Maintaining and Advancing Radiation Therapy at Aga Khan University Hospital
Posted on Thursday, 25 June 2015
Volunteer Name: Almina Banu Momin
Location: Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan
Task: Coordinated the overall training program, conducted lectures and labs, planned and supervised clinical rotations, and evaluated competencies of students.
Impact Made:
- Worked with the Radiation Oncology Department in maintaining its existing radiation therapy international standards and adding additional standards
- Started a Continuing Education Program for the staff which enabled them to maintain their licenses through credits and lectures
FULL STORY
Almina was selected as a TKN Volunteer for the Department of Radiation Oncology at AKUH. She relocated to Karachi in August 2010, with her spouse, for 15 months.
The training program was designed to have a didactic as well as a clinical component. Didactic studies were conducted by staff and included courses such as patient care, oncology, physics, methodology, radiobiology, and anatomy and physiology. In the clinical segment, the students completed clinical competencies in all aspects of radiation therapy, such as simulation, treatment delivery and patient care. This combination of didactic and clinical studies gave the students an opportunity to practice the skills they had acquired.
Almina coordinated the overall program, conducted lectures and labs, planned and supervised clinical rotations, and evaluated competencies of the students. She ensured that the Radiation Therapy training program maintained its international standards and that it also developed additional standards to diversify and grow the program.
Almina also started a Continuing Education Program for the staff, where assigned readings were given for Continuing Education (CE) credits. This not only enhanced the knowledge of the radiation therapy technologists, but also helped them understand how international programs maintain their licenses with CE credits and lectures.
During her time at AKU, Almina provided invaluable expertise to the students and staff, strengthened the radiation therapy training program, and also built the capacity of the radiation therapy technologists to ensure that the program continues for the long term. With shortage of staff and expertise in the field of radiation therapy, continuity of a training program that meets international standards is essential for the future of the department. The entire team highly appreciated the significant contribution Almina made to the radiation therapy department at AKUH through her exceptional TKN volunteer service.