GW GCCA Talks
In honor of the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Bicentennial celebrations, the GCCA has launched its new webinar series.
Experiences with Radiology Capacity Development in Low Income Countries
June 10, 2025
The GW Global Clinical Care Alliance (GCCA) seeks to forge connections, synergies, and opportunities for partnership among clinicians from across GW pursuing all aspects of global health and representing the full spectrum medical specialties, to lead projects ranging from educational capacity-building, to clinical service delivery, and traditional research partnerships.
Featuring:

Berndt P. Schmit, MD, MBOE
Associate Professor of Radiology
GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Learn about Berndt P. Schmit, MD, MBOE
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Berndt P. Schmit, MD, MBOE, is a board-certified Diagnostic Radiologist with over 20 years’ experience in private and academic practice, as well as fellowship training in Musculoskeletal imaging. Schmit serves as an Associate Professor of Radiology at George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS).
He has special interests in MRI and Sarcoma and is co-author of the textbook: Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors; a Multidisciplinary Review with Case Presentations, published in 2014. Schmit has a deep interest in Lean management and earned a Master of Business Operation Excellence (MBOE) degree from The Ohio State University Fisher School of Business in 2014. Schmit enjoys entrepreneurship having started teleradiology services, won USA patents, provided radiology practice consulting and operated imaging centers.
Schmit has earned partnership in 3 different private practices. He was Director of Haiti and Director of Equipment Implementation for RadAid from 2015-2017 and is currently a medical advisor for the startup MediMint and Emagine Solutions Technology. He serves on the leadership team of the charity Cure Women’s Cancer, founded in 2024.
He is passionate about Global Health and started the 501c3 tax-exempt charity Humanitarian Radiology Development Corps in 2017 (www.hrdcorps.org). HRD is focused on full value stream, self-sustainable radiology capacity development in poor regions of the world including Haiti, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Malawi, Togo and Kenya. Schmit coined the term ‘Precision Charity’ describing the client focused, custom tailored approach HRD Corps utilizes for capacity development. This is made possible by placing senior leadership in the field so decision making can be done in real-time with clients while simultaneously avoiding the inaccuracies and delays inherent to hierarchical organizations and their reporting structures.
To date, HRD has donated, installed and implemented 46 ultrasound systems, 3 radiology PACS systems, 3 portable Xray systems. They have given countless lectures and hands-on training seminars while also providing parts supply and equipment repair services. HRD prides itself on being nimble, transparent and client serving.
Schmit attended Tufts University School of Medicine for his medical degree and completed 2 years of Emergency Medicine training at University of Arizona before completing his Diagnostic Radiology training at Mount Auburn Hospital. He then completed a Musculoskeletal imaging fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Yamilé Blain, MD
Assistant Professor in Clinical Radiology
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
- Learn about Yamilé Blain, MD
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Yamilé Blain, MD, is a radiologist with subspecialty training in abdominal and oncologic imaging. Her clinical and research interests focus on imaging of the liver, female pelvis, and organ transplantation.
She earned her medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at the Université d’État d’Haïti and completed her radiology residency at Hôpital de l’Université d’État d’Haïti. She then pursued fellowship training at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.
During her time as chief resident in Haiti, Blain played a key role in strengthening the radiology residency program, securing partnerships with international academic institutions, and helping implement a computer-based curriculum. Her leadership has contributed to long-term capacity building in medical education in her home country.
A passionate advocate for global health and health equity, Blain has been actively involved with HRD Corps since her residency. She has contributed to several capacity-building initiatives in both Haiti and Africa. She’s skilled at understanding system needs, engaging stakeholders, and developing tailored, context-specific solutions. Her ability to navigate diverse environments and connect meaningfully with local communities makes her a valuable team member.
Blain believes in the mission and values of HRD Corps, which align closely with her own. Through her ongoing work, she has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of initiatives that improve the skills of health care professionals while addressing deeper structural challenges.
Blain is an avid reader, aspiring pencil artist, and beach wanderer.

Emily Calabria, MD
Diagnostic Radiology Resident
Boston Medical Center
- Learn about Emily Calabria, MD
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Emily Calabria, MD is currently in her Diagnostic Radiology residency training at Boston Medical Center with an expected graduation in June 2028.
She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in Microbiology and French, and then graduated from the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) in Washington, DC in 2023. She completed her internship at Morristown Medical Center.
Calabria is from Ramsey, NJ and loves traveling and exploring new cultures, hiking, reading, and is a passionate Pittsburgh sports fan.
About GCCA Talks
The GCCA Talks series is designed to be a series of 60-minute webinars with distinguished speakers from the GW academic medical enterprise, as well as the broader GW community, GW alumni and friends, and renowned global health leaders from around the world.
Watch prior GCCA Talks from 2024-25 here:
- Watch the Video: Learning Locally, Thinking Globally: Educational Opportunities in Refugee Health at GW - March 18, 2025
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Learning Locally, Thinking Globally: Educational Opportunities in Refugee Health at GW
March 18, 2025
Featuring:
Gavin Truong, MD (Host / Moderator)
Assistant Professor, Department of General Internal MedicineSonal Batra MD, MST, FACEP
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Tanuja Devaraj, MD
Marwah Shuaib, MS3
GW SMHSAmy Yi, MS4
GW SMHSShurthi Voleti, MS4
GW SMHSAvery League, MS1
GW SMHS - Watch the Video: Global Acute & Emergency Care Systems Development: Lessons From Around the Globe - Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024
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Featuring:
Kate Douglass, MD, MPH (Host / Moderator)
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, and of Global HealthTania Ahluwalia, MD, MPH
Director of Global Pediatrics at RRIEM:Jinesh Veetilakath, MBBS, MEM
Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine
Aster MIMS Kannur
Kerala, IndiaCamilo E. Gutierrez, MD
Director of Global Health Programs
Division of Emergency Medicine, Children’s National Hospital
Assoc. Prof. of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, GW SMHSAdriana Yock, MD, MSc
Clinical Chief of the Emergency Department
Hospital Nacional de Niños “Dr. Carlos Saenz Herrera” - Costa Rica - Watch The Video: Innovations in Global Surgical Education - September 18, 2024 - Noon (EDT)
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Featuring:Host / Moderator
Gail Rosseau, MD
Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery, GW
Adj. Professor of Global Neurosurgery, BNIDan Donoho, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics
Children’s National Medical CenterTimothy Singer, MD
PGY-3, Department of Neurosurgery
George Washington UniversityHamisi Shabani, MD, PhD
Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute
Consulting NeurosurgeonOthman Wanin, MD
Neurosurgeon, Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute
President, Tanzanian Neurosurgical Society
About GCCA Talks
GCCA Talks is designed to be a series of 60-minute webinars with distinguished speakers from the GW academic medical enterprise and broader GW community, GW alumni and friends, as well as renowned global health care leaders.
We aim to produce a new webinar four times per year (once each quarter).