The University of Vermont Medical Center Radiology Residency has partnered with Imaging the World (a Vermont-based charitable organization) to allow interested UVM radiology residents the opportunity to complete an international elective rotation. Imaging the World's mission is to bring “life-saving ultrasound equipment and training to rural hospitals in Africa.” Since 2010, Imaging the World (ITW) has been providing training in ultrasound to healthcare providers at existing rural clinics in Uganda using a sustainable healthcare model. ITW now operates at rural health clinics throughout Uganda providing point-of-care ultrasound training and equipment for high-risk pregnancy, breast cancer detection, trauma triage, rheumatic heart disease, and evaluation of liver, kidney, and thyroid diseases.
Radiology residents who have completed the international rotation in Uganda have participated in healthcare delivery throughout all phases of its implementation including: scanning and interpreting ultrasound studies under supervision, design and implementation of quality improvement and research projects, outreach at the village level, assessing healthcare clinics and trained healthcare professionals, and meeting with officials in the Ugandan Ministry of Health. Radiology residents have also participated in training Ugandan radiology residents at 2 of the largest urban hospitals in Kampala, Uganda – Mulago National Referral Hospital and Mengo Hospital. In addition to rotations in Uganda, UVM radiology residents also have the opportunity to complete international rotations with Imaging the World in Mangochi and Blantyre, Malawi.
In addition to international rotations with Imaging the World, UVM radiology residents have also completed international electives at other sites in recent years including: Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia; and Katatura State Hospital, Windhoek, Namibia.