Congratulations to Sara Damewood, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine, on her nomination and acceptance to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha’s chapter at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The honor medical society recognizes, advocates for, and inspires physicians in the care of patients and promotion of health.
Members may be elected throughout their career and epitomize professionalism, leadership, academic and clinical excellence, research, community service, and “being worthy to serve the suffering.” Founded in 1902, it is the only national honor medical society in the world.
Dr. Damewood is the Division Director of Emergency Ultrasound and Advanced Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Director at the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine. Her interests within ultrasound include simulation, measuring ultrasound competency, and fellowship education.
Dr. Damewood oversees all aspects of ultrasound operations and education for all levels of learners in the department. Under her leadership, significant advances in archiving and reviewing clinical ultrasound images have led to improved emergency department patient care. She developed a clinical ultrasound fellowship in 2014, with graduating fellows into academic faculty and ultrasound leaders in community emergency departments. Damewood was instrumental in the rollout of ultrasound for UW Health Med Flight providers and initiated a longitudinal research project exploring cardiopulmonary ultrasound findings in septic shock in collaboration with the UW Department of Medicine’s Division of Pulmonary Critical Care. She is currently involved in projects with ultrasound assessing aspiration pneumonia, 3D printing models, and prehospital care.
Nationally, Dr. Damewood is recognized as a leader in the clinical ultrasound community. She has served as the co-chair of the Ultrasound section simulation subcommittee for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). She has also chaired the Society of Clinical Ultrasound Fellowships (SCUF) program development committee, and played a significant role in the development of ultrasound fellowships nationwide. Damewood was the inaugural chair of the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Accreditation Council (EUFAC), where she currently serves as member-at-large.
A banquet and induction ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, to welcome Dr. Damewood and her fellow inductees into the AΩA honor medical society.