Scan With Me (SWiM)

Welcome

The Scan With Me (SWiM) team is happy to welcome you to the SWiM event website! Here you will find more information about the SWiM, the program's objectives, upcoming program including schedule and how to apply to attend. You will also be able to attend the training event directly through this website.

Program Overview

SWiM (Scan With Me) is a hybrid training initiative of the Consortium for Advancement of MRI Education and Research in Africa (CAMERA). The SWiM program is designed to advance the skill sets of MR imaging technologists practicing in imaging centers in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. SWiM implements RAD-AID’s Teach-Try-Use strategy, applied in CAMERA’s SPARK AI training program, to rapidly provide MR image acquisition competences in resource-limited settings. In keeping with CAMERA’s training model, SWiM will use a combination of case-based and hands-on learning approaches to train a team of technologists who will work together as a network to grow their skills and collectively train others.

Given the relatively higher burden of cardiovascular disease in LMICs and the limited cardiac diagnostic imaging capacity in the region, coupled with the lack of postgraduate training in cardiac MRI (CMR), the first SWiM program will focus on CMR. This first program is in collaboration with the Courtis CMR Research Group at the Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Siemens Healthineers, Circle Cardiovascular imaging Inc., Accuread Radiology Nigeria LTD, and EuraCare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Nigeria and supported by the McGill University Doctoral Internship Program and Global Mobility Awards. Fifteen MR technologists from 6 imaging centers in Africa, South East Asia, and Latin America will participate in the first SWiM program and trained to acquire high quality and best value CMR including emerging advanced contrast-free techniques such as the O2-Sensitive CMR technique (BMORE) developed by Prof Matthias Friedrich at MUHC.

The pilot SWiM program will run from August 22nd to October 7th 2023 with the goal of producing a team of technologists that will work together to implement a standard CMR protocol optimized for cardiac imaging at their centers (i.e., in LMICs). The program will also introduce practical aspects of CMR imaging and guide the participants to produce a CMR case series report for dissemination of unique cases. By applying their knowledge toward imaging unique CMR cases, SWiM will produce a cohort of well trained technologists competent enough to provide high quality CMR for clinical and research applications in LMICs.

Objectives

The main objectives of the SWiM Program are to:

1. Build standard skills in MR imaging techniques.
2. Upscale and advance the MRI knowledge of technologists practicing in resource limited settings.
3. Implement standard MRI protocols and best practices adapted for optimal imaging in resource limited settings.
4. Train and retrain imaging experts who will sustainably advance the practice of MRI in LMICs.
5. Create a collaborative culture and a network of imaging experts in LMICs.

Eligibility

The program is open to technologists who:

1. can commit to completing all activities on time and actively participate in each session.
2. will be able to attend at least 90% of the training activities.
3. are registered MRI technologists practicing in a LMIC.
4. have clinical experience with MR imaging.
5. are self-motivated and team players.
6. have support from their clinical director or imaging leader/head of department.

Application Process

The application to attend the first SWiM Program is now closed. Applications closed on August 14, 2023. Please check back in Spring 2024 for opportunity to apply to the next session of the SWiM Program.