Table 2.
A scoping review of various ultrasound curricula of undergraduate medical education reported in published literature
| Institution | Reference | Duration (years) | Format of information delivery | Instructional method | Curricular structure | Mode of Integration | Preclinical years | Clinical years | Instructors | Student-to-Instructor Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Hendriksz, Markman, and Pera [27] | 4 | Hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Staged/ Organ-systems based | Concurrently with anatomy and clinical courses |
Anatomy system blocks Cardiac and blood vessel Liver, gallbladder, and kidneys Ocular Fetal FAST examination Cardiac, vasculature, renal, lung |
Small-group hands-on learning sessions Expanded radiology |
Faculty | 8: 1 |
|
University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Davis University of California, San Francisco University of California, San Diego University of Southern California Stanford University Loma Linda University |
Chiem et al. [10] | 4 | Online materials (lectures, textbook chapters, simulated cases, and journal articles) + hands-on sessions | Flipped classroom |
Staged/Organ-systems based |
Concurrently with anatomy and physical examination courses |
Ultrasound Image Acquisition of Normal Anatomy and Physiology Basic Ultrasound Pathology Ultrasound Identification of Pathologic Conditions |
Pre-Senior Year Course Clerkships |
Peer educators | Not addressed |
| University of California, Irvine |
Fox et al. [28] Wilson et al. [29] |
4 | Open-access podcast lectures + hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Staged/Organ-system based | Expanded medical program of study |
Knobology Cardiovascular 1 and 2 GI Physiology Respiratory Musculoskeletal Genitourinary Head and Neck Review/Practice Ultrasound for Evaluation of Fever Focused Assessment of the Thorax Exam (FATE) Lung Ultrasound Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Ultrasound Cumulative Skills |
Two-hour workshop for identification of pathology prior to rotations | Peer educators with faculty assistance | 4: 1 |
| Wayne State University School of Medicine | Rao et al. [12] | 1 | Didactics, hands-on experience, clinical correlation components | Flipped classroom | Vertical | Expanded medical program of study |
Introduction to Ultrasound Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Vascular and Cardiac Ultrasound Ultrasound of the Abdomen Genitourinary Ultrasound Ultrasound and Procedural Skills |
Not applicable | Peer educators with faculty assistance | Not addressed |
| University of South Carolina Medical School |
Hoppmann et al. [4] Hoppmann et al. [1] |
4 | Web-based learning modules, video assignments, hands-on lab session | Not addressed | Vertical | Concurrently with anatomy, problem-based learning, clinical skills |
Anatomy Physiology Neuroanatomy Problem-Based Learning Introduction to clinical medicine: pathophysiology Pathology Physical diagnosis |
Emergency medicine "selective" Emergency medicine elective Critical care "selective" Radiology elective Clerkships (Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Surgery, OB-GYN, Pediatrics) Ultrasound independent 1-month study elective Capstone ultrasound course selective Acting internship with ultrasound access |
Faculty | Not addressed |
| West Virginia University School of Medicine | Mindari et al. [23] | 4 | Lectures, online videos, workshops, and practical hands-on sessions | Flipped classroom | Longitudinal | Concurrently as a "thread" with anatomy, basic science lectures, and physical examination courses |
Human Structures (6 modules, including introduction to ultrasound) Microbiology and Immunology Pathology Pharmacology Physical Diagnosis/Clinical Integration |
Clerkships (OB-GYN, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Anesthesia, Critical Care) Emergency and Critical Ultrasound Elective Radiology Elective |
Faculty | 2: 1 |
| Ohio State University College of Medicine |
Bahner et al. [11] Bahner and Royall [7] |
4 | Lectures + hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Vertical + longitudinal | Concurrently with anatomy and clinical reasoning course |
Musculoskeletal Anatomy Ultrasound Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis Anatomy Ultrasound Head and Neck Anatomy Ultrasound Introduction to Focused Ultrasound Elective Basic Course in Focused Ultrasound Protocols Elective Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access |
Specialty-Based Hands-On Ultrasound Experience Core Focused Ultrasound Protocols Emergency Focused Ultrasound Specialty-Based Hands-On Ultrasound Experience |
Faculty | Not addressed |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Nelson et al. [30] | 1 | Lectures, demonstration, hands-on session | Not addressed | Staged/Organ-systems based | Concurrently with gross anatomy and physical examination courses |
Basic ultrasound physics and instrumentation Focused cardiac ultrasound Focused thoracic ultrasound Focused abdominal ultrasound |
Not applicable | Faculty + senior residents | Not addressed |
| University of Sydney Medical School | Moscova et al. [31] | 1 | Hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Longitudinal | Incorporated into second year practical sessions | Imaging of abdomen, pelvis, and vascular ultrasounds | Note applicable | Specialists | Not addressed |
| A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine |
Kondrashova and Lockwood [32] and Kondrashova [33] |
2 | Video modules, hands-on sessions, and clinical correlation components | Flipped classroom | Staged/Organ-systems based | Integrated into gross anatomy and new Clinical Ultrasound Elective |
Introduction to US Neck Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Abdomen Gastrointestinal Pelvis Urinary system Lower Extremities Ocular Ultrasound Echocardiography Vascular & Extremities Clinical Ultrasound Elective |
Not applicable | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Russ et al. [36] | 4 | Video modules, hands-on sessions, and clinical correlation components | Flipped classroom | Vertical | Integrated into gross anatomy and Principles of Clinical Courses |
Ultrasound Physics and Introduction Musculoskeletal Parts I & II Cardiac Ultrasound Thoracic and Pulmonary Ultrasound Abdominal Ultrasound Head and Neck Ultrasound Cardiovascular Ultrasound Focused Abdominal Sonography in Trauma Ultrasound Abdominal Ultrasound Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Resuscitative Ultrasound |
Ultrasonography and Procedure course Clinical Ultrasonography Rotation |
Faculty + Peers | Not addressed |
| Harvard Medical School | Rempell et al. [15] | 2 | Lectures, case-based examples, hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Staged/organ-systems based | Integrated into gross anatomy and physical diagnosis course |
Anatomy lab curriculum Ultrasound Selectives |
Not applicable | Faculty | 4: 1 |
| Florida State University College of Medicine* | Not applicable | 3 | Large-group sessions/lectures, small group, and clinical learning center cases | Not addressed | Organ-systems Based | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed | Faculty | |
| University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville* | Not applicable | 4 | Online lectures + hands-on sessions | Flipped classroom | Organ-systems Based | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed | Faculty | 5–7: 1 |
| Bangladesh Institute of Health Technology* | Not available | 2 | Lectures, hands-on sessions, observation scanning sessions, field-hospital visits, case presentation | Not addressed | Organ-systems Based | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed |
Faculty Sonologist |
4: 1 |
| College of Medicine – University of Sharjah* | Not applicable | 5 | Lectures + hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Problem-based learning | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed | Faculty | 10: 1 |
| University of Limerick* | Not applicable | 2 | Hands-on annual sessions | Not addressed | Problem-based learning | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed |
Faculty Sonographers Visiting POCUS instructors |
4–5: 1 |
| Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine* | Not available | 4 | Lectures, hands-on sessions, independent scanning | Not addressed | Other/multi-track | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed |
Faculty Peer educators Sonographers |
30: 1 |
| University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio* | Not applicable | 4 | Didactics + hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Discipline based | Integrated with Clinical Ultrasound Education, clinical rotations, and specialty electives | Not addressed | Not addressed |
Faculty Peer educators Fellows and Residents |
Variable |
| Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine* | Not applicable | 4 | Hands-on workshops and sessions | Not addressed | Organ-systems based | Not addressed | Hands-on ultrasound workshops during the first two years, SonoSim ultrasound session (knobology and lung) | Optional hands-on sessions for students going into surgical specialties | Faculty | 3–5: 1 |
| UNC School of Medicine – Carolinas Medical Center* | Lewis et al. [37] | 1 | Lectures + hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Organ-systems based | Not addressed | Not applicable |
Imaging, Acquisition & Orientation The Cardiopulmonary Patient, The Acute Abdomen I, The Acute Abdomen II, The Pregnant Patient, Procedural Guidance, Ultrasound course wrap-up Clerkships |
Faculty Residents |
4: 1 |
| Rutgers New Jersey Medical School* | Not applicable | 4 | Lectures, online lectures, hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Organ-systems based | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed |
Faculty Emergency medicine residents |
5: 1 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University* | Not applicable | 4 | Online lectures + hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Organ-systems based | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed | Peer educators | 7–8:1 |
| University of California Riverside School of Medicine* | Not applicable | 4 | Didactics + hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Student-driven | Integrated with gross anatomy and clinical skills courses |
Gross Anatomy modules Clinical Skills with Point-of-Care Selective |
Point-of-care ultrasound sessions |
Faculty Peer educators |
3: 1 |
| Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine* | Not applicable | 4 | Didactics, hands-on sessions, podcasts | Not addressed | Organ-systems based | Not addressed | Not addressed | Not addressed | Sonographers | 20:1 |
| Texas A&M University* | (Texas A&M University, AY 2016–2017) | 2 | SonoSim, hands-on with SP and ultrasound machine | Not addressed | Longitudinal elective | Ran parallel to clerkships | Not applicable |
Fundamentals of Ultrasound Clerkship modules (General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and OBGYN) |
Faculty Peer educators |
4–6: 1 |
| Università di Pavia* | Not applicable | 6 | General lectures + small group hands-on sessions | Not addressed | Other/multi-track | Integrated into anatomy and physiology courses | Not addressed | Not addressed |
Faculty Peer educators Radiology and Emergency Residents |
4: 1 |
FAST focused assessment with sonography for trauma, FATE focused assessed transthoracic echocardiography, OB-GYN obstetrics and gynecology