- To increase access to world-class radiography training in underserved countries worldwide
- To build capacity to address the critical shortage of radiographers in low-resource settings
- To create a vendor-neutral training curriculum to serve specific local needs.
Siemens Healthineers and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists will expand an existing partnership to bring top-quality training for radiologic technologists, or radiographers, to underserved countries around the world for the first time. Educating radiographers to operate imaging or radiation therapy equipment is crucial, as the machines enable physicians to diagnose and treat diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Such noncommunicable diseases already account for 74% of all deaths globally, with more than three-quarters in low- and middle-income countries.
The multiyear partnership will make ASRT’s curriculum and educational content, which are regarded as an industry gold standard, available for foundational and advanced training in both in-person and virtual forms. Training will be vendor-neutral for as broad an impact as possible. ASRT, founded more than 100 years ago, is the largest association for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals in the world. Siemens Healthineers, which has activities in more than 180 countries, will bring local know-how so that content can be tailored to local circumstances or requirements. This builds on an existing 30-year partnership which included Siemens Healthineers as a charter partner of the ASRT Foundation Corporate Roundtable and supporter of a clinical advancement scholarship program. One of the first activities under the extended partnership will be to jointly develop a curriculum to train 50 radiographers from Ukraine. The training will be delivered in hybrid form—in person at the Siemens Healthineers Academy in Poland and online over the next two years.
“Too often in low-resource countries, medical equipment sits unused—often still in its original packaging—because no one is trained to use it,” said Hagen Weissapfel, head of Education and Service, Siemens Healthineers Access to Care. “We recognize that skilled people are the backbone of any health care system, and that building workforce capacity is key.”
Workforce shortages affect healthcare systems across the world, but scarcity in low- and middle-income countries is severe. In high-income countries there are 93 radiologists per million people, but Sub-Saharan Africa has only two per million, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Building capacity is crucial, and Siemens Healthineers is committed to providing 6 million hours of training by 2030 as part of new sustainability targets announced in November.
“ASRT’s mission is to advance and elevate the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to enhance the quality and safety of patient care,” said Melissa Culp, head of Member Engagement at ASRT. “With our colleagues at Siemens Healthineers, we are raising awareness of the profession, ensuring high standards of educational preparedness and strengthening the workforce pipeline globally.”
Siemens Healthineers pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. The company is a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services, with activities in more than 180 countries and direct representation in more than 70. The group comprises Siemens Healthineers AG, listed as SHL in Frankfurt, Germany, and its subsidiaries. As a leading medical technology company, Siemens Healthineers is committed to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities worldwide and is striving to overcome the most threatening diseases. The company is principally active in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, cancer care and minimally invasive therapies, augmented by digital technology and artificial intelligence. In fiscal 2024, which ended on September 30, 2024, Siemens Healthineers had approximately 72,000 employees worldwide and generated revenue of around €22.4 billion. Further information is available at www.siemens-healthineers.com.
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists is the world's largest and oldest membership association for medical imaging technologists and radiation therapists. Founded in 1920, the ASRT now has more than 156,000 members. Its business office is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The mission of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists is to advance and elevate the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to enhance the quality and safety of patient care. The American Society of Radiologic Technologists will be the premier professional association for the medical imaging and radiation therapy community through education, advocacy, research and innovation. Further information is available at www.asrt.org.