POCUS Fest: Celebrating Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Medical Students

For every interest, we can find a celebration where like-minded communities rally together. After attending a festival, we leave inspired and motivated by the opportunity to focus on what’s important to us. POCUS Fest 2019 was no different!   First Annual POCUS Fest  On Saturday, May 11th, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine […]

For every interest, we can find a celebration where like-minded communities rally together. After attending a festival, we leave inspired and motivated by the opportunity to focus on what’s important to us. POCUS Fest 2019 was no different!  

First Annual POCUS Fest 

On Saturday, May 11th, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), the largest medical school in the United States, hosted point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) experts from the POCUS Certification Academy™ for the first annual POCUS Fest. Students and residents were invited to this immersive ultrasound experience.  The event included an introduction to the world of POCUS, with lectures and demos from POCUS Certification Academy clinicians Victor V. Rao MBBS, DMRD, RDMS (APCA), Manager, Global Clinical Content & POCUS Education and James Day RDCS, RVT, Point-of-Care Ultrasound Specialist.  

Over 300 point-of-care ultrasound enthusiasts participated in person or via live stream. A highlight for most, was when students and residents participated in hands-on sessions that included POCUS scanning challenges in cardiac, abdominal, MSK and lung practice casesThey also had the unique opportunity to watch POCUS in action and engage in games, which increased their familiarity with handheld ultrasound device. Many coined this as an unforgettable encounter with POCUS.   

Why POCUS Fest? 
We provide and foster opportunities for healthcare professionals to collaborate in the shared mission of improving global health and setting standards of excellence in POCUS. Wbelieve that providing engaging opportunities dedicated to point-of-care ultrasound for students will help us manifest these goals. As the POCUS movement surges forward, the skills for effectively and efficiently deploying this modality are in high demand. A key reason that POCUS is taking off is due to its transferability to any medical specialty. Therefore, we must ensure that the future medical professionals are well equipped and prepared to deliver optimal patient care with this revolutionary device. 

Through this community, we expect to see alliances form that will bring on new waves of POCUS innovation. As great minds come together and master the art of POCUS, there is no telling where they will take us next. POCUS Fest 2019 was much more than passing on knowledge; it was about gaining it as well—our partners, volunteers, staff and attendees all learned from one another.  

Continued Development
Students and residents that partook in POCUS Fest shared with us a resounding call for an annual POCUS Fest. 100% of survey respondents rated the event ”Good” or ”Excellent” and each said they would recommend it to a colleague. This is just the beginning of our outreach focusing on point-of-care ultrasound for medical students. 

What our attendees enjoyed most was the individualized learning and the ability to see POCUS in action. POCUS Fest became a conduit and motivator of knowledge. A principal takeaway was the pursuit of continuing education through similar events, professional development opportunities or obtaining certification. Many became attracted to what POCUS certification adds to their credentials of training and knowledge. Key benefits of certification include:  

  • Standing out from peers and gaining a competitive edge in one’s desired medical field 
  • Demonstrating a high level of commitment to patient safety  
  • Bolstering POCUS skills and confidence  
  • Joining an ever-growing, innovative community of healthcare professionals 

The inspiration that this gathering of like-minded individuals invoked was the need to grow and develop—always. The motto to never stop learning wasn’t an individualist theme being cheered in the Fest’s atmosphere. Rather, it was one that chimed loudly for the medical profession. An attitude that declares that we must continue to develop newfound point-of-care ultrasound knowledge to raise the bar of excellence for healthcare and patient care.  

Here’s to an even bigger and better POCUS Fest 2020! 


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