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Trainee and senior registrars, consultants, and associate professors participated in the course   

ISN Educational Ambassador Saeed Ahmed* recently visited the Khan Research Laboratory Hospital (KRL) in Islamabad, Pakistan, to deliver a comprehensive point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) course for nephrologists with participants from several different institutions and specialties within the country. 

Professor Ahmed presents at the training course 

The training combined theoretical instruction with extensive hands-on practice, covering ultrasound physics, machine use, and clinical applications across cardiac, lung, abdominal, and vascular care. Participants learned to acquire and interpret images, integrate findings with clinical judgment, and apply POCUS to real patient scenarios, enhancing their ability to identify critical conditions and make fast, evidence-based decisions. The course followed a hybrid format, with monthly virtual sessions on POCUS held in advance of the in-person training. 

The course aimed to encourage the routine use of POCUS in nephrology practice, supporting accurate bedside diagnosis, improved patient management, and safer care. Next steps include organizing follow-up workshops, the development of a nationally recognized structured training curriculum under the Pakistan Society of Nephrology, and training additional local faculty mentors to ensure sustainability and fostering collaborations with national and international partners (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan and UK Kidney Association) to expand and embed the reach of POCUS education. 

Hands-on training allowed participants to acquire and interpret ultrasound images in real time 

According to Nosheen Anjum, consultant nephrologist at KRL, the training enhanced their capacity to train future healthcare professionals and strengthened their role as a regional center for advanced clinical skills. She commented, “It has improved patient safety and empowered clinicians with real-time decision-making abilities.” 

This workshop was the third in a series of ISN-supported POCUS trainings in Pakistan. Together, the series has built momentum for integrating ultrasound into nephrology practice in the country. Read about the 2024 course and the 2025 course. 

Since 2009, the ISN Educational Ambassadors Program (EAP) has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver tailored solutions in resource-limited settings, including the establishment of dialysis services, enhancement of interventional nephrology skills, improvement in renal pathology, and the launch of community-based screening initiatives. By deploying experts for hands-on training and fostering ongoing mentorship beyond the visit, the EAP catalyzes sustained improvements in patient care and system resilience. For centers like the KRL Hospital in Islamabad, this means not just short-term gains, but a platform for long-term self-reliance and excellence in kidney care.

Applications are accepted year-round: Apply today! 

POCUS training combined imaging practice with guided observation  

* Professor Ahmed is a consultant nephrologist & GIM physician and clinical director of medical specialties at South Tyneside Sunderland Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom and chair of the UK Diagnostic Interventional Nephrology.