Pediatr Radiol (2014) 44:711–712 DOI 10.1007/s00247-014-2940-1
MINISYMPOSIUM
International outreach and trainees: how to get involved—and why it’s worth the effort Aparna Annam
Received: 24 December 2013 / Accepted: 13 February 2014 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
When is a good time start volunteering for outreach work? Is it after residency, after landing a job, or after the kids finish college? There is no perfect answer, but one thing holds true: volunteering is always a valuable use of your time, and the earlier you get involved, the better. As a physician, your career continually evolves and the experiences you have early on influence how you practice. As an international volunteer, you work with physicians from around the world who will broaden your mind to a more global view of medicine. International outreach exposure can make a huge impact on the direction of your career and improve the lives of many others. Most medical schools allow students to participate in an overseas rotation during their elective clinical training. Although it may only be as an observer, the experience can still be eye-opening and very rewarding. Finding the time during residency can become a challenge. A number of seemingly insurmountable obstacles can act as speed bumps to arranging an overseas outreach project. As a resident, your salary is partially funded by the federal government. Continuation of your salary at home becomes an issue if your institution is unable to claim funding while you are abroad. Despite such obstacles, international outreach work is not out of reach. Every training program is different, so collaboration with program directors enables you to explore all possibilities. The new board examination structure in the United States has the potential to provide elective time. Perhaps your overseas work can fulfill a research or public health requirement. Approval from your institution would be needed to ensure that the educational infrastructure of your outreach
A. Annam (*) Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Box 125, 13123 East 16th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045, USA e-mail: [email protected]
work meets the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). There are also short 1- to 2-week programs that can be performed during your vacation time. Although you may not be able to claim these hours toward completion of your training, you still gain the benefits of the experience. Outreach work does not need to be a financial burden for the trainee since there are scholarships to help. One very successful example has been the ACR Goldberg-Reeder Resident Travel Grant Program, which helps fund residents for overseas radiology projects [1]. Finding an appropriate opportunity can be daunting, but attending conferences such as those of the American College of Radiology (ACR), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), RAD-AID International and Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR), where there are discussions regarding outreach work, can connect you with individuals who share the same interests. The Internet is also a valuable resource, and a great place to start is the RSNA-International Radiology Outreach Resources (IROR) site, which provides a comprehensive listing of organizations to contact [2]. If it is impossible for you to leave the country, another emerging avenue for outreach work involves teleradiology. A program has been established between the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University and a clinic in South Africa that does not have its own radiologist. Stanford residents can interpret the films from South Africa and the findings can be shared with their classmates, bringing the pathology endemic to another area closer to home while providing a valuable service. This collaborative effort between hospitals may be worth developing at your own institution. International outreach work can be one of the most memorable experiences of your residency. With a little effort, the challenges of securing funding and finding the right program
712
can be solved. Your radiology trainee counterparts in your host country will not only introduce you to a new culture but become your colleagues for life. Such an experience influences how you use resources and interpret studies throughout your career. Now is the time. Get involved. Conflicts of interest None
Pediatr Radiol (2014) 44:711–712
References 1. American College of Radiology (2014) International outreach program. http://www.acr.org/Membership/Volunteering/InternationalOutreach. Accessed 3 Feb 2014 2. Radiological Society of North America (2014) International radiology outreach resources. http://www.rsna.org/iror.aspx. Accessed 2 Feb 2014
MINISYMPOSIUM
International outreach and trainees: how to get involved—and why it’s worth the effort Aparna Annam
Received: 24 December 2013 / Accepted: 13 February 2014 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
When is a good time start volunteering for outreach work? Is it after residency, after landing a job, or after the kids finish college? There is no perfect answer, but one thing holds true: volunteering is always a valuable use of your time, and the earlier you get involved, the better. As a physician, your career continually evolves and the experiences you have early on influence how you practice. As an international volunteer, you work with physicians from around the world who will broaden your mind to a more global view of medicine. International outreach exposure can make a huge impact on the direction of your career and improve the lives of many others. Most medical schools allow students to participate in an overseas rotation during their elective clinical training. Although it may only be as an observer, the experience can still be eye-opening and very rewarding. Finding the time during residency can become a challenge. A number of seemingly insurmountable obstacles can act as speed bumps to arranging an overseas outreach project. As a resident, your salary is partially funded by the federal government. Continuation of your salary at home becomes an issue if your institution is unable to claim funding while you are abroad. Despite such obstacles, international outreach work is not out of reach. Every training program is different, so collaboration with program directors enables you to explore all possibilities. The new board examination structure in the United States has the potential to provide elective time. Perhaps your overseas work can fulfill a research or public health requirement. Approval from your institution would be needed to ensure that the educational infrastructure of your outreach
A. Annam (*) Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Box 125, 13123 East 16th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045, USA e-mail: [email protected]
work meets the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). There are also short 1- to 2-week programs that can be performed during your vacation time. Although you may not be able to claim these hours toward completion of your training, you still gain the benefits of the experience. Outreach work does not need to be a financial burden for the trainee since there are scholarships to help. One very successful example has been the ACR Goldberg-Reeder Resident Travel Grant Program, which helps fund residents for overseas radiology projects [1]. Finding an appropriate opportunity can be daunting, but attending conferences such as those of the American College of Radiology (ACR), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), RAD-AID International and Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR), where there are discussions regarding outreach work, can connect you with individuals who share the same interests. The Internet is also a valuable resource, and a great place to start is the RSNA-International Radiology Outreach Resources (IROR) site, which provides a comprehensive listing of organizations to contact [2]. If it is impossible for you to leave the country, another emerging avenue for outreach work involves teleradiology. A program has been established between the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University and a clinic in South Africa that does not have its own radiologist. Stanford residents can interpret the films from South Africa and the findings can be shared with their classmates, bringing the pathology endemic to another area closer to home while providing a valuable service. This collaborative effort between hospitals may be worth developing at your own institution. International outreach work can be one of the most memorable experiences of your residency. With a little effort, the challenges of securing funding and finding the right program
712
can be solved. Your radiology trainee counterparts in your host country will not only introduce you to a new culture but become your colleagues for life. Such an experience influences how you use resources and interpret studies throughout your career. Now is the time. Get involved. Conflicts of interest None
Pediatr Radiol (2014) 44:711–712
References 1. American College of Radiology (2014) International outreach program. http://www.acr.org/Membership/Volunteering/InternationalOutreach. Accessed 3 Feb 2014 2. Radiological Society of North America (2014) International radiology outreach resources. http://www.rsna.org/iror.aspx. Accessed 2 Feb 2014
