When it comes to work travel, it’s easy to focus on the headaches: the airport lines, the time zone changes, the stiff hotel beds. But Carina Yang, MD, says the effort is worth it.
For Yang, an Associate Professor of Radiology, teaching abroad is how she recharges, makes new connections and expands her skill set. It has also allowed her to give back by training others on five continents — including recent stops in Armenia, Brazil and Tanzania.
“I think a lot of people can get tunnel vision in an academic setting,” said Yang, an expert in pediatric neuroradiology who specializes in techniques that minimize radiation exposure and extended sedation. “You can’t lose sight of the bigger picture, and that’s why I think I keep doing work trips.
“It makes me a better radiologist and a better teacher.”
On her home turf, Yang, also a radiologist at UChicago Medicine, developed an interactive simulation program to enhance the clinical skills of residents, fellows, radiologists and radiology staff. In 2016, she co-founded the Chicagoland Radiology Expo, an annual event to help medical students, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, explore careers in the field.
Yang spoke more about her motivations and her time on the road.
What motivates you to engage in global education?
It started out as a selfish reason: I wanted to travel and still do something that would help promote my academic track. But even from the first work trip I did, to Newfoundland, Canada, it was really eye-opening to see how people practice radiology and medicine differently.
It could be the most basic thing. Sometimes, it’s equipment-related; other times it’s how doctors approach a case. It's interesting — if you're going to under-resourced places, everyone thinks you’re the one giving people all the knowledge or experience. But that’s not really true.
How do you teach to diverse audiences that may lack access to specialized training?
In 2016, I went to Gwalior, India, which is about a four-hour drive from the Taj Mahal. I realized when I got there, they had no MRI scanner, so they didn't know clinically how to read an MRI. I did not expect that. It was really interesting, because the residents still knew a lot, but from books.
My talk was already prepared, so I had to pivot pretty quickly. I had to walk them through some of the imaging they wouldn’t be familiar with. Ever since then, I know to ask before I go — what sort of imaging do they get to read? What do they rotate through? What kind of equipment do they have access to?
What challenges have you seen while teaching abroad?
I have pictures from when I visited the emergency room in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia. People walked for hours to get there. They lined up outside, but they would maybe not be seen that day because it was already late in the afternoon. There were patients’ families doing the care for their loved one because there weren’t enough nurses.
I remember a girl who had broken her pelvis. They had a concrete block, like the ones you use to build houses, tied to a gauze that was pulling her leg so that she could have traction on her pelvis. A family member was adjusting the concrete block, and the girl was in so much pain. These experiences make me much more appreciative of what we do have.
You’ve been recognized for championing women and minorities in radiology. How do you see this evolving globally?
It's different in every country, but female radiologists are much more common in other countries like Armenia and Trinidad. In the U.S., 25% to 30% of radiologists are women.
It’s the most bizarre thing, because radiology is so flexible. You can work from home; you don't even have to be in the same state. And there are so many different types of practice. Yet women think they have to be a physics wiz to be a radiologist, which is a misconception.
I think there’s also a fear of the radiation exposure, and its effects on fertility and pregnancy — and that's really unfounded. You just put on double-lead protective garments and wear a radiation monitor for the baby, as well as yourself. Or you can switch things around so that you’re not doing radiology procedures that require radiation while you’re pregnant.
The other aspect is that it’s a very male-dominated field, and people are worried they don’t have the role models. Some students also worry that AI is going to wipe out our jobs. But AI isn’t replacing us, it’s complementary to us.
How do you balance academic work in Chicago with travel? Do you have any travel hacks?
I request extra meeting days every year and I have a lot of colleagues, thankfully, who are able to cover the clinical service while I’m gone. I just got promoted to full professor, effective July 1, so I feel like I can slow down a little bit and just enjoy it. My next scheduled trip is to a pediatric hospital in Barcelona in August.
In terms of travel, it helps that I sleep very well on the plane. I think key is being able to convert your schedule pretty easily. And when it comes to eating street food, it depends on the location and what my guide tells me. I Iove trying new things, and I have a pretty hard stomach.
