The Radiology Society of South Africa (RSSA) has partnered with medical technology multinational GE HealthCare to create the RSSA/GE Cardiac Imaging Course for 2023, which will offer both magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) imaging training.

The course is set to bring two international radiology experts together with local specialists to deliver a world-class cardiac imaging training course for South African radiologists.

The specialist training, which will be conducted by internationally renowned radiologists Dr Rami Neemtallah and Dr Jesse Habets, and local radiologists Dr André du Plessis and Dr Vijay Dahya, will be divided into two courses, namely one for Cardiac CT Imaging and one for Cardiac MR Imaging.

Both courses will comprise didactic lectures, case reviews, group discussions and shared learning, and will allow attendees to work on the most advanced GE HealthCare equipment, while earning continuing professional development points through Stellenbosch University.

“I am particularly excited that the combination of the course’s advanced equipment and technologies will help the radiologists produce world-class studies and deliver much better patient care,” says GE HealthCare South Africa country manager Marlon Burgess.

Cardiac imaging is critical to support South Africa's healthcare system, as it enables outpatient examination while reducing the need for hospitalisation or anaesthesia.

Few South African radiologists get the opportunity to receive hands-on, intensive training on cardiac pathology, scans and diagnoses, which are very technical, specialised and sought after in the medical field. This course will go a long way towards providing practical, hands-on training and international expertise in this critical field of medicine, he says.

The course will provide three days of hands-on training on GE HealthCare's advanced cardiac imaging equipment, and the case reviews on GE HealthCare software will help to advance the skills of local radiologists and lead to faster scans and better patient care.

“GE HealthCare is proud to have partnered with the RSSA to develop a course that will upskill local radiologists and advance the cardiac imaging field in South Africa. This is in keeping with our commitment to creating a world where healthcare has no limits,” Burgess says.