International Collaborations
Global Public Health, Radiology, and Health Equity
Global health includes issues that transcend national boundaries, like cancer, and that require worldwide, multidisciplinary cooperation — so our partnerships have a Local to Global approach. We have active health equity programs in North Carolina and with international collaborators. As part of the rich, longstanding tradition of UNC community engagement and service, our efforts align with the vision of UNC Health and promote the university’s aims within the Carolina Next strategic plan.
Our Approach
The aim of our international partnerships is to increase access to medical imaging globally – while supporting local economies with an emphasis on sustainability. We achieve this goal by creating and facilitating educational interventions and collaborations with local healthcare professionals. Our partnerships in Africa and Latin America are bilateral exchanges in which all colleagues benefit from educational discourse.
Our Collaborations and Impact
UNC Global Radiology is a hub for global diagnostic and interventional radiology education.
In Kenya, we helped establish the nation’s first IR fellowship at the University of Nairobi and organize an annual international interventional radiology conference.
In Malawi, our diagnostic and interventional radiologists are providing imaging education to local radiology professionals and medical officers at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH). This includes structured curriculum, both in person and remote, focused on pediatric, abdominal and breast imaging with an emphasis on building in-country capacity. Our research partnerships with clinicians at KCH and UNC include evaluating the role of imaging in the global health setting, such as cancer staging, trauma outcomes and breast interventions.
All of our international collaborations are supported by bilateral case conferences, resident and staff participation, and image sharing for consultation.
