We plan to continue to strengthen our relationship with the attending and resident radiologists at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by returning with attending radiologist, Dr. Timothy Rooney and two senior radiology residents from Dartmouth in October 2019. We are again working in conjunction with a group of radiologists from Yale led by Dr. Frank Minja. The focus of our upcoming trip is to cultivate skills in diagnostic mammography and its role in minimally invasive breast interventions. We will also have a particular focus on working with the radiologist and technologists regarding their CT/MR protocols to select protocols that can be implemented into their current workflow and improve diagnostic yield. We will continue to educate the radiologists on breast imaging techniques, protocols and BIRADS. While we are working in Tanzania, we will also continue to provide hours of daily hands-on and lecture-based didactics in all areas of radiology including mammography and abdominal imaging.
We will be focused on supporting and educating the attending and resident radiologists at the Muhimbili National Hospital in the major city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We will learn from the Tanzanian radiologists to better appreciate their strengths and weaknesses so that we can be most effective in the assistance we can provide during our one week trip. Concentrating our efforts with the radiologists as well as the technologists will allow for the greatest impact on the field of radiology and patient population in Tanzania. Building on our relationship with the radiologists established on prior trips and encouraging education amongst the Tanzanian radiologists and associated clinicians will help solidify knowledge in mammography/abdominal imaging that can be continued and built upon after our trip is completed.
We anticipate that the continued/built upon knowledge of screening and diagnostic mammography, breast intervention and abdominal protocols will provide an new understanding of how to manage imaging findings/intervention in breast cancer in a patient population that does not currently have a national breast screening program. The protocols can be used in their daily workflow, and when it comes to CT, can reduce radiation exposure while remaining diagnostic and answering the clinical question for the referring providers. Ultimately, improving patient care. Due to the foundation laid by our previous trips, we anticipate that our education on breast imaging and various areas of radiology will leave a lasting impact on the current radiologists practice and confidence in educating future radiologists in Tanzania.
Throughout the experience during October 2019- The Global Health mission led by Yale and Dartmouth was able to bring Abdominal, Pediatric, Breast and Neuro sub-speciality Radiology training to the residents and faculty at Muhimbili National Hospital(MNH). We had the opportunity to teach new hands on ultrasound and biopsy skills/techniques, work 1-on-1 at the work stations for search patterns, provide daily lectures on a variety of topics to the Diagnostic Radiology Residency as well as work with technologists on imaging protocols and techniques for CT and MRI improving diagnostic quality and patient safety.
Having the ability to collaborate with different physicians from the United States and Tanzania with a shared passion for medical education in Radiology on a continuous basis ensures that the efforts of all involved are improved upon during each trip and transcend the distance between us. Our experiences are shared with our colleagues who will continue to provide educational tools and techniques as well as the necessary support for the MNH Radiology training programs as they reach new and exciting milestones. Continuity is critical in both medical education and global health.
My interactions with the faculty, residents, technologists, nurses, and administration at MNH have changed my global perspective of medicine and education. The Tanzania trip that Doximity, Yale, Dartmouth and Muhimbili National Hospital have made possible has been one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences of my life/career.
