The new year presented an unexpected opportunity for Joseph Whitton, a clinical assistant professor and program director of Radiologic Technology/MRI at Stony Brook University. On New Year's Eve, Whitton received a call from the team leader of a RAD-AID International mission to Cape Verde, Africa, inviting him to join their team with just two weeks' notice.
Whitton immediately accepted the invitation. As a faculty member in radiologic technology, he recognized the urgent need for medical imaging in underserved communities. Radiology services such as X-ray, CT, ultrasound, and MRI are vital components of modern healthcare; however, more than half of the global population lacks access to these essential services. The absence of proper imaging complicates diagnosing and treating conditions like cancer, heart disease, infections, trauma, and maternal-infant complications.
RAD-AID is a nonprofit organization focused on expanding radiology services in low-resource areas by providing education, equipment, infrastructure, and long-term support. In 2024 alone, RAD-AID deployed 210 volunteers to over 20 countries to bring life-saving imaging technology and training to regions in need.
Cape Verde is an archipelago off the coast of West Africa facing a significant shortage of trained radiographers and limited access to modern imaging equipment. The mission aimed to equip local students with the knowledge and skills necessary for safe and effective radiographic imaging services.
Despite challenges faced during the mission, Whitton was inspired by the dedication of the students. "We found that their greatest resource was their people," he said. "These students were very eager to learn and so dedicated to becoming competent in performing general X-ray procedures that it was truly inspiring to me as an educator."
For Whitton, empowering individuals to strengthen their healthcare system was rewarding. He noted that ensuring shared knowledge would continue benefiting communities after volunteers left was crucial. "It gave me a profound sense of joy to help people develop the skills needed so that they could, in turn, provide improved essential healthcare to the people of their own community," he shared.
— Beth Squire