Global Health Outreach
Global Health Outreach
The University of Utah Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences is dedicated to improving the practice of Radiology - in Utah and around the world. Many of our staff and faculty go abroad to serve and share their expertise in other countries and the department has also hosted educational opportunities for diagnostic and interventional radiologists and radiology technicians from low-income countries to observe our renowned experts at the University of Utah Hospital and clinics.
While some surgical specialties go abroad to provide direct patient care with well known charities like Operation Smile, in the Department of Radiology we follow the proverb “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” We focus on building local capacity and improving imaging services with our partners.
Both in the US and abroad Radiologists provide lifesaving diagnoses and interventional procedures, but in some of the countries where we work the cost of a single CT or MRI scan can be over 10% of the average annual income for a family. This sobering reality drives us to help train our partners so that when patients and their families make that kind of sacrifice to obtain diagnostic imaging, they receive quality imaging, accurate diagnosis and effective interventional radiology procedures.
Several of our radiologists have travelled to share expertise in other nations.
- Uganda - Our primary outreach partnership
- Japan
- India
- Egypt
- Iran
- Kenya
- Mongolia
Read about some past experiences in our department: When Trainees Become Teachers.
Our Radiologists fund their own travel for these outreach efforts, but your tax-free donation can provide desperately needed funds. 100% of your donation goes to support programs for physicians from low-income counties to develop their own expertise at the University of Utah.
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Uganda
Currently seeking Neuro and Chest/Abdominal radiologist specialist volunteers for remote virtual staffing of Fellows in Uganda.
Our team will be returning to Uganda in November 2026. Please reach out to Dr. Dunn if interested in helping!
Other Countries
Radiologists, Nurses, Radiology Technicians, and IT Support volunteer opportunities can be found on the RAD-AID website.
Global Health Elective
The primary goals of an international radiology rotation are to gain a perspective on global radiology as a vital aspect of public health and prepare residents for lifelong involvement in global health by increasing interpretative skills in basic radiology modalities and gain a better understanding of cost-conscious care. International rotations will also build medical knowledge through exposure to a variety of infectious, oncologic, gastrointestinal and other diseases seen more frequently or with different presentations in less industrialized countries. Residents will acquire experiential knowledge about the provision of radiologic care in a low income environment and demonstrate a logical and appropriate clinical approach to the care of patients, utilizing local resources.
The global health rotation is offered only to senior level radiology residents (PGY-4 or PGY-5) and will be required to have basic skills in plain film and sonography prior to participating in this rotation. Residents will be expected to build medical knowledge to a variety of related diseases and conditions in the area where they will be working and also be prepared with cultural awareness. The length of most rotations will be 2 weeks, inclusive of travel time, unless otherwise approved by the program director.
If interested in participating in a Global Health Elective, please contact the program director to discuss opportunities.
Educational Resources
We are a chapter of RAD-AID International, providing opportunities to lead global initiatives. See our University of Utah RAD-AID webpage and the RAD-AID International website has many additional resources.
Help us with a financial donation
Not everyone can find the time to leave their training or practice to perform global health outreach, but you can also help immensely by contributing financially to enable another radiologist or trainee to travel. Please consider making a donation in any amount. Contact us about a donation.