Pennsylvania Hospital chair of Radiology Brian Englander, MD, has his sights set on a far-reaching goal – improving breast health across the world. As a 2018 USA Eisenhower Fellow – one of only eleven winners nationwide – that goal is closer to becoming a reality. Now in its 64th year, the Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) organization seeks to create a more “peaceful, prosperous, and just” world by providing innovative and ambitious mid-career leaders with the resources to widen their impacts as individuals in their respective fields and communities and to broaden their perspectives as members of a global network.
The 2018 class of USA Fellows – which also includes fellow Philadelphian and city fire commissioner Adam Thiel – is a diverse group of professionals from the non-profit, private, and public sectors throughout the country with interests ranging from quantum computing, to sustainable farming, to improving conditions for migrant workers. Each fellow is given the opportunity to travel abroad to one or two countries within the EF network, where they will engage with thought leaders across disciplines and pursue an individually designed initiative or program tailored to their interests.
Englander has long been interested in applying for the EF USA program, and he spent several years taking stock of his past accomplishments, his present role at PAH, and the mark he wants to make in the future to ensure he was making the most of the opportunity. This past spring, he took the plunge, and his careful consideration of his goals and vision paid off.
“I am so excited to have been chosen as a USA Fellow,” Englander said. “Eisenhower Fellowships is a wonderful organization with a wonderful mission – it really is a gem of Philadelphia – and I’m proud to be a part of this worldwide network. They make an investment in all of their fellows, and I’m looking forward to making a difference.”
EF’s programs are focused on transforming knowledge into action. Drawing from his breast imaging work, Englander plans to embark for Israel in April and will travel to Mongolia in July, where he will investigate how each country’s culture, politics, and healthcare systems impact their breast health services.
“In Israel, there’s a tremendous focus on cutting-edge technology in medical care, yet there is a portion of the population that is excluded from those resources,” Englander said. “There’s a high prevalence of breast cancer in women from Western backgrounds, and Israel’s ethnic diversity provides opportunities to shape screening approaches. In Mongolia, on the other hand, there’s a low but increasing incidence of breast cancer, particularly in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. There, mortality rates are as high as 90 percent for patients diagnosed at a late stage, so it’s important to develop a workable screening process.”
Key to the fellowship is the creation of a concrete plan to use the abroad experience as a springboard for making a tangible, positive impact. Englander’s goal is to develop a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to standardizing breast healthcare across borders.
“For me, this is really about making the world a better place,” Englander said. “Every community, every country has different resources, different cultures, different needs. By developing an understanding of where healthcare currently stands, we can mobilize the community in spite of those challenges. In some places, there is a deep distrust of their government, so how do we navigate that to make improvements?”
Congratulations to Dr. Englander on this exciting opportunity! Be sure to check back for further updates on his fellowship and travels in future issues. For any other staff members interested in broadening their leadership horizons, consider Englander’s advice: “Start early! Allow yourself the time to clarify your vision of what you want to get out of this opportunity and – more importantly – what you want to contribute.”