Ultrasound Diagnostics: A Modern and Relevant Specialization

Over 60 trainees completed their final certification exam for the primary specialization in general ultrasound diagnostics after a three-month training course. The Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine and Radiology conducted the training.

The training supervisor, Professor Vitaliy Syvolap, states that there is a strong demand among practicing doctors for a second specialty. Each year, three cycles are conducted, with no fewer than 60 participants per cycle. Specialists from various medical fields strive to master ultrasound technology, which has become essential in patient care. Analyzing clinical cases is a crucial part of the training for this course. To promote an exchange of ideas and experiences, participants in the practical sessions looked at and diagnosed specific patients. Vitaliy Viktorovych considers it beneficial to teach ultrasound diagnostic skills to senior medical students, ensuring they start independent practice equipped with this knowledge.

The exam was held at the university's Interdepartmental Training Center, involving experts from the Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine and Radiology and Professor Mykhailo Kolesnyk from the Department of Therapy and Cardiology. Knowledge was assessed in both the theoretical part of the course and practical skills. Thirty-two trainees from Zaporizhzhia took the exam in person, including doctors relocated from occupied territories. Due to martial law and the dispersed locations of trainees across Ukraine, over 30 participants demonstrated their skills remotely.

Associate Professor Nataliia Tumanska highlights a key feature of this specialization: ultrasound devices are now widely accessible, with even portable varieties, such as probes that connect to smartphones. While convenient, systematic knowledge and experience are essential. Only through numerous patient examinations can specialists develop the expertise needed to make accurate diagnoses using ultrasound.

The training cycle attracted many anesthesiologists and intensivists, who often work under extreme conditions, requiring them to independently assess situations, make rapid decisions, and perform interventions under ultrasound guidance. The course also included many general practitioners, family medicine doctors, obstetricians-gynecologists, surgeons, and other specialists. All trainees will receive certificates, but most importantly, they will gain invaluable knowledge from highly skilled professionals.