Mar. 10, 2016
I consider myself very fortunate to have been selected as a Siemens ASRT Foundation Community Outreach Fellow to work with radiographers in Luang Prabang, Laos.
When I was first selected, I was certain I wanted to be a part of this important work and give back to the profession I love. However, several obstacles arose that I was worried would prevent it. I began working to eliminate each obstacle, and slowly everything fell into place.
My dissertation, which was pending approval at the time and required that I be available to answer questions, was accepted. I thought I would miss my graduation after that, as it was scheduled for when I would be away, but then I learned I could attend graduation ceremonies in the summer instead. Work approved my leave of absence request, and I made plans to see my grandson, whose first birthday I would miss while I was in Laos, as soon as I returned home. With everything in order, and with my family’s blessing, I informed the selection committee that I could be a part of the project.
It was a great honor for me to be a part of global outreach and to be able to help provide life-changing services to an entire region. While in Laos, I worked alongside new R.T.s to assist them with patients, determine areas of additional training they needed and facilitate ways for them to learn. It was rewarding to share my more than 30 years of experience in the profession with others and help them grow in the profession. My years as an educator were useful in helping to find ways to provide additional training and build their skillset.
Working alongside the staff reaffirmed for me how important this type of work is for our profession. Although I couldn’t communicate with patients due to the language barrier, the patients and their families were similar to those I had seen throughout my career. The anxiety of the unknown and having to hold still for exams were written on their faces.
It reminded me that fear exists everywhere; no matter the language or the culture. After a few exams I began sharing different ways to ease this fear for everyone involved. One of the most effective ways I found while I was there was giving patients a Scooby-Doo sticker that said “I had an x-ray!”
Sharing ways to improve the patients’ experience, and showing the impact we have on our patients’ lives, meant a lot to me. Now that I have returned home, I plan to continue supporting the education of the staff I met in Laos. I want to help create video lessons they can use now and reference in the future. I also have encouraged them to join a professional society for resources and recommended some free online tools that will aid them.
I am so grateful to ASRT Foundation donors for making this opportunity possible. I believe that help should be given regardless of boundaries or obstacles, and you are providing that help with your support. I wholeheartedly thank the Foundation and RAD-AID International for their efforts to train medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals around the world. This training would not be available to these regions without your global community outreach projects.
I believe it is everyone’s responsibility to make the world a better place. I am grateful that the Foundation and its donors share this goal too. As a Foundation donor, you are a part of something bigger than yourself. Every donation you make in support of these important programs makes a difference in people’s lives, both at home and abroad. I hope that you understand the integral role you play in making projects like this possible and that you will continue to be a part of this great work.