Siemens Healthineers and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) are expanding their partnership to provide radiography training in underserved countries.
The initiative aims to address the global shortage of radiographers, particularly in low- and middle-income nations, where noncommunicable diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions account for 74% of deaths worldwide.
The multiyear program will deliver ASRT’s vendor-neutral training curriculum through both in-person and virtual formats. ASRT, a century-old organization and the largest association for imaging and radiation therapy professionals, is recognized for its industry-standard educational content. Siemens Healthineers, operating in over 180 countries, will adapt the training to meet local needs and circumstances.
The extended partnership builds on a 30-year collaboration between the organizations, which included Siemens Healthineers’ support of ASRT’s scholarship and workforce development programs. One of the first projects under the expanded effort will train 50 radiographers from Ukraine over the next two years. Training will combine in-person sessions at the Siemens Healthineers Academy in Poland with online components.
“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 at Siemens Healthineers Access to Care. “We recognize that skilled people are the backbone of any healthcare system, and that building workforce capacity is key.”
Radiology workforce shortages are a pressing issue globally, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, where there are just two radiologists per million people, compared to 93 per million in high-income countries, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Siemens Healthineers has committed to six million hours of training by 2030 as part of its sustainability goals announced last year.
