2023 Adopt-A-Resident Grantee Jacqueline Koomson
By Sam Marie Engle
Dr. Jacqueline Koomson is a passionate advocate for global women's health and understands the power of bridging health gaps through radiology. Her goal of achieving radiology equity involves providing practical experiences and resources to enhance resident training. To further stimulate interest in women's health imaging, including breast imaging, she proposed collaboration between radiology residents at Emory and 37 Military Hospital (37MH) in Accra, Ghana. Emory Radiology faculty agree it's such a good idea, they awarded her the 2023 Adopt-A-Resident grant to bring her idea to fruition.
The first-year diagonostic radiology resident, who hails from Ghana, is thrilled. "Thank you for the opportunity to bring to life one of my dream projects. I am inspired by the potential of this project's impact on women's health in Accra, Ghana, and delighted to help fulfill the mission of the Adopt-A-Resident Grant."
Dr. Koomson plans to create a women's health imaging elective in which Emory's senior diagnostic radiology residents and faculty will provide advanced training in the use of ultrasound, CT, and mammography imaging to detect and diagnose health issues affecting women in Ghana. In particular, she says, "Emory and 37MH residents will use hands-on ultrasound techniques to evaluate and manage gynecological, genitourinary, and breast concerns, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding from fibroids and hydronephrosis from cervical cancer." Such practical experiences will enhance training for both 37MH and Emory's radiology residents. The goal, she says, "Is to broaden the expertise of radiology residents at 37MH, stimulate early interest in women's imaging, and expand the diversity of cases seen by Emory residents."
The first-year diagonostic radiology resident, who hails from Ghana, is thrilled. "Thank you for the opportunity to bring to life one of my dream projects. I am inspired by the potential of this project's impact on women's health in Accra, Ghana, and delighted to help fulfill the mission of the Adopt-A-Resident Grant."
Dr. Koomson plans to create a women's health imaging elective in which Emory's senior diagnostic radiology residents and faculty will provide advanced training in the use of ultrasound, CT, and mammography imaging to detect and diagnose health issues affecting women in Ghana. In particular, she says, "Emory and 37MH residents will use hands-on ultrasound techniques to evaluate and manage gynecological, genitourinary, and breast concerns, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding from fibroids and hydronephrosis from cervical cancer." Such practical experiences will enhance training for both 37MH and Emory's radiology residents. The goal, she says, "Is to broaden the expertise of radiology residents at 37MH, stimulate early interest in women's imaging, and expand the diversity of cases seen by Emory residents."
Dignostic radiology residents Dr. Jacqueline Koomson (left) and Dr. Fiza Khan presented
about Emory Radiology's Global Health Track curriculum at the 2022 RAD-AID Conference in Washington, DC.
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The project leverages relationships Dr. Koomson established with 37MH in Accra while in medical school at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. When she developed an interest in radiology, Dr. Koomson joined RAD-AID, which led her to complete a readiness assessment for the Department of Radiology at 37MH during her fourth year of medical school. It was then she realized their need for resident-level training in women's health-related imaging.
Once she arrived at Emory, Dr. Koomson joined the Global Health Track, one of six tracks residents can pursue to enrich their clinical training. The elective Dr. Koomson plans to create fits right into the track, says Hernan Bello, MD, assistant professor and co-director of the Global Health Track. "The project has the potential to expand Emory Radiology's global footprint, as well as bring even more opportunities for our residents to engage in and learn from a sustaininable collaboration between our department and 37MH in Accra." |
Global Health Track Co-Director Jay Shah, MD, assistant professor, agrees. "It is exciting to see our early Global Health Track residents earning opportunities to cement collaborative relationships with partner hospitals around the world."
Dr. Koomson is both grateful and ready to get to work. "Thank you all so much. I'm excited to begin project planning!"
Dr. Koomson is both grateful and ready to get to work. "Thank you all so much. I'm excited to begin project planning!"