Graduates of this Enhanced Skills program will be able to:

• Use POCUS in the emergency department, hospital ward, and outpatient clinic to expedite diagnosis, guide clinical decision-making, and reduce procedural complications.
• Advance POCUS in family medicine by teaching learners, leading quality-improvement initiatives, and championing the use of POCUS in a variety of clinical settings.

The program follows a flexible 6-month curriculum:

• POCUS Foundations (1 block): This is always your first block. Fellows scan patients independently and record a predetermined number of scans (e.g. 25 cardiac, 25 lung, 25 abdominal, 25 aorta). They review assigned readings and videos, attend scanning shifts, and work 4-6 days in a Family Medicine clinic. No other clinical work is scheduled during this block.
• Core Rotations (3 blocks): The usual rotations include Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist / Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine. If allowed at the host site, these rotations may be completed in a longitudinal format (e.g. 10-12 ED shifts and 2-3 hospitalist blocks spread over a 3-month period).
• Electives (2 blocks): Fellows can tailor their POCUS training to subspecialty areas that interest them. Common electives include Cardiology/Echo, Critical Care, Sport Medicine, Obstetrics, and Anesthesia.

Weekly scanning shifts provide individualized POCUS training throughout the program, and a longitudinal experience in an office practice ensures that Family Medicine remains at the centre of your experience:

• Scanning Shifts (0.5 days/week): Fellows spend one half-day per week with a POCUS preceptor. During these shifts, fellows scan patients in the Emergency Department or inpatient ward, usually at the Winchester Hospital.
• Half Day in Family Medicine (0.5 days/week): Fellows spend one half-day per week in an office clinic, which provides opportunities to use POCUS in a real-world Family Medicine practice.

Fellows are loaned a Butterfly IQ+ handheld ultrasound for the duration of their training. Fellows are expected to record images and collect cases for discussion at scanning shifts and community of practice meetings.

Fellows are integral members of the Family Medicine POCUS Community of Practice. They present images and cases for review; deliver journal clubs and short presentations; and mentor other learners. Meetings are held 4-6 times per year. The location rotates through different DFM teaching sites.

Fellows also participate in academic activities at the Faculty of Medicine:

• Winchester POCUS: Fellows participate in the Winchester POCUS training in July. This includes four half-day workshops where residents practice first by scanning each other and later by scanning patients in the hospital.
• UGME POCUS Sessions: Fellows use POCUS and standardized patients to teach preclerkship medical students about anatomy and the physical examination. They also help facilitate a summer POCUS Bootcamp for elective students.
• Academic Day & Image Review: Fellows may teach POCUS to junior residents at academic day sessions. They may also review the images recorded by residents and provide asynchronous feedback using the Butterfly App.
• Courses & Faculty Development: Fellows may also be asked to assist POCUS instructors at community courses and faculty development events.

Fellows are expected to participate in these academic activities and present at all community of practice meetings in lieu of a scholarly project.

Applicants currently enrolled in a Family Medicine residency program should contact [email protected] with a CV and personal letter before September 15.

Part-time and re-entry applicants are welcome to apply. A key goal of the program is to develop POCUS expertise within the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa. For this reason, preference will be given to family physicians with an outpatient practice and a current faculty appointment.

Re-entry applicants should apply for funding through the Re-Entry Program administered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Applicants without Ministry funding may still be able to participate and obtain continuing education credits by paying a tuition fee. Contact us for details.