36
A Year in Review 2012 – 2013:
Programs
Courage Lives Here
37
Joint Department of Medical Imaging
Courage is...
making a
difference
Ultrasound in Uganda:
Helping those in need
When Carole Leduc-Atri was planning her trip to Uganda
in 2011, she had no philanthropic intentions.
In fact, the only reason the UHN ultrasound technologist
was visiting Africa was to accompany her daughter, Sima.
Little did she know the trip would be one of the most
eye-opening journeys she’d ever been on.
Daughter’s idea
It began when 20-year-old Sima was embarking on
a project funded by the Canadian International
Development Agency. Hoping to keep her mom busy
during the trip, Sima had emailed local hospitals on
Leduc-Atri’s behalf, explaining that her mother was
an ultrasound technologist wanting to spend some
time in Ugandan hospitals.
Carole Leduc-Atri comforts a patient in Uganda. While there, she provided
ultrasound training to local clinicians and performed quality diagnostic
scans
. (Photo: Carole Leduc-Atri)
Soon, Leduc-Atri began receiving emails from excited
Ugandan clinicians — and at first she thought it was
a mistake.
But after realizing her daughter’s behind-the-scene efforts,
Leduc-Atri’s genuine concern for others took over — and
she agreed to go and help.
“I had always wondered whether there was anything
I could do abroad as an ultrasound technologist, but
never known how to find the opportunities,” she said.
UHN support
With lots of support and encouragement from her
colleagues at UHN, including a donated portable
ultrasound unit, Leduc-Atri made her way to Uganda.
Upon arrival, her skills and expertise were quickly put
to use.
She provided critical ultrasound training to the local
clinicians, performed quality diagnostic scans and
comforted patients.
Leduc-Atri also traveled to remote villages ravaged by
AIDS and war — often providing the first diagnostic
evaluations the villagers ever received.
“I found the poverty and sickness I witnessed emotionally
draining,” she said. “But I also felt prepared due to the
expertise I had learned at TGH, and the incredible
support I received from colleagues back home.”
Inspiring experience
Leduc-Atri came back to Canada invigorated and
encouraged to make even more of a difference.
She’s embarked on numerous campaigns to spread
awareness to her colleagues, health care professionals
and others about how simple it is to help those with
so little.
“I realize that my efforts were just a small drop in
the bucket, but I truly believe that every drop makes
a difference,” she said.
(
Continued on page 38...)
Carole Leduc-Atri lends her expertise to local sonographers in Uganda.
(Photo: Carole Leduc-Atri)
“ I felt prepared due to the expertise I had learned at TGH.”
–Carole Leduc-Atri
