Ultrasonography for Nephrologists Course

Course Description

This is a comprehensive didactic and hands-on course that covers the physics of ultrasound, operation of equipment, acquisition of images, kidney biopsy, vascular ultrasound, basics of interpretation, normal and abnormal findings, and logistics. There are 6 hours of scanning human subjects including patients with various abnormalities. This 2-day course is offered up to 3 weekends per year.

Emory offers a CME-accredited, comprehensive two-day training course that includes both didactic and practical training in ultrasonography for nephrologists. This training covers all aspects of ultrasonography for nephrologists, including:

Diagnostic imaging of native kidneys and allografts
Percutaneous biopsy of native kidneys and allografts
End-stage kidneys, bladder, ultrasound guidance for venous access
Coding, billing, reporting, and equipment
No prior training or experience required

Faculty

Charles O’Neill, MD, is a professor of medicine in the Renal Division at Emory University School of Medicine, where he has directed the Renal Ultrasonography Program since 1994. He has extensive experience in teaching and training nephrologists in ultrasonography, including workshops at the National Kidney Foundation, the American Society of Nephrology national meetings, and World Congress of Nephrology meetings. He is a founding member and past president of the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology

Kevin Rooker, RT, RDMS, RVT is an ultrasound consultant based in the Dallas - Fort Worth region of Texas. He has over 35 years of clinical experience in the field of ultrasound. Mr. Rooker has been involved in the didactic and hands-on training of physicians and sonographers throughout the United States and internationally for over 30 years. He is a member of the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine, as well as the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Society of Vascular Technology.

Cancellation policy

Because there are usually more people wanting to attend than there is room, cancellations often deprive someone of the opportunity to attend and are occurring at increasing frequency. Therefore, we have had to institute the following policy:

If registration is not full, then cancellations receive a 100% refund (or credit towards the next course). If cancellation is less than two weeks before the course, there is no refund.
If the registration is full and we are able to fill the slot, the refund (or credit towards the next course) is 100%. Otherwise, the refund is 50%.
If cancellation is less than two weeks before the course, there is no refund.
For more information, contact woneill@emory.edu

Schedule

Saturday, October 25, 2025

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Practical physics of sonography

9:30 -10 a.m. Knobology

10-10:15 a.m. Break

10:15-11:15 a.m. Imaging techniques

11:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Hands-on session: normal kidneys, biopsy guidance, knobology

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Interpretation: Developing a mindset for interpreting ultrasonography

2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Hands-on session: cysts, stones, hydronephrosis, CKD, neoplasms, fistula.

4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Interpretation: Cysts, stones, hydronephrosis, artifacts, normal variants

Sunday, October 26, 2025

8:30 - 9:15 a.m. Interpretation: Parenchymal disease, vascular disease, neoplasms

9:15 - 9:45 a.m. Sonography in renal transplantation

9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Sonography of the lower urinary tract

10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Hands-on session: transplant, Doppler, general abdominal, biopsy phantom, practice interpretation

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 - 2:15 p.m. Logistics: costs, coding, reporting, records, quality assurance

2:15 - 2:45 p.m. Interpretation: other abdominal organs

2:45 - 3:30 p.m. Hands-on session: bladder, practice interpretation, biopsy phantom

3:30 - 4 p.m. Interpretation: practice studies

Renal Medicine Fellowship Programs section navigation