WRETF Bursary Enables Specialist Training in Poitiers, France
The World Radiography Educational Trust Foundation (WRETF)provides bursaries for conference attendance and specialist training opportunities for radiographers / radiographic technician in developing countries.
In 2016 following a significant financial contribution from the Middlesex Hospital Schools of Radiography History Trust, the WRETF agreed to award a number of its training bursaries in memory of the School’s internationally renowned and respected former principal – Marion Frank.
Kora Aoué, centre, with Fabien Voix, President of afppe, left, and members of the medical imaging team at CHU Poitiers
Most recently the opportunity arose to make this special bursary award to Kora Aoué, a radiographer from the Central University Hospital, Ouédraogo, Burkina Faso, who applied to undertake an internship at theCentral University Hospital, Poitiers (CHU) under the tutelage of Professor Remy Guillevin, deputy head of the Medical Imaging Division, Professor Jean Pierre Tasu, head of department and their team at the hospital. He also spent time working with Fabien Voix, President of the French Association of Paramedical Personnel of Electroradiology (afppe) and his team thanks to help from former WRETF Trustees Philippe Gerson and Dominique Zerroug, who supported his internship application.
“The main thrust of my work was to strengthen my MRI capabilities as our hospital is about to acquire its very first unit”, said Aoué. “I was keen to acquire realisation skills and share them with my department upon my return. In fact such was their hospitality that they also arranged for me to visit the JFR in Paris that was running during my training. It was an excellent chance to participate in the academic programme and to learn about patient management”, he added.
“There is no doubt that Marion Frank would have whole-heartedly approved of this opportunistic learning package, said John Twydle, one of the trustees of the former Middlesex Schools Trust, who is also an adviser to the WRETF. Adrienne Finch, also a Middlesex Schools Trustee, added, “This application to the WRETF had her collaboration written all over it, as her many friends will surely agree, I am pleased the WRETF Board supported it and Mr Aoué certainly played his part”.
“I was really made to feel ‘one of team’ at Poitiers and the weeks just flashed by; I have made some lifelong friends and am grateful to all, especially the WRETF who gave me this training opportunity”, said Aoué.