For nearly a decade, a dedicated team from the UAB Department of Radiology has been making a meaningful global impact by providing remote CT interpretation and mentorship to hospitals in resource-limited regions of Africa. Through ongoing partnerships with Mbingo Baptist Hospital in Cameroon and Soddo Christian Hospital in Ethiopia, our team delivers high-quality subspecialty imaging support that helps bridge critical gaps in access to radiologic care.
The team’s primary role involves daily review and interpretation of CT scans from both hospitals, ensuring patients receive timely and accurate diagnostic imaging despite the limited availability of radiologists in these regions.
The team consists of radiologists who span across multiple sections, including Jordan Perchik, M.D., assistant professor in abdominal imaging, Matthew Larrison, M.D., professor in musculoskeletal imaging, Kevin Junck, Ph.D., professor in imaging informatics, and Desmin Milner, M.D., associate professor in neuroradiology.
“These programs have been operational in some form for about 10 years,” said Matthew Larrison, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Radiology. “Our participation includes a daily scan that needs to be read every day”.
In addition to clinical interpretation, the group has played a key educational role, most notably through five years of sustained mentoring of young radiologists in Cameroon. This mentorship has contributed to measurable professional growth and increased local expertise.
“Over the years, we have seen very interesting and challenging cases, provided valuable insight for specific patients, and have seen professional growth in young radiologists in Cameroon,” Larrison said.
The team has also remotely supervised CT-guided biopsies at Mbingo Baptist Hospital, expanding the scope of advanced imaging services available on-site.
These efforts address a significant unmet need. Both Cameroon and Ethiopia face severe shortages of radiologists, and the communities served by Mbingo and Soddo hospitals are largely resource-poor. By providing consistent, high-quality CT interpretation, the UAB Radiology team supports clinicians on the ground and improves diagnostic confidence for complex and challenging cases.
“The experience has been both personally rewarding and professionally fulfilling,” said Larrison, reinforcing the value of global collaboration and service through radiology.