LMIC Radiology Free Webinar Series Achieves Broad Impact, Helping Connect Professionals Worldwide
What started as a partnership between the Stanford Medicine Department of Radiology and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) has grown into a global hub for virtual radiology education and connection.
The Low- and Middle- Income Country (LMIC) Radiology Free Webinar Series is co-led by Brittany Dashevsky, MD, DPhil, Clinical Associate Professor (Breast Imaging) from Stanford Radiology, and Professor Ifeoma Okoye, MBBS, FWACS, FMCR, Emeritus Professor of Radiation Medicine, from UNTH.
It was created to support radiology professionals with accessible, high-quality training that reflects clinical needs, with specific considerations for resource-limited settings.
Running from January through September 2025, the lecture series is primarily led by faculty from Stanford Radiology, with one faculty lecturing on their specific area of expertise per month. All topics were specifically requested by UNTH based on needs and interests with additional presentations enhancing the interdisciplinary scope of the entire series. Notable sessions include a presentation on CT and MRI of the brain by Bryan Lanzman, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology, an overview of arterial interventions and percutaneous ablation by Andrew Kesselman, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Radiology and a lecture on thoracic malignancy by David Lewis Levin, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor of Radiology. Some guest lecturers from other Stanford University departments were also included, including a talk on Rapid Ultrasound for Shock and Hypotension (RUSHED Exam) by Patrick Lanter, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine. An upcoming presentation on September 29, 2025, will focus on Artificial Intelligence Applications in Radiology by Christoph Sadee from the Stanford University Center for Biomedical Informatics Research.
Creating a Global Community and Making a Tangible Impact
The goal of this lecture series is to address critical gaps in radiology education for professionals in low- and middle-income countries. Radiology providers in these settings often face significant challenges, including limited access to trained specialists, inadequate resources, and underrepresentation in global academic literature. Additionally, there is a lack of clarity regarding how regional differences in educational needs influence the effectiveness of continuing medical education (CME).
“Participants are very engaged with each talk, with Q&A’s often extending 30 minutes beyond the scheduled lecture time. Join a webinar for the lecture, or for the Q&A that follows. I think this is a great platform for connecting with others internationally.
-Brittany Dashevsky
“The LMICs Webinar Series has not only enhanced our immediate practice but also laid the foundation for long-term improvements in radiology across Nigeria. By learning to optimize the clinical potentialities of our limited modalities, we’re better equipped to advocate for resource allocation and training programs.
-Ifeoma Okoye
The organizing committee gathers data through surveys to evaluate the educational impact of the lecture series and to identify specific learning needs and challenges faced by radiology professionals in low-resource settings. By collecting data through pre- and post-lecture surveys, this series helps generate insights into the specific educational needs of radiology professionals in Africa. The findings can then inform the development of future CME initiatives tailored to regional contexts, contributing to a broader understanding of how virtual CME can support the professional development of healthcare providers in LMICs.
What makes this series stand out is its interactivity. So far, the series has welcomed over 1,500 participants from 46+ countries, with live Q&As that often run beyond the scheduled hour. This level of engagement reflects the series' ability to create meaningful connections and foster collaborative learning internationally.
The series has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with participants sharing that the lectures have improved their clinical knowledge and skills, even revealing new ways to use existing resources or minor adjustments that can allow radiologists to detect subtle findings. The content has not only allowed the participants to gain insights that can be applied to daily practice but also has boosted confidence and led to shifts in resource optimization. One participant remarked:
“[The] series has shifted our perspective on how to fully leverage the potential of our existing imaging modalities. The Stanford [Radiology] team’s focus on tailoring protocols to LMIC contexts has taught us to think creatively about our equipment’s capabilities. For example, I’ve started implementing streamlined MRI sequences learned in the webinars, which has reduced scan times and allowed us to serve more patients daily, addressing the high demand in our population.
An Effort of Collaboration and Support
The development of this lecture series has been supported in part by a CME and Professional Development (CPD) Research Scholarship awarded by Stanford University and the Society of Academic Continuing Medical Education (SACME), with additional support from UNTH. Each session is accredited by the Nigerian Medical Association and the American Medical Association, and attendees can earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
Key contributions to the organization and ongoing success of the series have come from members of the organizing committee, including Brittany Dashevsky, Christoph Sadee, and David Lewis Levin from Stanford University, as well as Ifeoma Okoye, Tobenna Onyemeh, Nneka Iloanusi, and Amaka Nnamani from UNTH.
Future Lectures
The next session will be June 30, 2025, from 9:00 – 10:00 AM PST (5:00 – 6:00 PM WAT) with Dr. Erika Rubesova lecturing on pediatric renal ultrasound (flyer linked here). The monthly cadence will continue through September with upcoming sessions on head and neck emergencies, contrast-enhanced mammography, and AI application in radiology. To attend any of the upcoming lectures, register here.
The full schedule can be found here: https://stanfordmedicine.app.box.com/file/1751506686334?s=198xyvma9thre958h8bt5sipjq7b2s3b