| “Breast cancer is
one of the greatest causes of cancer death among women in many
developing countries,” says Dr. Richard Hirsh. “As these
countries progress toward their goals of improved living and
economic conditions, women’s health issues will gradually
assume increasing priority. In anticipation of this, we
recognize the tremendous need of education about breast cancer
awareness, as well as technical assistance in the form of
donated mammography equipment and training.”
Dr. Richard Hirsh, M.D. F.A.C.R., is a man
with a mission, actually a man with fifteen missions, so far.
Dr. Hirsh is a diagnostic radiologist at Summa Health System
in Akron, Ohio, as well as assistant professor of radiology at
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM).
He has a special interest in mammography. He knows that
mammograms save lives by detecting breast cancer early enough
to treat it.
In 1989 Dr. Hirsh participated as a volunteer
on a mammography teaching mission to India. He was one of 25
radiology specialists working in nine different cities.
Radiologists and technologists taught the importance of early
detection of breast cancer, mammographic technique and
interpretation.
In 1994, inspired by his previous experience, Dr. Hirsh
organized and led a mammography mission to Nepal. |
He obtained
donated mammographic equipment and assembled a team of experts
to teach mammographic technique and interpretation to
technologists and radiologists and to create public awareness
of the importance of early detection of breast cancer through
the mass media. Dr. Hirsh succeeded in
reaching his goals with this first mission and continues to
exceed them each year with subsequent missions to various
developing countries, fifteen missions to date.
In 1996 Dr. Hirsh founded Radiology
Mammography International (RMI), a non-profit organization
with the mission of helping developing regions improve
mammography education and obtaining needed equipment to
achieve their goals.
Hirsh takes an eight – to twelve-person team
on the missions; X-Ray technologists, engineers, radiologists
and women’s health educators, as well as spouses of members of
the U.S. Congress, who serve as community outreach
spokes-persons. The team members come from all over the United
States and other countries.
They are volunteers who give up their
vacations and leave their families to help underprivileged
people in far-off lands. Missions last two to three weeks.
|
As the machines are installed and the radiology personnel are
trained, Dr. Hirsh lectures to general medical
and surgical staff about mammography and breast cancer.
Spokespersons perform community outreach on the lifesaving
importance of early detection. Dr.
Hirsh explains the purpose of RMI with a modified biblical
axiom: “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man
to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” He adds, “We teach them
to fish and leave the pole.”
That pole is expensive. Travel costs, lodging, and food for the
team can total $3000.00 per person. The need for equipment and
supplies is ongoing. Dr. Hirsh solicits the donation of
mammography machines and mammographic film, and routinely
seeks grants and private donations for his work.
Lorad in Danbury, Connecticut and Tom
Johnson of Professional Consulting & Imaging Services of
Wadsworth, Ohio have been extremely generous in donating
equipment for the missions. Kodak, All Pro, X-Rite
Corporation, Nuclear Associates, Maxant (X-Ray view boxes) and Cook have also been major
sponsors, donating test equipment, film, and other supplies.
“These donations are the quality assurance
keys to the success of our mission,” said Dr. Hirsh.
Donation
Information (Pdf) |
