MSK-POCUS for Common Upper Extremity Conditions – Portland

This intermediate, hands-on workshop at University of Western States in Portland is part of the Musculoskeletal Point-of-Care Ultrasound (MSK-POCUS) certificate pathway offered by UWS with The Chicago School's Office of Continuing Education. It covers ultrasound evaluation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand using structured scanning protocols.

Most of the 12 hours are spent scanning under supervision. The course opens with ACR Appropriateness Criteria, covering when ultrasound is preferred over radiography, MRI or MR arthrography. Regional content covers rotator cuff tendinopathy and tears, calcific tendinopathy, subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis, AC joint pathology and glenohumeral effusions; common extensor and flexor tendons, distal biceps and triceps, UCL injury with dynamic valgus stress testing, olecranon bursitis and cubital tunnel syndrome; and wrist and hand tendons, De Quervain tenosynovitis, trigger finger, ganglion cysts and carpal tunnel syndrome, including median nerve cross-sectional area measurement. The weekend closes with trauma pearls, correlative imaging cases, and a competency assessment.

Instructors are Dr. Melinda Novak, DC, DACBR, RMSK, who teaches radiology at UWS, and Dr. Patrick Battaglia, DC, DACBR, a chiropractic radiologist with fellowship training in MSK ultrasound. The asynchronous Foundations of MSK-POCUS course is the prerequisite.

Saturday, February 27, 2027, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM and Sunday, February 28, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM Pacific. The program offers 12 PACE CE hours when attended in full. General admission is $800 and is non-refundable.

• •Perform systematic ultrasound examinations of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand
• •Differentiate common upper extremity tendon and ligament pathology using sonographic imaging
• •Recognize sonographic features of joint effusion, bursitis, and inflammatory conditions
• •Identify common upper extremity peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes using ultrasound
• •Integrate ultrasound findings into evidence-informed clinical decision-making and documentation