Global Outreach

MRI machine friendly doctor

We aim to offer educational medical imaging resources to developing and underserved areas of the world, while serving as a hub for exchanging information about outreach opportunities and maintaining partnerships with other global health organizations, sharing resources and facilitating on-site projects where appropriate.

Terms of Reference

Mission

Technology and the internet have made our world smaller. News is shared within seconds, and disasters impacting human health, frequently unknown in the past, have become an everyday reality.  Due to technological advances, the global medical community is consistently growing, and the need for global cooperation is urgent.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Radiology strives to strengthen the global medical community by providing training and improving access to Diagnostic Imaging. While UBC has an established role of bringing in radiologists across the globe for fellowship training, there is a growing need for outreach initiatives in the low-resource communities both domestically and internationally.

Goals

Collaboration

  • Create a hub for exchange of outreach experiences and opportunities among UBC radiologists, trainees and supporting personnel
  • Seek and maintain collaboration with other Radiology outreach programs in Canada
  • Maintain collaboration with medical and Radiology global health organizations, such as Medicine sans Frontiers (MSF), RAD AID, Radiology across Borders (RAB), etc.
  • Establish and maintain a collaborative relationship with clinical outreach programs within UBC Faculty of Medicine.

Education

  • Provide lectures and other education resources in medical imaging to radiologists and technologists in the low-resource communities in Canada and internationally
  • Participate in conferences aimed to improve global health
  • Involve and foster passion for teaching in medical students, residents and fellows.

On-site projects

  • Seek and share opportunities for the on-site domestic and international Radiology projects, including diagnostic/skills workshops and clinical work.
  • Navigate funding options and grants for participation in the on-site projects.
Committee Members
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Faculty Members

Dr-Tanya-Martin

Dr. Tanya (Tetyana) Martin, Director

Dr. Martin is a radiologist at BC Cancer Vancouver with fellowship training in Breast Imaging and ER/Trauma. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the UBC department of Radiology and a breast imaging education lead at BC Cancer Vancouver. Dr Martin has been collaborating with Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF), Radiology Across Borders (RAB) and Blue Heron Foundation, and is thrilled to be part of the growing radiology community with interest in global health.

Dr. R. Petter Tonseth

Dr. Tonseth is a Radiologist and Nuclear Medicine physician who currently has a full time appointment in the Functional Imaging Department at BC Cancer.

Global medicine has been a long-standing interest and he has had the opportunity to teach in South Africa, Kenya, the Philippines, Vietnam and Fiji.

In collaboration with Radiology Across Borders (RAB), he has been involved in the development of the International Certificate in Radiology Fundamentals and has recently been appointed as a Director on the Board of RAB.

Corree Laule

Dr. Corree Laule

Dr. Laule is an MR physicist, a Professor in the Departments of Radiology and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Vice-Chair of Research in Radiology, Director of the UBC MRI Research Centre, and an Associate Director of the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) at the University of British Columbia. She is also an associate member of the Department of Physics & Astronomy, where she is actively involved in the Medical Physics program. Dr. Laule heads an interdisciplinary research program in multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury spanning technical innovations to clinical translation. Her research on human brain and spinal cord MRI and histology is funded by NSERC, the MS Society of Canada, the Craig Nielsen Foundation and ICORD. With an h-index of 45, 110 publications and 300+ conference presentations, she has been cited more than 7500 times. She is an elected Senior Fellow of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and serves on many UBC and international committees each year, including the Radiology Awards Committee (co-chair) and the Radiology EDI committee. Dr. Laule is passionate about science communication and leads initiatives to increase diversity in Science-Technology-Engineering-Math including the ICORD seed2STEM summer research program for Indigenous youth.

Bruce Forster

Dr. Bruce Forster

Dr. Bruce Forster is Professor at the University of British Columbia, Department of Radiology, recently finishing his 11.5 year term as Dept Head on Dec 31, 2021. Previously he was Director of Diagnostic Imaging for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics/Paralympics Games and is currently the lead Radiologist for the International Olympic Commission Medical and Scientific Games Group. As an Associate Member of the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, he has been involved in the clinical, education, and research aspects of sports imaging for 25 years, and is Associate Editor of the “British Journal of Sports Medicine” and Senior Deputy Editor of the Journal of the Canadian Association of Radiologists. Dr. Forster has delivered over 500 invited lectures, many internationally, and has served as a Visiting Professor in Canada, the United States, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Russia and the Middle East. He is the author of over 175 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and 140 educational exhibits, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Radiologists and as President of the Canadian Radiologic Foundation, and is currently a UBC Senator. He has led outreach work in UBC Radiology, and serves on the Executive Steering Committee for the International Certificate for Radiology Fundamentals with Radiologists Across Borders. In 2019, Dr. Forster was awarded the Gold Medal of the Canadian Association of Radiologists, and in 2022, the Haughton Medal from the Faculty of Radiologists in Ireland, to which he was elected an Honorary Member. He will be serving as Head of Medical Imaging for the upcoming Invictus Games 2025 in Whistler/Vancouver.

Siu, William

Dr. William W.Y. Siu

Dr. William Siu is a Staff Radiologist at Royal Columbian and Eagle Ridge Hospitals and at a community imaging clinic in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia.

William received his Medical Degree from the University of British Columbia. He completed an internship year at Royal Columbian Hospital, then performed his Radiology Residency at UBC. After his residency training, he obtained fellowship training in Neuroradiology at Vancouver General Hospital.

In his current practice, William is active in a variety of imaging modalities, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, mammography, fluoroscopy and radiography. In addition, he provides subspecialty services in Neuroradiology and Interventional Radiology. He is a Clinical Associate Professor with UBC and is active in teaching and research with University of British Columbia, University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University.

William has keen interests in participating in global outreach activities. He has been involved with the UBC International Outreach program since 2017. In 2019, as a representative of the UBC International Outreach program and in collaboration with Radiology Across Borders, William and Dr. Pete Tonseth visited Hanoi University. William delivered several lectures on Interventional Oncology to the Hanoi faculty and reviewed clinical cases with the Hanoi Radiology residents.

William has continued communications with Radiology Across Borders and is scheduled to make a presentation on Acute Stroke Imaging in 2023 as part of the RAB program. He is seeking future global outreach opportunities and is open to providing lectures, in-class teaching, hands-on demonstrations, clinical services in the field of diagnostic and interventional radiology.

Resident Members

Dr. Dennis Dimond, UBC

Dr. Dimond is a radiology resident at the University of British Columbia with an interest in education, international collaboration, and global outreach. He has been involved in RGOP since 2023, serving as one of the inaugural members of the Resident Committee. Dr. Dimond was one of the first residents to present at an RGOP outreach symposia, and additionally lectures for the Radiologists Across Borders (RAB) International Certificate in Radiology Fundamentals. Prior to residency, Dr. Dimond completed a BSc in neuroscience at the University of Alberta, followed by an MD/PhD at the University of Calgary, where he researched white matter changes in neurologic conditions and pediatric brain development. As part of his PhD he also completed a research internship at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience in Melbourne, Australia, studying diffusion MRI tractography. Dr. Dimond has published several research articles within the field of neuroimaging, in addition to serving on various electoral committees supporting international training, research engagement, and peer mentorship. 

Dr. Pierre Boerkoel, UBC

Dr. Boerkoel spent his elementary and middle school years in Houston, Texas. He moved to Vancouver during high school and remained on the west coast where he attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a focus on biology and computer science. Dr. Boerkoel obtained his medical degree from UBC where he is now a radiology resident. He has an interest in global health and, as part of the RGOP, had the opportunity to present at the pacific symposium in Fiji. He looks forward to continuing his work with the RGOP and fostering an interest in global health among both current and future residents.

Dr. Navjit Singh, UBC

Dr. Singh was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in General Science at the University of Manitoba in 2019. She then went on to complete her medical degree at the Max Rady College of Medicine, graduating in 2023. Currently, she is a diagnostic radiology resident at the University of British Columbia (UBC), set to graduate in 2028.

Dr. Singh has always been passionate about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). In medical school, she was elected as the Manitoba Medical Students’ Association’s inaugural EDI representative. In this role, she worked to tackle disparities in EDI within the medical curriculum and institution. She created working groups to identify and address these disparities. She also implemented new policies for change, such as an Accessibility Policy and a Social Identities Primer to facilitate a more inclusive learning environment.

During her time thus far at UBC, Dr. Singh has been involved as a Program Coordinator for the Mentorship in Radiology (MI-RADs) program as well as an active member of the Department of Radiology’s Mentorship Committee. She is motivated to increase engagement in mentorship while highlighting the importance of having mentor-mentee relationships that reflect individuals’ diverse backgrounds and needs. As a member of the RGOP, Dr. Singh is excited to continue her work in EDI by addressing the needs and disparities that exist within the field of radiology on a global scale.

Dr. Siobhan Leir, UBC

Dr Leir is a radiology resident at the University of British Columbia. Born in North Vancouver but raised in South-East England, Dr Leir returned to Canada to complete her BSc degree in Microbiology at the University of Victoria before heading back across the pond to pursue a MSc degree in the Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), completing her thesis in Singapore on carbapenem resistance. Through subsequent work as a researcher at LSHTM, and later as an epidemiologist with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Dr Leir has worked extensively in the global public health field. Past projects have primarily focused on infectious disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and control, and health system strengthening. She is excited to continue volunteering and working within the global health field as it applies to Radiology through the RGOP.

Dr. Bryan Ng, UBC

Dr. Ng is a radiology resident who grew up in Calgary prior to moving to Vancouver to complete a degree in Pharmacy and Medicine. He helped set up a research project investigating the mental health strength and challenges of Bhutanese youth with the Global Health Initiative during his medical training. His interest in Global Health grew with the project as he became fascinated by the unique combination of intensive collaboration and cultural humility that was required of all stakeholders. He hopes to share his passion through RGOP to address the disparities in care that exist both globally and locally.

Dr. Tania Saha, UBC

Dr. Tania Saha is a radiology resident at the University of British Columbia with a strong commitment to advancing global health through radiology. Born in Kolkata, India, and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Hamilton, Ontario, her diverse upbringing has deeply influenced her perspective on healthcare equity. Tania’s passion for global health was ignited during her Master of Public Health degree, where she studied the complexities of healthcare systems across different regions. Her work has focused on leveraging large-scale data and innovative technologies to improve health outcomes and address disparities both locally and globally. Through her involvement with RGOP, she aims to share her expertise and collaborate with others to drive meaningful advancements in radiology on a global scale.

Dr. AnDrew Robart, MUN

Dr. Drew is a second year radiology resident at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, and he has served as a member of the RGOP resident committee since early 2024. Prior to medicine, Dr. Robart completed a BScME in Biomedical Mechanical Engineering at the University of New Brunswick, where he led a team designing an affordable myoelectrically controlled pediatric prosthetic hand at the Biomedical Institute and Atlantic Upper Limb Prosthetic Clinic. Their design went on to win the Canadian Engineering Competition for most Innovative Design, and is being used by pediatric patients with congenital limb loss today. Drew has demonstrated a passion for radiology, global health, sustainable knowledge translation, and he’s looking forward to continuing their works with RGOP in the upcoming years.

Dr. Joshua Ward, MUN

Dr. Daniel Pearce, MUN

Dr. Pearce is a radiology resident originally from rural Newfoundland. He completed a bachelor’s degree in nursing at MUN, thereafter working for a short time as an emergency nurse, before obtaining his medical degree from MUN where he is now a radiology resident. He has maintained diverse healthcare-related interests around teaching/mentoring as well as indigenous health. He looks forward to continuing to explore these interests in working with the RGOP.

Dr.Jade Roberts, MUN

Dr. Roberts is a radiology resident originally from rural Newfoundland. She completed a bachelor of Nursing at MUN and worked as a pediatric nurse for a short time before returning to complete medical school at MUN. She matched to radiology and is now a resident in Newfoundland. She has been involved with multiple wellness initiatives within the radiology program locally and nationally, as well as mentoring programs, She is interested in global health and addressing disparities in health care. She is looking forward to the opportunity to work with RGOP to be more broadly involved with the global health field. 

Dr. Christina Major, MUN

Collaborations & Opportunities
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Get Involved

If you are interested in volunteering or collaborating as a new outreach partner, please fill out the following application form 

If you have any questions for the Radiology Global Outreach Program (RGOP) or want to discuss an idea for a future project or need in your community, please email us at  rad.global.outreach@gmail.com.

We are excited to announce that we will be joining several social media platforms soon to keep you updated on our work!

Opportunities

  • RAB/UBC International Certificate in Radiology Fundamentals
    The International Certificate in Radiology Fundamental (ICRF) is a comprehensive online program developed jointly by Radiology Across Borders (RAB) and the University of British Columbia (UBC). The course aims to provide healthcare professionals in emerging countries access to high quality and affordable education on the fundamentals of radiology practice. The ICRF is successfully accredited by UBC CPD (Continued Professional Development) as of 2025.
  • RAD Academy – e-Institute for CPD
    RAD Academy offers access to Royal College accredited programs, courses, and educational content to those who are a member of the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR). Individuals can receive CME (Continued Medical Education) credits through these materials.
  • UBC Branch of Global Surgical Care
    The Branch for Global Surgical Care (BGSC) at UBC offers Graduate level programs as well as a Master’s Degree designed to equip surgical care professionals from many disciplines with the knowledge and skills they need to incorporate international surgical care into their practice and allow them to contribute to solutions in low-resource settings globally. They also offer an elective opportunity for undergraduate medical students.

Collaborators

MSF logo

MSF Radiology organizes and provides diagnostic imaging services and on the job training according to MSF policies and international standards to improve global health care in collaboration with local communities.

Canadian Radiologists can get involved with the MSF Canada Telemedicine Program.

RWB logo

Radiologists Without Borders is a volunteer, non-profit organization based in the USA., focusing on work with communities in underdeveloped countries to improve health and livelihood by supplying diagnostic imaging equipment, services, training, and support.

RAB logo

Radiology Across Borders is a global charity organization based in Australia with a focus on teaching key clinical skills to radiologists, doctors, and imaging staff around the world. Extensive lists of past and current projects can be found on their website. They have a strong collaborative relationship with UBC Radiology.

Projects
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Ongoing Projects

Timor-Leste

This is a joint outreach project between RAB, Maluk Timor, and the RGOP, being coordinated by Dr. Lois Hong-Rajaraman, a family physician in Timor-Leste. Currently, our goal is to create resources and lectures on the imaging of tuberculosis (TB) as this is a significant health issue, with Timor-Leste having the second highest rate of TB in Asia. Additionally, the RGOP is providing assistance with image interpretation through a resident-lead call coverage model. Moving forward, we plan to provide support and resources regarding obstetrical ultrasound, obstetrical emergencies, point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency room, and imaging of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). We hope to have in-person educational seminars in the near future!

Pacific Symposium

The Pacific Symposium, held annually in Fiji, is a joint venture between UBC RGOP and Radiology Across Borders (RAB), in collaboration with our Fijian radiology colleagues. The event brings together clinicians, radiologists, technologists, and trainees for interactive medical imaging lectures and hands-on workshops held over multiple days.

Past Events

UBC Radiology Grand Rounds, January 29, 2025

Drs. Dennis Dimond, Pierre Boerkoel, and Kieran Lacey presented on global outreach in radiology, RGOP, and their recent experiences lecturing at the Jakarta 2023 and Fiji 2024 Symposia.

Pacific Symposia, 2024

The 2024 Pacific Symposia was hosted at the Fiji National University, Pasifika Campus, in Suva, from October 28th-29th. It was the first meeting to welcome attendees from more remote islands, as well as UBC resident presenters (Drs. Pierre Boerkoel and Dennis Dimond), who were able to attend with generous support from the UBC Radiology Residency Program.

RAB/UBC/MUN Jakarta site visit, 2023

The visit was led by Dr. Bruce Forster from UBC and Dr. Salman Ansari from Sydney, Australia. For the first time, a Radiology Resident who had done extensive prior work with RAB, Dr. Kieran Lacey, attended and gave excellent lectures.  He also co-ordinated an extensive evaluation system.

This was a two-day event, attended by over 150 radiologists from all over Indonesia. The program included lectures, hands-on ultrasound sessions, and interactive cases, providing educational material and skills on an MSK (musculoskeletal) radiology practice.

Pacific Symposium, Fiji 2023

During the inaugural event in 2023, over 25 medical experts from Fiji and other Pacific Island Nations participated in the two-day event, which included lectures and ultrasound workshops.

RAB/UBC Vietnam site visit, 2019

The symposium was led by Drs. Tanya Martin and Pete Tonseth from UBC, as well as Dr. Greg Briggs, Dr. Nick Trost, and sonographer Jackie Spurway from Australia. The symposium provided a comprehensive overview of radiology in an interactive format.

The visit took place in September 2019, in Hanoi and was conducted by Dr. Siu and Dr. Tonseth as a collaboration between Radiology Across Borders (RAB) and UBC Radiology.

RAB/UBC Cambodia site visit, 2019

The visit was conducted by Dr. Bruce Forster and Dr. Salman Ansari from Sydney, Australia as a collaboration between Radiology Across Borders (RAB) and UBC Radiology. The visit involved a two day course in Phnom Penh with approximately 60 Radiologists attending. The course included lectures and hands-on ultrasound education.

Upcoming Events

Pacific Symposium, 2025

Plans for the annual Pacific Symposium in Fiji are underway! The event will take place in October 2025.

Resources
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Content coming soon