Dr. Rajiv Thavanathan

Dr. Rajiv Thavanathan

Profile

Dr. Rajiv Thavanathan MD, FRCPC
Assistant Professor
TOH DEM Roles:
Program Director, Area of Focused Competency (AFC)
Acute Care Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS)
External Roles:
Clinician Investigator, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Site: The Ottawa Hospital (TOH)



Biography

Medical school

  • Memorial University of Newfoundland (2014)

Residency/Fellowship

  • Emergency Medicine University of Ottawa (2021)
  • Acute Care Point of Care Ultrasound (2018)

Academic Focus

  • EM Ultrasound

Award Highlights

  • CAEP EUC Research Award – Prospective Study (2025)
  • CAEP EUC Research Award – Systematic Review (2024)
  • CAEP Resident Research Abstract Award (2018)

Selected Publications

  • Marshall RA,…Thavanathan R,…Olszynski P. Transesophageal echocardiography during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is associated with alternate areas of compression: Analysis of healthcare provider experiences with potential implications for conventional compressions. PLoS One. 2026 Jan 20;21(1):e0339974. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0339974. PMID: 41557663; PMCID: PMC12818596.
  • Kim DJ,…Thavanathan R,…Olszynski P. POCUS literature primer: key papers on aorta and deep vein thrombosis POCUS. CJEM. 2025 Feb 4. doi: 10.1007/s43678-025-00865-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39903423.
  • Teran F… Woo MY, Thavanathan R…Abella BS; Resuscitative TEE Collaborative Registry (rTEECoRe) Investigators. Development and Implementation of a Multicenter Registry for Resuscitation-Focused Transesophageal Echocardiography. Ann Emerg Med. 2024 Oct 15:S0196-0644(24)00448-7. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2024.08.004. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39412464.
  • Kim DJ…Thavanathan R…Burwash-Brennan T. POCUS literature primer: key papers on cardiac and lung POCUS. CJEM. 2024 Aug 26. doi: 10.1007/s43678-024-00755-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39183217.
  • Qamar SR…Thavanathan R, Berger FH. CETARS/CAR Practice Guideline on Imaging the Pregnant Trauma Patient. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2024 May 30:8465371241254966. doi: 10.1177/08465371241254966. PMID: 38813997.
  • Kim DJ,…Thavanathan R,… Olszynski P. POCUS literature primer: key papers on POCUS in cardiac arrest and shock. CJEM. 2024 Jan;26(1):15-22. doi: 10.1007/s43678-023-00611-1. Epub 2023 Nov 23. PMID: 37996693.
  • Wilson SJ, Thavanathan R, …Woo MY, Perry JJ. Test Characteristics of Emergency Medicine-Performed Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Emerg Med. 2023 Oct 19:S0196-0644(23)01214-3. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.09.005. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37855790.
  • Kim DJ… Thavanathan R… Lalande E. Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Literature Primer: Key Papers on Renal and Biliary POCUS. Cureus. 2023 Apr 8;15(4):e37294. doi: 10.7759/cureus.37294
  • Prager R… Thavanathan R, Woo MY, McInnes MDF. (2021). Blinding practices during acute point-of-care ultrasound research: the BLIND-US meta-research study BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, doi: 10.1136/bmjebm-2020-111577
  • Thavanathan, R., Woo, M., & Hall, G. (2020). The future is in your hands – Handheld ultrasound in the emergency department. CJEM, 22(6), 742-744. doi:10.1017/cem.2020.449
     

Personal interests/Quote

"We tell ourselves stories in order to live."

Relevant Links

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Updated - June 2026