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About the Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Certification Academy™

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Certification Academy offers globally recognized certifications for healthcare providers to independently validate their POCUS knowledge, application, and proficiency. We partner with our constituents through rigorous assessments, continual learning opportunities, and community building around important topics relevant to POCUS. The POCUS Certification Academy is a part of Inteleos, a non-profit organization dedicated to the highest quality care for patients around the world through ultrasound standards and certification.

Our family of brands under inteleos

The pioneering organizations working alongside the POCUS Certification Academy in setting strategy and ultrasound standards include:

  • The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®)
    For more than 40 years, ARDMS has set the standard for administering examinations and awarding credentials in areas of ultrasound. ARDMS empowers sonographers to provide exceptional patient care through rigorous assessments and continual learning.
  • The Alliance for Physician Certification & Advancement™ (APCA™)
    Spun out of ARDMS in 2016 to meet the exclusive needs of physicians, APCA is dedicated to continual learning and providing high-quality and compassionate patient care through certification. APCA joins ARDMS in furthering its long-standing mission of raising the global standards of excellence in healthcare and patient safety.
  • The Inteleos Foundation increases access to education, training, and certification to improve patient outcomes and practitioner proficiency.

We believe that the future of ultrasound is portable, mobile, and provides exceptional diagnostic potential to improve healthcare practice.

If you are ready to lead the future of healthcare with the POCUS Certification Academy, please contact us at POCUS@Inteleos.org.

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POCUS Certification Academy Council Members

The POCUS Certification Academy Council has a leading role in the development of the certificates and certifications of the POCUS Certification Academy. The council members are composed of volunteers who are subject-matter experts and are leading the practice by building the future of point-of-care ultrasound in action. They work with Inteleos staff and more than 50 other volunteers to develop high standards and credentials with the goal of improving global healthcare. Due to the dynamic nature of POCUS, we approach development as an ongoing process and we are always refining our programs and clinical offerings to be aligned with current standards and best practice in ultrasound.

Dr. R Eugene Zierler head shot
Chair

R. Eugene Zierler, MD, RPVI
Vice Chair

Nena Mason, Ph.D.
Member and Assessment Committee Chair

Ian Thomas, MD, MSc, RMSK, RSCC, CSCS
Ahmed Abuzaid
Member and Engagement Committee Chair

Ahmed Sami Abuzaid, MD, EMHL
Vlahaki1 min
Member

Dean Vlahaki, MBBS, RDMS, FRCP
Member

David Hyatt, PA-C, MPAS
Member

Ashley Hannani, BS, RDCS (AE), RVT
Member

Roger Shen, MD
Karen Avagush
Member

Karen Avgush, MD
Dr. R Eugene Zierler head shot

Chair

R. Eugene Zierler, MD, RPVI

R. Eugene Zierler, MD, RPVI is Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington and Medical Director of the D. E. Strandness Jr. Vascular Laboratory at the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He received an MD degree in 1976 from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, followed by a General Surgery residency at the University of British Columbia and a Vascular Surgery fellowship at the University of Washington.

Dr. Zierler’s research interests have focused on noninvasive diagnostic techniques for vascular disease. Over the last 30 years, he has been involved in a series of projects based on the use of ultrasonic duplex scanning for screening and follow-up of vascular problems, including carotid artery disease, lower extremity arterial disease, surveillance of vein bypass grafts, deep vein thrombosis, and renal artery disease. He has served on the Board of Directors of Inteleos, a certification organization that includes the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, the Alliance for Physician Certification and Advancement, and the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy, and he is a Past-President of the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories.

Vice Chair

Nena Mason, Ph.D.

Nena Lundgreen Mason is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education, Longitudinal Physiology Curriculum Leader, ultrasound educator, and gross anatomist at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Hanover New Hampshire. She earned her Ph.D. in Physiology and Developmental Biology from Brigham Young University. Dr. Mason spent 8 years prior to her appointment at Geisel developing and directing clinical gross anatomy and ultrasound education programs at two newly opened medical schools. A celebrated educator, Dr. Mason has been honored with the “Faculty Member of the Year” award for excellence in teaching several times along with other teaching-related accolades throughout her career. She is also engaged in teaching ultrasound courses at many levels including courses for prehospital providers, emergency medicine clinicians, and medical students. Dr. Mason also directs an innovative research program in medical education centered around the development of pedagogy in teaching clinical ultrasound skills to medical students using human cadaveric materials.

Member and Assessment Committee Chair

Ian Thomas, MD, MSc, RMSK, RSCC, CSCS

Dr. Thomas is the owner of Thomas Sports and Regenerative Orthopedics (TSARO), Associate Professor at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. Medical School and Clinical Director of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography. He has a particular interest in injury prevention, biomechanical analysis, diagnostic ultrasonography, regenerative medicine, and interventional orthopedics using cutting-edge sono-surgical techniques with a focus on gymnastics and golf medicine.

Dr. Thomas has over 10 years of coaching experience as a strength and conditioning coach, head coach and program director in men’s artistic gymnastics, fellowship experience caring for elite ice skaters, ballet dancers, gymnasts and other performing arts athletes. Dr. Thomas has written book chapters in ultrasonography including the upcoming third edition of “Mayeaux’s Essential Guide to Primary Care Procedures: Deep Vein Thrombosis Evaluation,” co-authored the 2nd Edition of The American College of Sports Medicine’s “Sports Medicine: A Comprehensive Review,” the premier textbook for training sports medicine physicians.

Dr. Thomas was awarded the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education ranking him among the top 12 graduating residents in the country. He was also awarded 1st place national leadership award from the AAFP Emerging Leaders Institute for building an ultrasound curriculum for his residency, the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, and 13 academic institutions across 3 countries as well as fundraising for an ultrasound curriculum for the only Family Medicine Residency in Malawi, Africa.

Currently, Dr. Thomas teaches point-of-care ultrasound to physicians both nationally and internationally and serves as the Chair of the Ultrasound Assessment Council for Inteleos, Ad Hoc Instructor for the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine, and Lead Instructor for the Global Ultrasound Institute. Dr. Thomas endeavors to apply his training from the top experts in the field of Sports Medicine, Orthopedics and Interventional Pain to provide excellent care in the areas of Sports and Regenerative Medicine, Sports Performance, Return to Sport Optimization, and Interventional Orthopedics.

Ahmed Abuzaid

Member and Engagement Committee Chair

Ahmed Sami Abuzaid, MD, EMHL

Dr. Abuzaid is a clinical imaging cardiologist at Alaska Heart and Vascular Institute. Sami is a multimodality imager in Echocardiography, Vascular Ultrasound, Nuclear Cardiology, Cardiac Computed Tomography, and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance. Dr. Abuzaid is passionate about making high quality cardiac imaging to answer the clinical questions that we encounter on daily basis. He enjoys teaching POCUS to many of his students and trainees. Sami enjoys fishing, scuba diving and hiking.

Vlahaki1 min

Member

Dean Vlahaki, MBBS, RDMS, FRCP

Dean Vlahaki, MBBS, RDMS, FRCP, graduated from the University of Queensland Medical school in Brisbane, Australia in 2011. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency training and POCUS specialty training at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada in 2017. Vlahaki now practices at multiple sites in a network of academic tertiary care hospitals in Hamilton, Canada. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor with McMaster University and a major contributor to the Emergency Medicine Point-of-Care Ultrasound Fellowship program at McMaster University.

Member

David Hyatt, PA-C, MPAS

David has been a PA for over 7 years, working in interventional radiology for the past 6 years and performing a wide range of image guided procedures. He enjoys using imaging to assist with and help guide the care he provides to his patients. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, getting outdoors and staying active.

Member

Ashley Hannani, BS, RDCS (AE), RVT

Ashley Hannani is a dual board-certified cardiovascular sonographer, Point of Care Ultrasound coordinator, and health care activist. Throughout her career, she has been at the forefront of educational talks, organization-wide procedural developments, and the implementation of innovative imaging software. She currently works in Los Angeles at one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, where she guides the cardiovascular imaging department and mentors staff throughout the organization.

When she is not working on projects she has likely underestimated, Ashley enjoys traveling, attempting to make patients laugh during their procedures, baking, and watching U.S. figure skating.

Member

Roger Shen, MD

Dr. Shen has 10 years of work experience as an emergency medicine physician. He is a certified physician of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, currently working in Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital as section head of emergency physicians. He is also an international member of American College of Emergency Physicians. He is enthusiastic in integrating POCUS into clinical practice and currently is leading the department POCUS training program.

Karen Avagush

Member

Karen Avgush, MD

Dr. Karen Avgush is a Saint James School of Medicine graduate and completed her Internal Medicine residency at Wellspan York Hospital. She is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at several medical schools including Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and SUNY Upstate Medical University. Dr. Avgush currently serves as the Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at United Health Services in Binghamton, NY. Her professional interests include resident education and mentorship, research and case report publication, and, of course, Point of Care Ultrasound. Her passion for Point of Care Ultrasound drove her to become certified in numerous areas. She has created and implemented several POCUS curricula during her career to bring a structured approach to ultrasound education to her learners. In her free time, she enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including hiking and snowboarding, travel, and spending quality time with friends and family.

POCUS Certification Assessment Committee Members

Deepa Shivani

Dr. Deepa Shivnani is a pediatric otolaryngologist specializing in airway management and point-of-care ultrasound. With an MBBS, MD, DNB in ENT, and a Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship, she researches innovative imaging like laryngeal ultrasound. An award-winning author and speaker, she is a consultant for the WIO Leadership and Mentorship Committee. Outside work, she enjoys dancing and cooking diverse cuisines.

Magdy Imam Abdel Aleem Taha Mohamed

Dr. Magdy Imam is an Intensive Care Anaesthesiologist with extensive experience managing critically ill patients. He specializes in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for diagnostics, procedural guidance, and hemodynamic assessment in critical care. Passionate about education and clinical innovation, Dr. Magdy actively trains and mentors healthcare professionals in advanced echocardiography and ultrasound, promoting excellence in bedside diagnostics and decision-making

Gigi Liu

Dr. Gigi Liu is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, serving as a hospitalist and proceduralist with expertise in POCUS and ultrasound-guided procedures. She has over a decade of experience in medical education across all levels and is a test author for the NBE Critical Care Echocardiography exam.

Tarek Khater

Dr. Khater is an internist with 20+ years of global experience. He trained at Ain Shams University and served as a Fellow at Nasser Institute Hospital. He founded the first premarital genetic screening center in the Middle East and has published internationally. His expertise spans internal medicine, sports medicine, pain management, ultrasound-guided procedures, and musculoskeletal diagnostics. He’s trained Columbia residents in USG at Harlem Hospital.

Theodoros Aslanidis

Dr. Theodoros K. Aslanidis, currently working as Intensive Care Unit consultant-researcher, has wide experience from different roles in the field of prehospital emergency medicine, anesthesia and critical care. Served as Head of Postgraduate Studies, College of Offshore and Remote Medicine, Pretty Bay, Malta, where he remain currently as faculty member.

James Wilcox

Dr. James Wilcox, MD, is a Sports and Family Medicine physician specializing in musculoskeletal ultrasound and POCUS. After earning his MD from Indiana University (2014), he completed fellowships in Sports Medicine and POCUS, and held directorial roles for Staff Medics and Rugged Maniac races. He taught at Indiana University School of Medicine and now leads the Sports Medicine Department at ProMotion, Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital, Abu Dhabi.

 

Amma Ahmed

Ammar Ahmed is a Cardiology Specialty Trainee in the UK with a strong passion for point-of-care ultrasound and echocardiography. He is dedicated to advancing cardiac care through innovative imaging techniques and is committed to ongoing learning and professional development in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

POCUS Certification Engagement Committee Members

Falguni Patel

Falguni Patel is an Advanced Pediatric Sonographer at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago with over 20 years’ experience. She holds degrees from Triton College and Oregon Institute of Technology and multiple ARDMS credentials. Falguni specializes in pediatric MSK ultrasound, research, and education. She volunteers and presents for SPR, ARDMS, and SDMS, chairs ARDMS Pediatric Sonography, and is passionate about the impact of diagnostic imaging on patient care.

Kelechia Adioha

Dr. Kelechi Adioha is a dedicated medical doctor with a strong interest in radiology. Passionate about precision medicine and non-invasive diagnostics, he has pursued internationally recognized ultrasound certifications. As a POCUS enthusiast, Dr. Adioha is committed to advancing ultrasound use across Africa and beyond. He is particularly fascinated by advanced ultrasound techniques, including CEUS, elastography, and 3D ultrasound.

Alicia Guerrero

Alicia Guerrero is a certified OBGYN sonographer and physician with experience in women’s health across the U.S., Ecuador, and Venezuela. At Genesis MercyOne, she performs detailed ultrasound exams including first trimester screenings, anatomic scans, and fetal growth monitoring. FMF-accredited and fluent in English/Spanish, she is known for expertise in prenatal diagnostics, clinical care, and compassionate service.

Jayashri Pawar

Dr. Jayashri Pawar is a skilled Sonologist with 16 years’ experience in diagnostic ultrasound, delivering high-quality patient care and collaborating with medical teams. Proficient in advanced imaging techniques and equipment, she maintains accurate records and stays updated with latest protocols. She completed a 2-year Clinical Innovation Fellowship in Fundamentals of AI in Healthcare at Mass General Brigham – Harvard Medical School.

POCUS Certification Education Committee Members

Tara Cielma

Tara brings over 18 years of experience in diagnostic medical sonography, driven by a passion for clinical excellence, education, and innovation. Throughout her career, she has held diverse leadership roles, including Lead Sonographer, Clinical Educator, Interim Vascular Lab Supervisor, Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Liaison, and Medical Affairs, contributing significantly to the advancement of ultrasound practices and patient care.

Tara leads initiatives focused on improving sonography education and infection prevention standards across multiple medical specialties. She is known for blending deep technical expertise with an unwavering commitment to patient care. She holds multiple credentials through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) in abdomen, OB/GYN, neurosonography, vascular technology, and fetal echocardiography, as well as a sonography registry through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

Her leadership and contributions to the profession have been recognized with the distinguished title of Fellow of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (FSDMS) and is currently serving on the SDMS and SDMS Foundation Board of Directors. Tara is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of sonographers and POCUS providers through active engagement and volunteerism. She serves on several committees, including Vice-Chair of the Inteleos POCUS Education Committee, Board Liaison to the SDMS Events Management Committee and member of the Society for Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU) Advanced Practice Special Interest Group.

An accomplished writer and educator, Tara has authored numerous journal articles and textbook chapters, co-authored a pediatric registry review textbook and regularly contributes as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS). She also shares her expertise through workshops, mentorship programs, and hands-on training sessions that support institutions in establishing or enhancing their pediatric imaging capabilities. With a deep commitment to elevating professional standards, fostering education, and driving innovation, Tara continues to shape the future of sonography, bringing vision, energy, and expertise to every endeavor she undertakes.

Daniela Lobo Flores

Dr. Daniela Lobo Flores is a Family Medicine physician and Assistant Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. She earned her MD from UNAH in 2003, completed residency at IU (2006–2009), and a POCUS fellowship in 2022. Since 2015, she has focused on mentoring future family physicians, innovative curricular design, and expanding rural healthcare access, aiming to reduce the primary care gap in underserved areas.

Thushini Goonewardene

Dr. Thushini Goonewardene MBBS, PG. Dip. HSDM (Col), MD Emergency Medicine (Col), POCUS – ARDMS, is an Emergency Physician from Sri Lanka with a special interest in trauma and point of care ultrasound. She is passionate about teaching and enjoys composing music in her spare time.

Shirish Sachdeva

Dr. Shirish Sachdeva, PT, DPT, MS, RMSK, is a physical therapist in Terre Haute, Indiana, licensed in NY, MD, and IN, with 15 years’ experience across diverse settings. He holds a BPT, MS from Univ. of Pittsburgh, DPT from Utica University, and multiple certifications in MSK ultrasound and dry needling. A former clinical director and educator, he trains PT students and medical professionals and serves on the editorial board of the Global Journal of Orthopedics Research.

Georgios Tsangalis

Dr. Georgios Tsangalis is a nephrologist with 14 years of experience specializing in ultrasound. He practices at a teaching university hospital and a dialysis clinic, blending patient care and education. Actively involved in ultrasound training (POCUS and vascular access), Dr. Tsangalis regularly teaches interns, junior doctors, and nursing staff, promoting excellence in nephrology and ultrasound-guided care.

Susan Raaymakers

Bio coming soon!

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