First Medical School to integrate ultrasound into all four years of the curriculum and introduce hand-held ultrasound devices into clerkships.
About Us
We have developed an extensive ultrasound education program to train medical students, physician assistant students, nurse anesthesia students, residents, and practicing healthcare providers. These training efforts include not only our USC School of Medicine-Columbia learners, but those from other parts of the U.S. and the globe as well.
As pioneers of introducing point of care ultrasound (POCUS) into medical education, we have widely promoted the value of ultrasound for teaching and patient care. This includes several publications documenting our experience. Leaders from numerous other programs have come to us seeking advice on establishing their own ultrasound curricula.
We recognize the unique and valuable role that ultrasound can play in rural health settings as a safe and portable imaging modality. This is a major point of emphasis to our learners, and the Ultrasound Institute is conducting initiatives to provide ultrasound training to providers who currently practice in rural settings in South Carolina as well as learners who will do so in the future. The goal is to ultimately improve access to imaging and patient care outcomes through POCUS.
Globally, we have worked with leaders from the University of Nicosia Medical School in Cyprus to help with the process of incorporating ultrasound training into their curriculum. We have also provided ultrasound training for healthcare providers in Tanzania.
Leading the Way
Hosted the First World Congress on Ultrasound in Medical Education and the first Conference on Ultrasound in Anatomy and Physiology.
Founded the Society for Ultrasound in Medical Education (SUSME).
Created the first primary care ultrasound fellowship.
Wrote the first textbook, "Understanding Physiology with Ultrasound".
2025 Events
- Point of Care Ultrasound CME - UofSC SOM Ultrasound Institute, Columbia, SC.
- January 16-17
- March 14-15
- May 15-16
- July 24-25
- September 25-26
- November 13-14
- Ultrathon - January 25, 2025
- Finding Your Future Program - June 13
- Lexington Medical Centers Partners Program - June 24
- Carolina Master Scholars Ultrasound Summer Camp - July 14-18
- Lexington Medical Center Partners Program - July 22
Rural Health Initiatives
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
SC DHHS awarded the School of Medicine (SOM) a grant to use ultrasound technology
to improve the care of rural populations. In addition to training healthcare providers currently in practice, the School of
Medicine trains its students to use ultrasound in their future practices. The goal is to improve care by training providers who will serve the citizens of SC
in a rural area.
South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare
The Ultrasound Institute provides point-of-care ultrasound training to physicians,
physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who practice in a rural setting. Funding for the project is provided by the SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare
through a cooperative agreement. Providers initially come to the Ultrasound Institute for a POCUS CME. They have the option to return for a refresher session tailored to their ultrasound
needs.
For additional information or to enroll, please contact the program coordinator of the Ultrasound Institute, Dina Brown at dina.brown@uscmed.sc.edu or 803-216-3354.