Michael Fareri, MD, a third-year emergency medicine resident in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, was honored with the 2023 Resident Research Award from the Academy of Emergency Ultrasound (AEUS), a division of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). The award recognizes Dr. Fareri‘s outstanding contributions to the field of emergency ultrasound research during residency and his dedication to improving patient care through the use of point-of-care ultrasound.
Dr. Fareri’s interest in ultrasound sparked during the early days of his residency when he was exposed to the utility and effectiveness of point-of-care ultrasound during a four-week ultrasound rotation – part of standard curriculum that every first-year resident completes. He quickly realized that ultrasound not only fascinated him but also enhanced his effectiveness to diagnose and treat patients.
“There are a ton of ways that emergency ultrasound improves diagnostic accuracy, guides therapeutics, may help to shorten a patient’s length-of-stay,” says Fareri. “Not only do I find it fascinating to watch, for example, a beating heart in real time, I know that I am improving my patient’s care as well.”
Dr. Fareri’s scholarly work has focused on ultrasound education within residency programs. His project aims to assess how resident skill in ultrasound evolves throughout their training to identify areas for improvement in ultrasound education, ensuring that residents acquire the necessary skills and confidence in using point-of-care ultrasound in their clinical practice by the time they graduate.
Dr. Fareri appreciates the tremendous support he has received from Department of Emergency Medicine ultrasound faculty and fellows during his residency at the University of Wisconsin (UW), who were invaluable in encouraging his interest in point-of-care ultrasound. The program’s comprehensive ultrasound rotation for first-year residents — coordinated by Dana Resop, MD — offered Dr. Fareri robust exposure to point-of-care ultrasound training, including 1:1 scanning shifts with faculty and fellows, opportunities for independent scanning, weekly quality assurance sessions led by expert faculty, collaborative ultrasound journal clubs, and many online educational resources.
Additionally, the longitudinal ultrasound educational content has further nurtured his passion for the field. Sara Damewood, MD, division director, and Hani Kuttab, MD, assistant ultrasound director, were instrumental in providing Dr. Fareri with additional opportunities to conduct research, teach medical students and resident peers, and participate in regional and national conferences — all pivotal in fueling his enthusiasm for point-of-care ultrasound.
Among many highlights of his ultrasound education and research over the last three years of his residency has been publishing a case report in the national medical journal Annals of Emergency Medicine: Images in Emergency Medicine as first author. He is planning to submit a second national publication soon as lead author and has also served as an editor for several cases on the Department of Emergency Medicine’s educational blog, Madtown Sono.
“It has been impressive and inspiring to see Dr. Fareri lead a project from concept to development, analysis, and now to publication,” says Dr. Kuttab. “His enthusiasm and dedication to advancing the field of point-of-care ultrasound is clear, and he has a bright future ahead him in the POCUS community.”
Dr. Fareri intends to continue his line of inquiry during an emergency ultrasound fellowship following graduation this month. Inspired by the exceptional education he received during his residency, Dr. Fareri hopes to further develop his experience and skills as a teacher and mentor. “I have always viewed one of the goals of my fellowship to be to improve my skills as an ultrasound educator,” he says. “I hope to eventually be able to pass on my knowledge about this amazing tool to future providers.”
Nominated for the AEUS Resident Research Award by Drs. Damewood and Kuttab, and Fareri notes he was honored to be selected by AEUS for this distinguished recognition. Dr. Fareri formally received the award at the SAEM’s Annual Meeting, held in Austin, Texas, from May 16-19, 2023, where he also shared his work among national emergency ultrasound leaders during an oral research presentation.
When asked about his feelings on being recognized on a national stage, Dr. Fareri humbly expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the exceptional work done by his peers and colleagues across the country. “I feel privileged to accept the award in front of esteemed members of the emergency ultrasound community, representing the University of Wisconsin.”
Dr. Fareri also shared his thoughts on SonoGames®, an entertaining, national ultrasound educational event held annually at the SAEM Annual Meeting and sponsored by AEUS. Dr. Fareri participated in 2022 and 2023 SonoGames® competitions with his resident peers during his second and third years of residency. A tradition among teams representing residency programs nationwide is to dress in ultrasound-themed costumes as a way for residents to flex their creativity and play into friendly rivalries among teams.
Dr. Fareri has particularly enjoyed the challenging and educational nature of the games, especially one station at this year’s event that involved shooting a Nerf bow and arrow before completing ultrasound scanning tasks based on the target hit. Dr. Fareri praised the meticulous planning and execution of SonoGames®, highlighting its growing popularity as a testament to its fun and well-organized experience.
The BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine commends Dr. Michael Fareri’s exceptional dedication to advancing emergency ultrasound through his research and commitment to education.