Training Course in Clinical Abdominal Ultrasound - TrainR4U (2025-26)

Training course on clinical abdominal ultrasound through robotic tele-ultrasound system.

Notice of Opening

https://apps.uc.pt/courses/EN/course/10281

Course in Barcelona (Spain) runs from 29/09/2025 to 07/11/2025

• Online: 29/09/2025 to 31/10/2025
• Face-to-face: 04/11/2025 to 07/11/2025 with the following sessions*:
• Location: Barcelona – Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (SJD)
• Places Available: 30

Group 1 (maximum 10 students): 04/11/2025 - 14h30 to 19h30 and 05/11/2025 - 08h30 to 13h30 (5 hours each day)
Group 2 (maximum 10 students): 05/11/2025 - 14h30 to 19h30 and 06/11/2025 - 08h30 to 13h30 (5 hours each day)
Group 3 (maximum 10 students): 06/11/2025 - 14h30 to 19h30 and 07/11/2025 - 08h30 to 13h30 (5 hours each day)

Course in Coimbra (Portugal) runs from 13/10/2025 to 21/11/2025

• Online: 13/10/2025 to 14/11/2025
• Face-to-face: 19/11/2025 to 21/11/2025 with the following sessions*:
• Location: Coimbra – Medicine Faculty – University of Coimbra
• Places Available: 30

Group 1 (maximum 10 students): 19/11/2025 - 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10 hours)
Group 2 (maximum 10 students): 20/11/2025 - 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10 hours)
Group 3 (maximum 10 students): 21/11/2025 - 8h30 to 13h30 and 14h30 to 19h30 (10 hours)

Course in Lisbon (Portugal) runs from 13/10/2025 to 21/11/2025

• Online: 13/10/2025 to 14/11/2025
• Face-to-face: 18/11/2025 to 21/11/2025 with the following sessions*:
• Location: NOVA Medical School (NMS) - Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
• Places Available: 36

Group 1 (maximum 9 students): 18/11/2025 - 8h00 to 19h00 (10 hours)
Group 2 (maximum 9 students): 19/11/2025 - 8h00 to 19h00 (10 hours)
Group 3 (maximum 9 students): 20/11/2025 - 8h00 to 19h00 (10 hours)
Group 4 (maximum 9 students): 21/11/2025 - 8h00 to 19h00 (10 hours)

* Enrolment in the groups/sessions will take place during the online component of the course and depends on the places available for each group. Placement in the groups/sessions will depend on the order of enrolment and will be balanced in terms of numbers, so that all participants can have the best learning experience. There may be a reduction in the number of groups, and therefore days, depending on the number of people enrolled on the course.

The learning program is specially targeted to all those that use ultrasound diagnosis on a daily basis, that need the skill, experience and additional training time. Medical students and students from the field of imaging can also apply.

The learners will need to have a background medical education that is relevant to the content of the program and as such in terms of requisites they will have to provide accredited documentation of their academic/professional experience as well as a letter of commitment towards the course.

All candidates should have the following required course prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology; Medical Terminology; Intro to Physics.

Demonstration of abdominal ultrasound by a specialist, through robotic tele-ultrasound tool.

Main objective of Clinical Abdominal Ultrasound Training is to capacitate current and future health professionals to acquire/improve skills on that imaging technique.

Module 1. Physics of US (Ultrasound) and Doppler

• 1.1 - Image generation
• 1.2 - Notion of echogeneity
• 1.3 - Introduction to hardware: machines and probes
• 1.4 - Description of an US finding

Module 2. US of the liver and biliary tract

• 2.1 - Indications
• 2.2 - Patient positioning
• 2.3 - Methods for image obtention/US exploration of the liver and biliary tract
• 2.4 - Normal anatomy
• 2.5 - Main pathologic conditions of the liver and biliary tract

Module 3. US of the pancreas and spleen

• 3.1 - Indications
• 3.2 - Patient positioning
• 3.3 - Methods for image obtention/US exploration of the pancreas and spleen
• 3.4 - Normal anatomy
• 3.5 - Main pathologic conditions

Module 4. US of the kidneys and bladder

• 4.1 - Indications
• 4.2 - Patient positioning
• 4.3 - Methods for image obtention/US exploration of the kidneys
• 4.4 - Normal anatomy
• 4.5 - Main pathologic conditions

Module 5. US of the vessels

• 5.1 - Indications
• 5.2 - Normal anatomy and spectral analysis

Module 6. FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma)

• 6.1 - FAST
• 6.2 - E-FAST

Online training

TrainR4U is a 40-hour b-learning course, focusing on abdominal ultrasound imaging, that includes both theoretical (online) and practical (hands-on) training.

Concerning the theoretical training (online component), the course has a sequential structure organized into six thematic modules.

Two hours of daily work is recommended, but the learner can go forward at his own pace along the modules, as long as he successfully completes the proposed assessment activities.

The methodology is based on learners' active learning, with the teacher's monitoring. The theoretical concepts about US will be presented through texts, and case-based learning will be used as an assessment and for applying and contextualizing concepts.

Learning approaches:

• Readings – for theoretical explanations and key concepts.
• Clinical cases – learners will be guided through US-based clinical cases that will be particularly useful to improve the clinical reasoning about the matters.

The teaching process is based on systematically monitoring learners' work, namely in the study of the contents, clarification of doubts, and the accomplishment of learning activities.

Assessment will be taken by individual activities (tests) with automatic feedback, and clinical cases; the student's progression to the next module depends on a passing grade of a minimum of 10 points.

Student's learning will be monitored by the teachers. Each module has its forum for communication and doubts.

Hands-on training

Hands-on training takes place in raining hubs composed of several training stations, and the student will be challenged to carry out various activities related to the ecographic study. These stations are connected and enhanced by an innovative robot-assisted co-manipulation system; the teacher (offsite mentor) and the onsite robotic system will work together in a shared control manner to conduct the training.

Students will be guided to perform tasks related to the ultrasound exploration of the abdomen of the participating pairs, serving the students as models of each other – to recognize a certain anatomical structure or to make a simple measurement of an organ or part of it. The robotic system implemented in the training station will allow the external mentor to monitor and control the ultrasound equipment with high precision, allowing the student to receive tactile feedback and positional correction performed by the specialist who is at a distance.

Online training

• Individual activities (tests) with automatic feedback, and clinical cases.
• Student's progression to the next module depends on a passing grade of a minimum of 10 points.

Hands-on training

• students are guided to carry out tasks related to the ultrasound exploration of the abdomen of the participating pairs, serving students as models for each other - to recognize a certain anatomical structure or make a simple measurement of an organ or part of it.
• Immediate feedback will be given by the teacher with demonstration of procedures.

The activities will be classified on a scale from 0 to 20 values, with the final grade being the arithmetic average of the theoretical component and the practical component in equal parts (50%T and 50%P).

Students who pass the course may request a certificate issued by the University of Coimbra. Fees will apply. More information at https://www.uc.pt/en/academicos/propinas/emolumento.