Dorothy I. Bulas, M.D., FACR, FAIUM, FSRU, Travels to Ghana through International Education Program

OAK BROOK, Ill. — Radiologist Dorothy I. Bulas, M.D., FACR, FAIUM, FSRU, will bring her medical expertise to Ghana as part of the International Visiting Professor Program offered by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The program fosters international relations among radiology societies to assist with medical education in developing and newly developed nations.

Dr. Bulas, professor of radiology and pediatrics and vice chief of academic affairs at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., will be joined by a fellow radiologist as she embarks February 20 on the 15-day trip. She will spend her visit giving presentations and teaching intensive seminars to radiology residents, as well as attending conferences and meetings.

The program is mutually beneficial. The visiting team of radiologists informs local doctors and hospitals about the latest advances in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology. In turn, the visiting professors experience firsthand the obstacles faced by medical professionals in the host countries.

"According to WHO, over 1 billion children worldwide have limited access to medical imaging. As a pediatric radiologist interested in outreach throughout my career, these numbers are staggering," Dr. Bulas said. "As chair of education for the World Federation of Pediatric Imaging, the ability to provide pediatric radiology educational resources as well as direct training to imagers caring for children has been an important mission."

"Being invited to participate in RSNA's visiting professor program is a great honor and provides an avenue to improve the quality of pediatric radiology in sub-Saharan Africa," Dr. Bulas continued. "The need for additional exposure and training in pediatric radiology in Ghana is compelling; the child population of sub-Saharan Africa will rise by 130 million over the next 15 years. With no pediatric radiologists currently working in Ghana, exposing residents to pediatric radiology training and educational resources is critical to meet the needs of this growing population."

Dr. Bulas, who is also fellowship program director, division of diagnostic imaging and radiology, will spend her trip lecturing and teaching at local hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. She will be accompanied by Anne C. Roberts, M.D., from the University of California San Diego Thornton Hospital in La Jolla, California.

The International Visiting Professor Program was founded in 1986 and is administered by RSNA's Committee on International Relations and Education. This program is supported by Fujifilm Medical Systems.