Training Course in Clinical Abdominal Ultrasound - TrainR4U (2024-25)
Organic Unit Faculty of Medicine (FMUC)
Course Type Non-degree course
Type of teaching Blended Learning
Language of instruction English
Edition 7-11
Duration 40 hours
Number of ECTS 1,5
Accreditation N/A
Tuition fee 200€
Places Available
For Spain (Barcelona): 50
For Portugal (Coimbra): 30
For Portugal (Lisbon): 50
For Poland (Lodz): 30
For Ireland (Dublin): 30
Important Dates
Application deadlines from 08.07.2024 to 26.07.2024
( available soon )
Presentation
Training course on clinical abdominal ultrasound through robotic tele-ultrasound system.
Notice of Opening
Course Dates
Course in Spain runs from 07/10/2024 to 15/11/2024
- Online: 07/10/2024 to 08/11/2024
- Face-to-face: 11/11/2024 to 15/11/2024 with the following sessions*:
- Location: Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (SJD) Barcelona, Spain
- Places Available: 50
Group 1 (maximum 13 students): 11/11/2024 - 14h30 to 19h30, and 12/11/2024 - 8h30 to 13h30 (5 hrs each day)
Group 2 (maximum 13 students): 12/11/2024 - 14h30 to 19h30, and 13/11/2024 - 8h30 to 13h30 (5 hrs each day)
Group 3 (maximum 13 students): 13/11/2024 - 14h30 to 19h30, and 14/11/2024 - 8h30 to 13h30 (5 hrs each day)
Group 4 (maximum 13 students): 14/11/2024 - 14h30 to 19h30, and 15/11/2024 - 8h30 to 13h30 (5 hrs each day)
Course in Portugal (Lisbon) runs from 14/10/2024 to 28/11/2024
- Online: 14/10/2024 to 15/11/2024
- Face-to-face: 25/11/2024 to 28/11/2024 with the following sessions*:
- Location: NOVA Medical School (NMS) - Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
- Places Available: 50
Group 1 (maximum 13 students): 25/11/2024 and 26/11/2024, 8h30 to 13h30 (5 hrs each day)
Group 2 (maximum 13 students): 25/11/2024 and 26/11/2024, 14h30 to 19h30 (5 hrs each day)
Group 3 (maximum 13 students): 27/11/2024 and 28/11/2024, 8h30 to 13h30 (5 hrs each day)
Group 4 (maximum 13 students): 27/11/2024 and 28/11/2024, 14h30 to 19h30 (5 hrs each day)
Course in Portugal (Coimbra) runs from 14/10/2024 to 27/11/2024
- Online: 14/10/2024 to 15/11/2024
- Face-to-face: 26/11/2024 and 27/11/2024 with the following sessions*:
- Location: Coimbra – Medicine Faculty – University of Coimbra
- Places Available: 30
Group 1 (maximum 15 students): 26/11/2024 - 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10hrs)
Group 2 (maximum 15 students): 27/11/2024 - 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10hrs)
Course in Poland runs from 21/10/2024 to 11/12/2024
- Online: 21/10/2024 to 22/11/2024
- Face-to-face: 10/12/2024 and 11/12/2024 with the following sessions*:
- Location: Lodz, Poland
- Places Available: 30
Group 1 (maximum 15 students): 10/12/2024 – 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10hrs)
Group 2 (maximum 15 students): 11/12/2024 – 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10hrs)
Course in Ireland runs from 21/10/2024 to 11/12/2024
- Online: 21/10/2024 to 22/11/2024
- Face-to-face: 10/12/2024 and 11/12/2024 with the following sessions*:
- Location: Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Places Available: 30
Group 1 (maximum 15 students): 10/12/2024 – 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10hrs)
Group 2 (maximum 15 students): 11/12/2024 – 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10hrs)
* Enrolment in the groups/sessions will take place during the online component of the course and depends on the places available for each group. Placement in the groups/sessions will depend on the order of enrolment and will be balanced in terms of numbers, so that all participants can have the best learning experience. There may be a reduction in the number of groups, and therefore days, depending on the number of people enrolled on the course.
Target audience
The learning program is specially targeted to all those that use ultrasound diagnosis on a daily basis, that need the skill, experience and additional training time. Medical students and students from the field of imaging can also apply.
The learners will need to have a background medical education that is relevant to the content of the program and as such in terms of requisites they will have to provide accredited documentation of their academic/professional experience as well as a letter of commitment towards the course.
All candidates should have the following required course prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology; Medical Terminology; Intro to Physics.
Differentiating characteristics of the course
Demonstration of abdominal ultrasound by a specialist, through robotic tele-ultrasound tool.
Learning Goals
Main objective of Clinical Abdominal Ultrasound Training is to capacitate current and future health professionals to acquire/improve skills on that imaging technique.
Syllabus
Module 1. Physics of US (Ultrasound) and Doppler
- 1.1 - Image generation
- 1.2 - Notion of echogeneity
- 1.3 - Introduction to hardware: machines and probes
- 1.4 - Description of an US finding
Module 2. US of the liver and biliary tract
- 2.1 - Indications
- 2.2 - Patient positioning
- 2.3 - Methods for image obtention/US exploration of the liver and biliary tract
- 2.4 - Normal anatomy
- 2.5 - Main pathologic conditions of the liver and biliary tract
Module 3. US of the pancreas and spleen
- 3.1 - Indications
- 3.2 - Patient positioning
- 3.3 - Methods for image obtention/US exploration of the pancreas and spleen
- 3.4 - Normal anatomy
- 3.5 - Main pathologic conditions
Module 4. US of the kidneys and bladder
- 4.1 - Indications
- 4.2 - Patient positioning
- 4.3 - Methods for image obtention/US exploration of the kidneys
- 4.4 - Normal anatomy
- 4.5 - Main pathologic conditions
Module 5. US of the vessels
- 5.1 - Indications
- 5.2 - Normal anatomy and spectral analysis
Module 6. FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma)
- 6.1 - FAST
- 6.2 - E-FAST
Teaching Methodologies
Online training
TrainR4U is a 40-hour b-learning course, focusing on abdominal ultrasound imaging, that includes both theoretical (online) and practical (hands-on) training.
Concerning the theoretical training (online component), the course has a sequential structure organized into six thematic modules.
Two hours of daily work is recommended, but the learner can go forward at his own pace along the modules, as long as he successfully completes the proposed assessment activities.
The methodology is based on learners' active learning, with the teacher's monitoring. The theoretical concepts about US will be presented through texts, and case-based learning will be used as an assessment and for applying and contextualizing concepts.
Learning approaches:
- Readings – for theoretical explanations and key concepts.
- Clinical cases – learners will be guided through US-based clinical cases that will be particularly useful to improve the clinical reasoning about the matters.
The teaching process is based on systematically monitoring learners' work, namely in the study of the contents, clarification of doubts, and the accomplishment of learning activities.
Assessment will be taken by individual activities (tests) with automatic feedback, and clinical cases; the student's progression to the next module depends on a passing grade of a minimum of 10 points.
Student's learning will be monitored by the teachers. Each module has its forum for communication and doubts.
Hands-on training
Hands-on training takes place in raining hubs composed of several training stations, and the student will be challenged to carry out various activities related to the ecographic study. These stations are connected and enhanced by an innovative robot-assisted co-manipulation system; the teacher (offsite mentor) and the onsite robotic system will work together in a shared control manner to conduct the training.
Students will be guided to perform tasks related to the ultrasound exploration of the abdomen of the participating pairs, serving the students as models of each other – to recognize a certain anatomical structure or to make a simple measurement of an organ or part of it. The robotic system implemented in the training station will allow the external mentor to monitor and control the ultrasound equipment with high precision, allowing the student to receive tactile feedback and positional correction performed by the specialist who is at a distance.
Assessment
Online training
- Individual activities (tests) with automatic feedback, and clinical cases.
- Student's progression to the next module depends on a passing grade of a minimum of 10 points.
Hands-on training
- students are guided to carry out tasks related to the ultrasound exploration of the abdomen of the participating pairs, serving students as models for each other - to recognize a certain anatomical structure or make a simple measurement of an organ or part of it.
- Immediate feedback will be given by the teacher with demonstration of procedures.
The activities will be classified on a scale from 0 to 20 values, with the final grade being the arithmetic average of the theoretical component and the practical component in equal parts (50%T and 50%P).
Certification
Students who pass the course may request a certificate issued by the University of Coimbra. Fees will apply. More information at https://www.uc.pt/en/academicos/propinas/emolumento.
Professors
Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra. Regent of the Optional Course of Clinical Ultrasound at FMUC. Radiology Consultant - Medical Imaging Service, CHUC. Coordinator of the Magnetic Resonance area of SIM. Coordinator of the Gastro-intestinal Imaging area at SIM. Fellow of the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR). Member at Large, Research Committee of the European Society of Radiology (ESR). Editorial Board of the European Journal of Radiology Open. Editorial Scientific Board of Acta Radiological Portuguesa (ARP). Secretary-General of the Portuguese Society of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (SPRMN). Coordinator of the School of the Portuguese Society of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (ESPRMN). President of the Portuguese Association of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (APRANEMN).
Gracious Assistant at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra. Hospital Radiology Assistant - Medical Imaging Service, CHUC. Member of the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal. Differentiation Internship in Abdominal Radiology at The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Amsterdam. Author and co-author of several publications in international scientific journals and communications in national and international meetings. Collaboration as co-investigator in scientific research projects at CHUC, NKI and Instituto Pedro Nunes.
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
Medical Doctor / Radiologist. Bachelor's Degree in Medicine, University of Barcelona (2000-2006). Residency training program in Radiology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona), (2007-2011). Radiologist at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona) since 2011 in the Body division. Coordinator of Innovation of the Radiology Department at PSSJD since 2020.
Márcio Navalho holds a Medical Degree and a PhD Degree in Medicine by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FML). Specialist in Radiology by Santa Maria University Hospital, he was a Clinical Fellow at the David Gefen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA and at Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France. He holds the Degree of Imaging Consultant by the Portuguese Medical Association. He was a Researcher at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, having participated as a Lecturer in several subjects at FML. Former Director of Medical Imaging for the whole of the Lisbon region of Trofa Saúde Group. He is currently Chair of the "Medicine 4.0" Subject at the Nova Medical School. Also Researcher at the Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), in the Musculoskeletal and Health Innovation groups and CEO of the International Centre for Telemedicine.
João Abrantes holds a Medical Degree in Medicine by the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS) of the University of Porto. Specialist in Radiology by the Portuguese Medical Association. Clinical fellow on thoracic imaging by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Imaging Informatics fellow at the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington D.C., USA. Holds a European Diploma of Radiology (EDIR) by the European Society of Radiology. He is currently the coordinator of the Breast Unit at the Radiology Department - Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro EPE. Committee Member of the European Society of Medical Imaging Informatics Young Club and coordinator of the working group on Artificial Intelligence of the Portuguese Society of Senology.