The Ultrasound Lab provides discipline-specific POCUS training designed to improve clinical decision-making under uncertainty.

Our courses move beyond image acquisition. We teach clinicians how to integrate ultrasound findings with physiology, pre-test probability, and clinical context. Each curriculum is practical, high-yield, and designed for immediate bedside application.

Nephrology POCUS Intensive

Hemodynamics, Volume Assessment & Deresuscitation

This hands-on intensive is designed specifically for nephrologists and clinicians managing complex volume states.

The course centers on real clinical questions:

  • Will additional fluid increase cardiac output?

  • Will this patient tolerate diuresis or ultrafiltration?

  • When is venous congestion driving kidney injury?

Rather than relying on single surrogates (e.g., IVC alone), participants learn an integrated, physiologic approach to volume assessment using:

  • Lung ultrasound

  • Focused cardiac assessment

  • LVOT VTI for dynamic cardiac output estimation

  • Venous Doppler (portal and hepatic veins) for congestion assessment

Renal and bladder ultrasound are incorporated within this curriculum to complete the evaluation of AKI and obstructive physiology at the bedside.

Renal & Bladder Applications (Integrated Within the Nephrology Track)

Participants develop a question-driven approach to renal POCUS:

  • Is obstruction contributing to AKI?

  • Is hydronephrosis truly present?

  • Is the Foley positioned correctly?

  • Is urinary retention complicating management?

Emphasis is placed on avoiding common pitfalls (e.g., parapelvic cysts mimicking hydronephrosis) and building confidence in technically challenging patients.

Key Skills You Will Develop

  • Dynamic assessment of fluid responsiveness using cardiac output surrogates (LVOT VTI)

  • Lung ultrasound interpretation for pulmonary congestion and fluid tolerance

  • Venous Doppler (portal/hepatic) to assess back-pressure and venous congestion

  • Structured integration of ultrasound into decisions around fluids, diuresis, and ultrafiltration

  • Renal/bladder ultrasound for obstruction, retention, and AKI phenotyping

  • Application of ultrasound to cardiorenal physiology and AKI pathways

Who This Is For

Nephrologists, advanced practice providers, fellows, and hospital-based clinicians managing AKI, cardiorenal syndrome, and complex volume states.

Hospitalist POCUS

Practical Bedside Ultrasound for Inpatient Decision-Making

This course is tailored to hospital medicine and emphasizes high-impact applications that change inpatient management without requiring advanced hemodynamic Doppler techniques.

The curriculum focuses on:

  • Lung ultrasound

  • Basic cardiac assessment

  • Practical IVC interpretation (with limitations)

  • Focused renal and bladder ultrasound

Participants learn to apply ultrasound within a Bayesian framework — using imaging findings to update clinical probability, not as binary diagnostic labels.

Key Skills You Will Develop

  • Lung ultrasound for pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and pleural effusions

  • Focused cardiac assessment for systolic function and pericardial effusion

  • Practical IVC interpretation grounded in physiologic context

  • Bedside renal/bladder ultrasound for AKI and urinary retention

  • Ultrasound-guided clinical reasoning for common inpatient syndromes

Who This Is For

Hospitalists, advanced practice providers, residents, and inpatient teams seeking practical POCUS skills that translate immediately to patient care.

Teaching Philosophy

At The Ultrasound Lab, ultrasound is taught as a decision tool — not a pattern-recognition exercise.

Courses emphasize:

  • Physiologic interpretation of images

  • Bayesian reasoning at the bedside

  • Clinical integration over memorization

The goal is durable clinical judgment — not view acquisition alone.

About Dr. Patel

5/5 Stars – Outstanding Introductory POCUS Course

As a practicing physician, I recently completed an introductory Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) course with Dr. Sharad Patel and can confidently say it was one of the best educational experiences I’ve had in years.

Sharad is a highly knowledgeable and brought an exceptional combination of expertise, genuine enthusiasm, and approachability to the course. His teaching style was encouraging and inspiring throughout. He made everyone in the room feel capable of mastering the basics, regardless of prior ultrasound experience. His positive energy was contagious and created a very supportive learning environment.

The course materials were well-organized with a visually clear PowerPoint presentation that logically built concepts without overwhelming the learner.

High-quality ultrasound video clips demonstrated both normal anatomy and a wide range of pathological findings.

Hands-on training was another highlight. The ultrasound machine was top-tier and the instructor provided a live model for practice. This allowed us to immediately apply probe positioning, knobology, and image optimization techniques under direct guidance. The small-group format ensured everyone received personalized feedback and plenty of scanning time.

Overall, this course delivered exactly what an introductory POCUS program should: strong foundational knowledge, excellent teaching, superb visual resources, and meaningful hands-on practice—all delivered by an inspiring educator who clearly loves what he does and wants his learners to succeed.

I highly recommend this course for any physician looking to build confidence and competence in bedside ultrasound. I left feeling excited and empowered to start incorporating POCUS into my clinical practice.

-Eric A. Hansen, DO