Ultrasound in Medical Education

Providing medical students with bedside ultrasound imaging skills at the point of care by integrating this training throughout their medical school experiences.

An Innovative Program

UCI’s innovative Ultrasound in Medical Education program came about because of the success of a fourth-year elective: emergency ultrasound. Medical students at the UCI School of Medicine have spent four weeks learning the skills of point-of-care ultrasound since 2003.

 

The resulting feedback and life-saving stories that emerged from this training gave rise to the idea that all students should take advantage of this valuable program before graduation.

Student being trained on how to conduct an ultrasound

To train medical students to become competent in portable ultrasound skills at the "point-of-care," teaching them to instinctively utilize an ultrasound device will bring them closer to their patient and their patient's illness.

This goal is accomplished by decreasing the operator dependency that is inherent in ultrasound. While it is the only imaging that does not involve radiation or a giant magnet, thereby enhancing its portability, for many it can be difficult to learn.

Overcoming the barriers inherent in ultrasound image acquisition is at the heart of our ultrasound program. We are working toward this by easy access lectures on Panopto, small group (2:1) hands-on scanning, and pathology-based simulation.

Stack of opened research publications

Medical Education Curriculum

With a focus on individualized learning, students have the freedom to explore areas of interest and tailor their ultrasound education accordingly.

Explore Now
Woman patient receives thyroid diagnostics. Treatment of thyrotoxicosis, and hypothyroidism. Ultrasound diagnostics of the endocrine system and thyroid

Ultrasound Standardized Patient

We need motivated, disciplined individuals eager to support medical education. Punctuality and reliability are essential. Interested?

Find out more

Email Us

mededultrasound@hs.uci.edu

Ultrasound in Medical Education Medical Education Building Suite 2100
836 Health Sciences Road
Irvine, CA 92697-4089