Kilimanjaro School of Radiology

Programs – Kilimanjaro School of Radiology

Assistant Medical Officers (AMO)

2-year program

10 student capacity

One primary goal of EAMAF has been to develop local talent so that they could take over from expatriate doctors and to develop an ongoing succession of radiologists.  The effort began in 1996 with the establishment of the school and a program for AMO students. AMOs have two years of medical training and are often the primary physician at local hospitals and dispensaries.  While their facilities often posses x-ray equipment, they lacked the training to fully utilize their assets.

The curriculum, the first of its kind, was set up to be a two-year program, with room for up to 8 new students per year.  The program quickly gained momentum and there was a waiting list of students within a couple of years.  To date the school has graduated over 120 AMO students.

EAMAF built a hostel for the students near the hospital, so that they would have a place to live and study while away from their main hospital.  In addition to living quarters, the hostel provides a library and a lecture room.

Radiologists

4-year program

10 student capacity

Two years after the AMO program Dr, Diefenthal expanded the school to include a four-year program to train radiologists.  This program was designed for doctors that wished to expand their training with a radiology specialty.

This program has also been very successful, three of the four radiologists currently at KCMC are graduates of the school, and the fourth attended the medical school at KCMC.

Going forward, the school and EAMAF will look for radiologists interested in traveling to Moshi for a minimum of one-one to provide lectures and training to the students.

Clinical Officers (CO)

3-year program

20 student capacity

Tanzania also has a group of medical professionals called COs, that have one-year of medical training.  Like the AMOs, they are often the only medically trained person in a rural clinic.  KCMC wishes to expand the curriculum to provide training for COs and well, this program is under development at this time.

Ultrasound Training

9 to 12-month program

20 student capacity

While x-rays are very useful in many diagnostic efforts, they are less effective with soft tissue diagnosis.  In addition, their benefits for prenatal care are well documented.  Since ultrasound machines have become readily available in Tanzania, KCMC has added a course to provide the appropriate training in the use of this equipment.

Until recently the program was a 3-month short course.  KCMC, in conjunction with Rad-Aid, is in the process of upgrading the program to a 9 to 12 month effort.

Ultrasound Machines

While many of the clinics possess basic radiology equipment, it is often outdated or in need of repair.  While it is beyond the reach of EAMAF to provide x-ray equipment, ultrasound units provide a great diagnostic resource to the trained clinician.  To date EAMAF has donated over 70 ultrasound machines that have been distributed throughout Tanzania.

The goal is to provide the home hospital of each student with an ultrasound machine.  We are also looking at the newer app based units that are less expensive and easier to deploy.