Chidubem Ugwueze, MD
Chidubem Ugwueze, MD
Radiology · New York, NY


Road2IR – Interventional Radiology in Tanzania


March 13th
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Project Description

I will be traveling to Dar es Salaam Tanzania from 3/13/2021 – 3/21/2021 to join the Road2IR team at the Muhimbili Teaching Hospital. Road2IR is a collaborative effort between Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Yale Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, and Emory Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences with the goal of building self-sustaining Interventional Radiology training programs in East Africa. As a PGY 4 Early specialization in Interventional Radiology resident at Mount Sinai West, I will be joining this team to help with their goal of training the future generations of Interventional Radiologists.

Population Served

Muhimbili National Hospital is a 1259-bed hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It is a quaternary referral hospital offering specialty care across the spectrum of clinical medicine. Furthermore, it is a teaching and research facility for the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). It offers both undergraduate clinical rotations and residency programs. Given the lack of IR training in East Africa, the Masters in Science (MSc) in Interventional Radiology program at MUHAS was started October 2019. The program has now enrolled two classes of trainees (4 senior fellows and 6 junior fellows).

Expected Impact

As a resident accompanying an Attending physician, I will be helping the junior residents practice percutaneous procedures using ultrasound phantoms. Furthermore, the department performs approximately 8 to 10 procedures per day. These cases include arterial cases, venous cases, multiple biliary drains, and nephrostomy tubes. I anticipate participating in the preoperative and post-operative care of these patients. I will also be donating medical equipment (consumables for IR procedures) as part of the trip which will help keep this program going. Lastly, as a trainee who is extremely interested in establishing a similar training program in Nigeria, this experience will serve as a great learning experience towards that goal and cultivate working relationships with colleagues also interested in this goal.


Trip Photos & Recap

I had an amazing and very gratifying week with the @road2ir team in Tanzania. The dedication to Interventional radiology and to their patients the IR fellows at Muhambili Hospital have is incredible. I learned so much about IR practice in Dar es Salam. How this training program is providing crucial care to patients in Tanzania (who would otherwise not have access to Interventional radiology services). Very excited for this future. Asante sana.