Expanding access to magnetic resonance education through open‐source web tutorials

Abstract

As of 2018, two-thirds of the world did not have access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 1 with most of this population living in low-resource settings. While having more scanners is necessary for expanding access, scanner numbers alone do not help sustain operations: local expertise is required to maintain the scanner's productivity in the long run. 2 Sustaining the accessibility of MRI requires the training of students in these settings. Open-source and free educational software can help teach future generations of MRI technicians and scientists and is recognized as a critical need. 2 Nonprofit organizations such as RAD-AID support expanding access to medical imaging through local assessment of readiness, installation of imaging equipment, and education of personnel. 3 Many existing open-source magnetic resonance (MR) simulation programs provide functionality with educational goals or simulation capabilities that are helpful for teaching MRI. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] These tools are summarized in Table S1. On the other hand, custom MR hardware systems for education have also been developed to help students gain real scanner operating experience and an understanding of the MR hardware components that work together. [14][15][16][17][18] They often have associated educational materials and console software. A selection of these systems is summarized in Table S2.Each of these platforms assumes that MR education starts at the college level. However, access to advanced degrees and curricula in lowresource settings is a challenge. 1 Therefore, a gap exists in younger populations or those needing more access to formal courses provided by an advanced educational infrastructure. MR is a multifaceted field and includes many aspects of mathematical, biological, physical, and spatial thinking. Many of its concepts and processes need visualization. The accessibility of open-source software and open hardware in MR enables the development of new educational possibilities. 19 Therefore, a platform aimed at students at or above the educational background of a US high