
EP55. POCUS for the People: Ultrasound, Global Health & the IM-FAST Protocol – Feat. Dr. Philip Angelides
How can point-of-care ultrasound help close diagnostic gaps in regions where access to traditional imaging and other healthcare resources may be limited? In this episode of The Sonography Lounge, Lori Green and Trisha Reo of Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute sit down with Dr. Philip Angelides, an internal medicine hospitalist at the University of Colorado whose work focuses on global health, tropical medicine, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) education. Dr. Angelides discusses his work at Hospital Nacional de Coatepeque, a 230-bed public hospital in southwestern Guatemala, where he leads a ward-integrated POCUS curriculum in collaboration with local physicians and educators. The conversation explores how portable ultrasound can provide an accessible, affordable, and immediate diagnostic tool in resource-limited environments. A major focus of the discussion is IM-FAST. Dr. Angelides explains how this structured approach can help clinicians integrate focused ultrasound into everyday internal medicine practice and how it is being implemented in Guatemala. The program continues to grow, with POCUS initiatives being developed alongside internal medicine training, including FAST exams for trauma, ultrasound-guided central line placement, triage, and so much more. POCUS in global and resource-limited healthcare Addressing diagnostic gaps with portable ultrasound The development and implementation of IM-FAST Case Studies from rural settings Building sustainable POCUS education in Guatemala and other resource-limited environments Expanding POCUS globally Making diagnostic solutions more accessible and affordable Opportunities for POCUS clinicians to teach, mentor, review images, or collaborate in Guatemala Dr. Angelides welcomes clinicians and educators interested in learning more about IM-FAST, implementing it within their own programs, or supporting the team's work in Guatemala and worldwide through teaching, mentorship, image review, or direct collaboration. POCUS-trained clinicians who are fluent in Spanish are especially encouraged to connect. Contact Dr. Philip Angelides: philip.angelides@cuanschutz.edu ______________________ Check out Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute's Live and Online Internal Medicine & Family Medicine POCUS programs: https://www.gcus.com/cme/point-of-care-pocus-ultrasound













