Ultrasound Course Summary
Robert A. Sofferman, MD, Course Director, Ultrasound Course Director (Head and Neck) American College of Surgeons National Ultrasound Faculty In both Boston in 2010 and San Francisco in 2011 on the day before the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, an Exported American College of Surgeons (ACS) Credentialing Course on Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasound has been available for interested otolaryngologists. Although the course is defined by its title as emphasizing an endocrine orientation, it in fact allows the attendee to understand the application of ultrasound to virtually all areas of head and neck anatomy and disease. The course requires completing a preliminary online Basic Ultrasound CD ROM, attendance at the five didactic lectures, and a full afternoon hands-on skill session. This skill session allows the course attendee to perform ultrasound examinations on volunteer patients, many with relevant pathologic conditions, under the watchful eye of an experienced ultrasound faculty. The course culminates in a multiple choice examination and practicum and ensures that the individual has properly absorbed and understood the process. In each of the courses in Boston and San Francisco, 62 to 65 individuals have been credentialed, thanks the volunteer efforts of 14 unique faculty members. Each faculty member is an experienced endocrine surgeon with significant hands-on experience with ultrasound. This course is the beginning of a clinical immersion in ultrasound. Once this exciting application becomes a part of one’s clinical armamentarium, it will be impossible to practice general otolaryngology and neck surgery without it at arm’s length. Office-based ultrasound is convenient for the patient, the ideal means of understanding the condition under study at the time of presentation, and a means of obtaining appropriate, focused cytology and culture material when required. The natural progression of this tool from practice to education of residents in all training programs will place ultrasound in its proper clinical position. To learn more about upcoming ultrasound courses at the 2012 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, check the Academy website www.entnet.org or contact meetings@entnet.org.
Robert A. Sofferman, MD, Course Director, Ultrasound Course Director (Head and Neck) American College of Surgeons National Ultrasound Faculty

In both Boston in 2010 and San Francisco in 2011 on the day before the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, an Exported American College of Surgeons (ACS) Credentialing Course on Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasound has been available for interested otolaryngologists.
Although the course is defined by its title as emphasizing an endocrine orientation, it in fact allows the attendee to understand the application of ultrasound to virtually all areas of head and neck anatomy and disease. The course requires completing a preliminary online Basic Ultrasound CD ROM, attendance at the five didactic lectures, and a full afternoon hands-on skill session.
This skill session allows the course attendee to perform ultrasound examinations on volunteer patients, many with relevant pathologic conditions, under the watchful eye of an experienced ultrasound faculty. The course culminates in a multiple choice examination and practicum and ensures that the individual has properly absorbed and understood the process.
In each of the courses in Boston and San Francisco, 62 to 65 individuals have been credentialed, thanks the volunteer efforts of 14 unique faculty members. Each faculty member is an experienced endocrine surgeon with significant hands-on experience with ultrasound.
This course is the beginning of a clinical immersion in ultrasound. Once this exciting application becomes a part of one’s clinical armamentarium, it will be impossible to practice general otolaryngology and neck surgery without it at arm’s length. Office-based ultrasound is convenient for the patient, the ideal means of understanding the condition under study at the time of presentation, and a means of obtaining appropriate, focused cytology and culture material when required. The natural progression of this tool from practice to education of residents in all training programs will place ultrasound in its proper clinical position.
To learn more about upcoming ultrasound courses at the 2012 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, check the Academy website www.entnet.org or contact meetings@entnet.org.