5 - Generating and Integrating a Novel Ultrasound Curriculum into Anatomy Education for First Year Medical Students

Poster Board Number: 5
There are separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Abstract Body : Advancements in portable ultrasound technology and the use of bedside imaging have expanded rapidly and created the need for increased ultrasound exposure and training in medical school. Ultrasound is an imaging modality that is noninvasive and does not expose patients to ionizing radiation. Devices have transformed from large machines that could only be supported in a hospital setting, to handheld devices, a technology that can now fit in a provider's pocket. Unfortunately, while the use of ultrasound has increased in the clinical settings, medical student education on the utility and use of ultrasound has lagged. Furthermore, undergraduate medical education programs vary in their approach to ultrasound curriculum, with some failing to include any exposure or instruction. The aim of this project was to design an ultrasound curriculum suitable for first year medical students at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Following a needs assessment, we first developed learning objectives aligned with our current body systems-based block curriculum. From these learning objectives, we created ultrasound lectures that could be delivered in-person or via a flipped classroom model, hands-on scanning sessions immediately following gross anatomy labs, and one interprofessional education (IPE) workshop where physician assistant students guided medical students through an extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma (eFAST) exam. Learner competency was assessed in two ways: questions were added to the end of block written exams, and students were expected to recognize anatomical structures from ultrasound images during anatomy practical exams. Students also had the opportunity to provide qualitative feedback of the ultrasound curriculum on the end of block surveys and via optional surveys distributed after the IPE workshop. Overall, survey data and student feedback show that learners found the lectures to be effective in developing foundational knowledge and regarded the IPE workshop as very effective in developing basic ultrasound scanning skills.