In January 2025, I will travel to Kampala, Uganda, to support the training of Road2IR’s Interventional Radiology (IR) fellows and to assist with program development at Mulago National Referral Hospital. My goal is to help Road2IR expand treatment options for a range of medical conditions by equipping Ugandan physicians with essential IR skills. Through hands-on learning, case-based lectures, and board-style examinations, we will cover everything from tumor management and dialysis access to infection control and emergency interventions.
Beyond clinical training, our focus will also include IR program development, collaboration with the upcoming Uganda Cancer Institute, and navigating the logistics of implementing an IR suite and supply management systems. These initiatives aim to streamline and sustain an efficient and effective IR service.
Uganda, a country roughly the size of the state of Oregon, has a population of approximately 48 million, compared to Oregon’s 4 million. With such a large population relative to its resources, Uganda faces significant challenges in meeting healthcare needs, especially in rural areas where healthcare access is limited. By empowering the IR fellows to perform IR procedures, we are helping to expand access to effective, affordable treatments for conditions that might otherwise require costly open surgeries or other therapies. This is particularly beneficial for the 40% of Ugandans living in poverty, for whom lower-cost, lower-recovery-time procedures can have a life-changing impact.
The impact of this mission is multifaceted, benefiting providers, patients, and Uganda’s healthcare system. After training, the Ugandan IR's will be equipped to bring essential IR skills to other areas in Uganda, addressing a wide range of health issues with treatments that are cost-effective, minimally invasive, and ideal for resource-limited settings.
These providers will also have an ongoing resource in me for future consultations and support. I am committed to maintaining a lifelong professional relationship with the trainees, and am happy to serve as a point of contact for complex cases or additional guidance.
By fostering a culture of skill-sharing, we aim to empower Ugandan IRs to train future classes in these techniques, amplifying the impact throughout the healthcare system. This connection will help foster a self-sustaining network, decreased reliance on external aid, creating a ripple effect that expands healthcare access and improves outcomes for years to come.
Funded by the DoxFoundation, this trip, New Year, New Horizons: Uganda IR 2025, brought me, an Interventional Radiologist, to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda in support of an Interventional Radiology program associated with Road2IR there. I was fortunate enough to be joined by an IR nurse and tech that I work with at my home institution.
During the trip, the home team and I were able to see 80+ clinic patients and perform over 25 minimally invasive procedures. The Mulago nurses and techs gained valuable insight into preparing, monitoring, and recovering patients during and after their procedures. We saw patients with infections, cancers, and benign malformations and gave them diagnoses, treatments, and hope.
We helped restore dialysis access to several patients whose current catheters were failing. We performed crucial drainages to young children who were struggling to breathe and eat. We performed biopsies on liver and lung masses, thyroids, and various lymph nodes and other growths, giving patients an answer to their next steps in health.
Moreover, we gave the current trainees the knowledge and skill base to face complex questions in IR and health management for the future of Uganda. This was accomplished using both didactic lectures and hands-on training. One day, we improvised an ultrasound skills lab using a bucket of water and submerged targets. As their practice expands, the Mulago team is excited to put their training to use with their new facilities, including a 3-bed recovery bay and 2-bed ultrasound procedure area, as they await the installation of their new angiosuite.
Outside of work, fun activities included lunch with the whole team, and the crew from the USA was able to explore Uganda's beauty on an adventure to Murchison Falls at the Nile River for a boat safari during the free weekend.
I hope to maintain the relationship with the trainees at Mulago, to watch their continued growth in all aspects of their practice, and to return to Uganda to achieve the Road2IR mission: Same Care, Everywhere!
