Emergency Ultrasound

The BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) is routinely identified as the point-of-care ultrasound experts at UW Health and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, with other specialties modeling our operations. Almost all of our departmental faculty have active ultrasound privileges.

We consider practical training in emergency clinical ultrasound to be among the foundational components of residency, so we invest in a strong ultrasound curriculum and incorporate this training into clinical care.

Our commitment to a robust ultrasound curriculum sets us apart from other institutions. At UW, we offer:

1. More highly trained faculty. The UW DEM has five diverse fellowship-trained ultrasound faculty, which underscores our commitment to an environment of ultrasound excellence. As a resident, you will work side-by-side with these faculty to develop knowledge and skills in bedside ultrasound.
2. More state-of-the-art equipment. We have seven clinical ultrasound machines, which help build ultrasound expertise instead of spending time searching for “the machine.” Every scan performed by residents is reviewed for QA purposes, and we have three high-fidelity simulators.
3. Opportunities for advanced training. We offer a competitive, accredited advanced emergency ultrasound fellowship designed to train newly graduated resident physicians to be expert sonographers as well as leaders in point-of-care ultrasound education, administration, research, and global health applications.
4. Training from day one to day 1095.  First-year residents attend a hands-on workshop to learn the basics of ultrasound during their first month at UW. After this,  clinical ultrasound training is integrated into all three years of residency. All PGY-1 residents complete an ultrasound rotation, which uses innovative asynchronous didactic content so more time can be spent at the bedside polishing skills with faculty. Ultrasound education is incorporated into resident conference through an awarding-winning, longitudinal, innovative small group workshop series that covers all 12 clinical emergency ultrasound indications recognized by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
5. More use at the bedside. With five ultrasound-fellowship-trained faculty and most department faculty having ultrasound privileges, we create a clinical environment that encourages the use of ultrasound in clinical practice.