title: Integration of Ultrasound in Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National Survey of Directors' Experiences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the rise of ultrasound in medical education (USMED), multiple barriers impede the implementation of such curricula in medical schools. No studies to date have surveyed individuals who are successfully championing USMED programs. This study aimed to investigate the experiences with ultrasound integration as perceived by active USMED directors across the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2014, all allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States were contacted regarding their status with ultrasound education. For schools with required point-of-care ultrasound curricula, we identified the USMED directors in charge of the ultrasound programs and sent them a 27-question survey. The survey included background information about the directors, ultrasound program details, the barriers directors faced toward implementation, and the directors' attitudes toward ultrasound education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred seventy-three medical schools were contacted, and 48 (27.7%) reported having a formal USMED curriculum. Thirty-six USMED directors responded to the survey. The average number of years of USMED curriculum integration was 2.8 years (SD, 2.9). Mandatory ultrasound curricula had most commonly been implemented into years 1 and 2 of medical school (71.4% and 62.9%, respectively). The most common barriers faced by these directors when implementing their ultrasound programs were the lack of funding for faculty/ equipment (52.9%) and lack of time in current medical curricula (50.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Financial commitments and the full schedules of medical schools are the current prevailing roadblocks to implementation of ultrasound education. Experiences drawn from current USMED directors in this study may be used to help programs starting their own curricula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California USA (V.A.D.); School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California USA (J.Y.F., S.L.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California (A.C.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California (J.C.F.); and Department of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina USA (M.B.). vadinh@llu.edu.
authors.forename: Vi Am
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Dinh
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California USA (V.A.D.); School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California USA (J.Y.F., S.L.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California (A.C.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California (J.C.F.); and Department of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina USA (M.B.).
authors.forename: Jasmine Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California USA (V.A.D.); School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California USA (J.Y.F., S.L.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California (A.C.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California (J.C.F.); and Department of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina USA (M.B.).
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California USA (V.A.D.); School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California USA (J.Y.F., S.L.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California (A.C.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California (J.C.F.); and Department of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina USA (M.B.).
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiem
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California USA (V.A.D.); School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California USA (J.Y.F., S.L.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California (A.C.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California (J.C.F.); and Department of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina USA (M.B.).
authors.forename: J Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California USA (V.A.D.); School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California USA (J.Y.F., S.L.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California (A.C.); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California (J.C.F.); and Department of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina USA (M.B.).
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaivas
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D012577:Schools, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States
keywords: barriers; medical education; national survey; ultrasound; ultrasound education