Hi everyone, my name is John. I am a London-based medical doctor who specialises in Paediatric Radiology, which is the specialty of diagnosing illness in children using medical imaging.

I intend to travel to Blantyre, Malawi for two weeks in September/October 2018, where I will be based at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH). The main aim of this project is to facilitate training and education of local doctors in the use and interpretation of x-ray and ultrasound scans to diagnose and treat patients.

Specifically, I will train a group of paediatric (children's) doctors how to use ultrasound to diagnose common chest disease by the bedside of the sickest patients. Empowering paediatricians with this skill is especially important at QECH due to the current limited availability of portable x-rays, and the logistical challenge of a relatively long distance between the paediatric wards and the radiology department. Additionally, the limited access to portable oxygen support for unstable patients, makes it impossible to transport these very sick patients to the radiology department for x-rays/ultrasounds. Teaching 'bedside' chest ultrasound will provide local doctors with a quick and safe alternative to diagnosing common chest pathology through a technique that is quickly learned with the right training.

I also aim to raise funds to purchase an x-ray digitiser for the hospital. In the UK, all x-rays are taken in a digital format. This allows multiple people to view the x-ray simultaneously, and also for the image quality to be modified to aid diagnosis. This hospital in Malawi only uses old-style x-rays (the type that you have to physically hold up to the light to see). As it stands currently, classes of up to 50 medical students AND doctors at any one time gather in one large teaching room for x-ray teaching. This is far from ideal, as it is almost impossible to see the subtle findings when you are far away from the image. Converting these x-rays into a digital format using an x-ray digitiser will significantly enhance delivery of the training of radiologists, other doctors and medical students in image interpretation, and hopefully improve the standard of care.

I will also assist with the local team with reporting x-rays and MRI scans, and perform ultrasound scans as requested by the paediatric medical and surgical teams. Having trained at large, London based teaching hospitals, I am keen to use my specialist skills and experience to help my colleagues at QECH to diagnose and treat patients.

I will be working alongside a UK based Consultant Paediatric Radiologist, who is currently out there working on projects and implementing change. On a personal level, I see outreach work as a key part of my on-going practice as a doctor, and an expression of my Christian faith.

Video courtesy of Mark Jones.

To raise funds for the trip, I am running the Hackney Half Marathon on 20th May 2018. Training is going well so far... sort of. I just need to stop eating cakes! Would be great to see a few of you at the finishing line!

Please consider sponsoring me for the run. I need as much help as I can to fund this important and necessary work. It would be great if you could please share this page too :)

Thank you in advance for your support.

John