2024 will augment and supplement didactic presentations and technology assessments performed by my RAD-AID colleague Dr. Kiran Sheikh from Yale University a visitation to Ghana in May 2024. In addition, I will further develop leadership skills among the breast imaging fellows and work closely with the general radiology residents with the intent of improving their skills in both general radiology and breast imaging.
Dr. Gordon Johnson is my colleague from the Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, USA. Dr. Johnson is an internist and critical care specialist who is expert in POCUS- Point of Care Ultrasound. He has brought and taught this exciting technology to many national and international groups including The Korle Bu Hospital in Accra, Ghana where he is currently making his second visit to teach this technology to medical students and other clinicians. In the spirit of continuity of support for POCUS, I plan to teach medical students and interested clinicians the principles of interpretation of chest and abdominal radiography particularly as these examinations pertain to critically ill patients.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women globally. In low- and middle- income countries such as Ghana, with limited health system resources, women are diagnosed with breast cancer at later stages and are more likely to die from breast cancer. The missions of RAD-AID Ghana include improving breast cancer outcomes by training breast imaging specialists and other radiologists to serve the women and men of Ghana afflicted with breast diseases.
Through continuity of support of Dr. Johnson’s POCUS work in Ghana, increasing medical provider’s expertise in the interpretation of chest and abdominal radiography in the acute and critical care settings should directly benefit the general population in Ghana in acute and critical care medical settin
Specialized breast imaging radiologists are expected to use their skills to better service their communities and more effectively collaborate with other medical professionals such as surgeons, pathologists and oncologists to diagnose and treat breast cancer. Also, the upcoming group of breast imaging specialists in Ghana will be the vanguard for educating radiologists in Ghana about best practices for breast cancer screening and diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Adding expertise in interpretation of chest and abdominal radiography to a burgeoning skill set in Point of Care Ultrasound, should translate into superior outcomes for many patients in acute care and critical care settings.
Mark David Kettler, MD Radiologist and Breast Imaging Specialist
Accra, Ghana: September 30-October 5, 2024. Utilizing a combination of live and virtual learning, I trained radiologists, diagnostic radiology trainees and family medicine practitioners and trainees at three sites in Ghana.
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the premier tertiary healthcare facility in Ghana, was established on October 9, 1923. It is located at Korle Bu in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Currently, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which is the third biggest referral center in Africa, has 2,000 beds, 21 clinical and diagnostic departments, and three Centres of Excellence.
The 37 Military Hospital is a specialist hospital located in Accra, on the main road between the Kotoka International Airport and central Accra. It is the largest military hospital in Ghana. The 37 Military Hospital is a 500-bed general hospital.
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region. The geographical location of the 1,200-bed hospital, the road network of the country, and the unique commercial setting of Kumasi make the hospital accessible to all the remaining fifteen (15) regions of the country, especially those that share boundaries with the Ashanti region
For the last several years, under the auspices of RAD-AID, the national volunteer organization for radiology, I have been working with radiology trainees in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. In collaboration with leadership from the above institutions, we developed a curriculum and recruited 5 women as senior radiology trainees to begin enhanced training in breast imaging with the express purpose of developing a cadre of Ghanian radiologists with special expertise in breast imaging. Each morning, I delivered lectures on breast imaging to approximately 60 live and virtual audiences of radiologists and radiology trainees in Ghana. Every day I spent time with the 5 potential breast imaging specialists to improve their clinical expertise and also develop public speaking and other leadership skills. Each afternoon, I delivered lectures on chest and abdominal radiology to radiology trainees and physicians affiliated with Family Medicine at Korle Bu.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Ghanian women. 60-70% of patients present with advanced disease. The cadre of 5 women who intend to become breast imaging specialists show the potential to improve breast care in Ghana and facilitate better outcomes for breast cancer.
