Newswise — Reston, VA — The American College of Radiology Foundation (ACRF) contributed $10,000 to RAD-AID International to improve radiological care in Nepal. Two devastating earthquakes struck that country in spring 2015, resulting in the deaths of about 9,000 individuals, the displacement of hundreds of thousands and the destruction of homes and infrastructure affecting 2 million people.

“The ACRF Emergency Relief Fund was established to provide direct, urgent support to those facing natural or man-made disasters. We understood the human dimensions of the catastrophe in Nepal and wanted to help the country’s efforts to rebuild and advance its imaging resources,” said Howard B. Fleishon, MD, MMM, FACR, chair of the ACR Foundation Executive Committee.

The ACR will be collaborating on this project with RAD-AID, which improves and optimizes access to medical imaging and radiology in poor and developing regions of the world. The College’s contribution will facilitate the reconstruction and improvement of Nepal’s radiology infrastructure. Specifically, it will provide assistance in creating a radiology fellowship program at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, to become the first specialty fellowship program in the country. In addition, the donation will support radiation safety improvements via training, assessment and protocol revisions and provide training to Nepalese faculty, staff, residents and fellows on picture archiving and communication system (PACS) technologies.

The ACRF Emergency Relief Fund supports training, supplies and equipment for physicians, radiologic technologists and ultrasonographers in basic radiology and ultrasound services in disaster locations. For more information about the ACRF or to discuss ways to contribute, please email Anne Hummer, senior director of corporate relations, or phone 703-476-7655.

About the American College of Radiology FoundationThe mission of the American College of Radiology Foundation (ACRF) is to promote radiology by soliciting, accepting and managing resources to advance the strategic initiatives of the American College of Radiology.

About the American College of RadiologyThe American College of Radiology (ACR), founded in 1924, is a professional medical society dedicated to serving patients and society by empowering radiology professionals to advance the practice, science and professions of radiological care.

To arrange an interview with an ACR spokesperson, contact Shawn Farley at 703-648-8936 or [email protected].