The Isnardi Foundation donated four state-of-the-art point-of-care ultrasound machines to UCSF Fresno, adding new tools for hands-on instruction and simulation-based learning.
"These Mindray machines are very advanced in the point of care world because they have a lot of AI tools, especially with cardiac imaging, which are useful in emergency medicine. They're very lightweight and easy to maneuver around," said Stephen Haight, a UCSF assistant professor of emergency medicine.
The machines are housed at the UCSF Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, where they are being used for instruction across multiple programs. Haight said the timing is especially helpful as the campus prepares to expand ultrasound training.
"This July, we're starting with our first ultrasound fellow, so we're doing some simulation stuff in the skills lab with the fellow as well," he said.
Haight said having the machines on site allows the program to offer ultrasound workshops more frequently and to a larger number of students.
"Previously, we had to have vendors come in and bring the machines every time we wanted to do an ultrasound workshop, so having these machines on site has been very helpful in facilitating ultrasound education," he said.
Faculty members say the technology gives learners real-world experience with lifesaving skills they will use in their medical careers.
"I think it will improve clinical care of patients because it makes it more broadly applicable to all practicing clinicians," Haight said.
Third-year UCSF Fresno emergency medicine resident Leyla Farshidpour said the new machines allow residents to practice advanced techniques.
"Yeah, we love the new machines. They let us do some pretty advanced ultrasound measurements," Farshidpour said.
She said the hands-on experience provides a unique educational opportunity, particularly in emergency scenarios.
"So for instance, we see a lot of patients in our E.R. with pulmonary embolism, so we're able to do like a tapsy score, look for signs of right ventricle strain, and so those are some cool things that we get to do with the machines," she said.
UCSF Fresno officials said they are grateful for the donation and hope to expand the program as enrollment grows.
"UC Merced is expanding its enrollment for UCSF Fresno for additional medical students in the Valley, and so we're at a point where we probably need another four machines for a total of eight and to be able to fully support that educational mission," Haight said.