International Work

[Clive]

Hello all.

What opportunities are there in rads for international work - specifically in the mission/relief field? Are the technological constraints too much to overcome in most developing nations to make any true difference as a a rad doc? Love the field, but have a passion for overseas/third-world aid work and haven't heard much about rad docs doing a whole lot in that area.

What do you think?

Thanks.

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[Docxter]

Hello all.

What opportunities are there in rads for international work - specifically in the mission/relief field? Are the technological constraints too much to overcome in most developing nations to make any true difference as a a rad doc? Love the field, but have a passion for overseas/third-world aid work and haven't heard much about rad docs doing a whole lot in that area.

What do you think?

Thanks.

Obviously, radiology is technology dependent and this limits its immediate application in the poorest countries. I have worked with the WHO in 3rd world countries. When there is not enough food or clean drinking water and thousands of infants die of diarrheal diseases each year, bringing x-ray and ultrasound machines and expertise becomes low priority. However, in places where there is a basic working health system in place, there is a lot that can be done, especially in terms of education of the local physicians and technologists. Take a look at two example links:

http://franciscoguatemala.tripod.com/

http://www.rsna.org/International/upload/outreach_survey.pdf

http://www.rsna.org/International/CIRE/index.cfm