From August 13-20, 2022, Brian Mullan, MD, MS, FACR traveled to Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, an RSNA Global Learning Center at Stellenbosch University. Dr. Mullan said, “The goal of the program is to help the local host develop into a regional center of excellence that goes on to train other imagers in the region. After working with the group for 2 years, this was our first face-to-face encounter due to delays from COVID.”
Dr. Mullan was joined by Dr. Prachi Agarwal, from the University of Michigan, to develop thoracic and cardiovascular imaging. Dr. Mullan expanded, “The focus of the week was four-fold. Part of the time was spent the week working with the faculty and residents in the clinics, teaching at the boards. Secondly, I worked with the faculty and technologists to refine their imaging protocols and to develop new ones based on their equipment. Thirdly, I gave 10 formal teaching sessions to the local participants that were also webcast via the Radiology Society of South Africa with the training programs at the University of Cape Town and University of Pretoria and over 100 members of the RSSA. Finally, I worked with the faculty and collegiate administration to lay the groundwork for a regional fellowship in cardiovascular and thoracic imaging. This included curricular development, administration, accreditation and financing.”
He concludes, “The formal program will continue for another year, but the friendships and the collaborations will continue further.”