Julian Gallardo has been locuming on and off with SFS since 2018 and always has something FUN going on! Here’s a little recap of his time volunteering as a volunteer sono in Ethiopia!
ETHIOPIA?! Interesting! How did you come to work with Rad-Aid and tell us a bit about their process…
I have a general interest in volunteer work (and travel – who doesn’t?!). In 2018, I was curious to see if I could apply my ultrasound skills to some form of volunteering and through Google, I found Rad-Aid. One ad stuck out looking for a sonographer who was willing to teach the basics of ultrasound to local Ethiopian resident radiologists. Within 2 months, I received a response asking for a zoom meeting with the project manager.
This is awkward but…what are the financial commitments for the sono?
As I was an Australian applying for an American organisation, it ended up becoming a fully self-funded trip (this includs flights, accommodation and food). The American/Canadian volunteers who were members of ASRT CAMRT or ScoR were able to have part of their expenses covered. If there is a next time, I would try my luck with my professional accrediting body. The project manager was an obstetrician in America and organised the main parts of the trip. Some of us also took medical equipment to donate, such as gloves and masks.
What was the best part?
Too many! Of course the lovely locals – they had such big hearts and were super generous in every way. Sight seeing and travellign for a week afterwards with one of the volunteers I met there was also a big highlight. Exploring Lalibela is highly recommeded! Collaborating and travellign with the other volunteers from aroudn the world.
What did you find the most challenging?
Although I was given a brief of showing the resident radiologists at the main public hospital basic ‘knobology’ e.g. ‘this is what the gain button does’, low and behold they were already expert sonologists! They knew their machines very well and were proficient in image optimisation. The questions directed at me were quite different to what I expected…”How does your TIRADs decipher which nodule to biopsy?”, “Can you show us where to find the Knot of Henry?”, “Are there kangaroos everwhere in Australia?”
Any hot tips for those interested in volunteering?
Just apply! Cast your net wide. The advantage of being a locum is that you’re quire flexible with your dates (which suit organisations like Rad-Aid) so I was able to offer my availabilities in advnace and adapt to their preferences. I volunteered for 3 weeks, plus a week holiday afterwards. The longer you say you’re available for service in your application, the higher the changes of being considered.
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