UC Blue Ash professor combines service and adventure in trip to Cape Verde
Students practice positioning for upper extremity exams. Photo provided.
Olivia Enriquez began 2025 with a surprise request that included a trip halfway around the world to help a community in need.
Enriquez is an assistant professor of radiologic imaging technology at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College. On New Year’s Eve, she received a call asking if she would be interested in participating in an upcoming outreach program with RAD-AID International, a not-for-profit organization founded in 2008 to help increase access to radiology and imaging technology in underserved communities around the world.
Enriquez was told that a group with RAD-AID planned to travel to Cape Verde (also referred to as the Republic of Cabo Verde) in mid-January, just a few weeks away, to train radiologic technologists and address a severe shortage that was impacting that country. One of the group participants had to drop out at the last minute. Would she be interested?
“I love to travel. I’m always thinking about my next trip, but I wasn’t thinking about this type of a trip,” said Enriquez. “But this was a chance to combine my love of travel with my love for my job, because I truly love my job.”
Enriquez has traveled to multiple countries around the world, but this was her first time visiting Africa. She had to research Cape Verde to learn that it is an island country located off the western coast of Africa with a population of nearly 600,000. Due to retirements and attrition, parts of the country were down to just a few licensed radiologic technologists. They are health care professionals who are trained and licensed to operate medical equipment such as those used for radiographs (X-rays), CT scans and MRIs to create digital images used to diagnose and treat patients.
Enriquez hiking at the highest point on the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. Photo provided.
Enriquez says that Heather Moore, chair of the Allied Health Department at UC Blue Ash, contacted her about the opportunity and said they could work out a way to teach her courses while she was away.
“Because I had support from my fellow faculty members I really didn’t think twice about leaving for two weeks,” Enriquez said. “That support was important to me. If I’m being offered this opportunity, I want to take advantage of it.”
Enriquez is believed to be the first faculty member from the UC Blue Ash Radiologic Technology program to participate in a RAD-AID mission. The students she worked with in Cape Verde were in the latter stages of an intense, six-month program and needed clinical training from experts in the field.
This included teaching them how to properly position patients to make sure they are getting the correct image, and how to get them clinically competent to communicate with their patients. She and her colleague worked with the students eight hours a day, five days a week during the two weeks she was there.
Enriquez came away impressed with the students, noting that they were dedicated and eager to absorb the expertise and information she and her RAD-AID colleagues provided.
“The students there really changed my life in terms of showing me hospitality and how much they truly appreciated what me and my colleagues were doing,” said Enriquez. “It has helped me appreciate my job even more.”
While she worked full-time during the week, Enriquez still had a chance to explore some of the islands that make up Cape Verde. This included swimming with sea turtles, hiking and trying out the local cuisine. She says the overall experience was exceptional, noting that part of the culture in the country includes a focus on hospitality and a joyful way of appreciating people.
She adds that she would go back to Cape Verde any time, and she welcomes the opportunity to serve with RAD-AID again.
Featured photo: Enriquez (2nd from left) with three of the students she trained in Cape Verde. Photo provided.
About UC Blue Ash College
UC Blue Ash College is a regional college within the University of Cincinnati. It offers one of the best values in higher education with access to a nationally recognized UC education in more than 50 degree and certificate programs, as well as tuition that is about half of most colleges and universities. The college is located on a scenic 135-acre wooded campus in the heart of Blue Ash, Ohio. To learn more, call 513-558-9495, visit us online, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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