USC School of Medicine to host world congress on ultrasound for healthcare providers

The first World Congress on Ultrasound in Medical Education will be held in Columbia, S.C., April 29-May 1, bringing together physicians, medical students, educators and health care professionals from around the world to learn more about the technology known as the "stethoscope of the future."

The event will allow healthcare providers and medical educators to share experiences, expertise and thoughts on how best to incorporate the power of ultrasound into education and clinical practice.

"It is truly a world congress. We will have participants from over 20 nations including Germany, Italy, Brazil, India, China, and Australia," said Dr. Richard Hoppmann, dean of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. "Having this world stage for the School of Medicine, the University of South Carolina, and the Columbia community is a tremendous opportunity for us. At present we are among the world leaders in ultrasound education and hosting such a prestigious event only adds to our international standing. Major ultrasound manufacturers, leading-edge innovators in ultrasound technology, and global ultrasound leadership will be coming to Columbia for the meeting."

Hoppmann is president of the Society of Ultrasound in Medical Education, an organization created to bring medical educators and practitioners together to help direct this revolutionary change in medicine.

The event is sponsored by the Society of Ultrasound in Medical Education and WINFOCUS, and is being hosted by the USC School of Medicine at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. GE Healthcare is the event's corporate benefactor.

The congress schedule includes state-of-the-art plenary sessions, special topic concurrent sessions, expert panel presentations, abstract and poster presentations, hands-on ultrasound workshops, industry exhibits, and social activities to showcase the sites and talents of the university and Columbia.

Sessions will feature presentations by more than 50 worldwide leaders in ultrasound and education, including Dr. Abraham Verghese and Dr. Scott Dulchavsky. Verghese, a senior associate chair and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, is highly regarded as a master bedside clinician and physician writer. His most recent novel, "Cutting for Stone," was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than a year. Dulchavsky, whose research involves teaching ultrasound to the astronaut and cosmonaut crews of the International Space Station, will talk on "Extreme Ultrasound: Space Station and Beyond."