SonoWorld (www.sonoworld.com) is the leading ultrasound education website dedicated to improving the quality of
life around the world. Evolving from a small start-up a few years ago to a global
resource, the site now has over 2.5 million visitors a year.
Dedicated visionary individuals with a desire to help are behind the efforts, sharing
their expertise and knowledge for educating ultrasound professionals both in developing
and developed countries. SonoWorld is currently expanding with the launch of regional
portals and a new specialty site (SonoWorld Echo).
Since SonoWorld's debut in 2001, the global physician and sonographer communities
have expanded their ultrasound knowledge through this free online tool dedicated to
communicating all aspects of the profession on an international platform. "I saw
there was a need, in both developed and developing countries, for web-based education,"
said Barry B. Goldberg, MD, chairman of SonoWorld's medical advisory board. "Even
in the most remote parts of the world, computers are available."
Dr. Goldberg emphasized that SonoWorld's advisory board is comprised of leaders from
every section of the ultrasound profession who bring their expertise to this voluntary
position.
Those who log onto SonoWorld find that in just one click they can be transported to
the latest ultrasound news, peer-written and reviewed clinical articles as well as
technology and product updates. Other content includes textbook chapters and interesting
case studies. The result is that clinicians, sonographers and key industry professionals
connect for learning and training while also raising their ultrasound awareness level
and moving this medical imaging specialty forward.
"The idea is to provide help for those looking to learn or even purchase equipment
or need ergonomic or other information; anything related to the ultrasound community,"
said Dr. Goldberg who has in his professional career spent decades traveling around
the world educating physicians and sonographers.
International societies have recognized the benefits of participating in the global
SonoWorld community and are contributors of articles and other content. As part of
the "Contributing Organizations" program, journal articles are provided courtesy of
the sponsoring societies and selected by the editors of the journals they produce.
The sharing of these selected articles on SonoWorld provides the contributing journals
with exposure to potential subscribers in the global marketplace. A growing number
of highly prestigious societies have signed on to partner with SonoWorld, including:
the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB), the European
Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFUMB), the International Society
of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG), the Australasian Society for Ultrasound
in Medicine (ASUM), the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and the
Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU).
At the 92nd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of
North America held in Chicago November 26 through December 1, 2006, SonoWorld showcased
a new echocardiography site. The link is found within www.sonoworld.com which features general ultrasound, vascular and Ob/Gyn materials.
The next expansion is dedicated to shaping SonoWorld to meet the needs of individual
countries; additions include incorporating all the core educational materials and
integrating regionalized information in local languages, such as specific practice
guidelines native to the country or region, local events and professional society
information.
The first of the dedicated "regional" sites up and running is SonoWorld Europe (www.sonoworldeurope.com) which is in English and under the medical direction of Professor David Cosgrove
from London, England. The second regional site is SonoWorld Latin America (www.sonoworldLA.com) which recently launched in both Spanish and Portuguese under the medical direction
of Professor Giovanni Cerri from Brazil and Leandro Fernandez, MD from Venezuela.
The third planned regional site is SonoWorld India under the medical direction of
Professor Mukund Joshi from Mumbai, India. More regional sites are on their way.
Once live, each of the autonomous sites works closely with the regional ultrasound
societies in the development of educational and informational content. The groups
work in tandem to best serve the needs of ultrasound practitioners in the region while
providing direct access to the entire collection of SonoWorld educational materials.
"We have taken information to the world, and the world is using it," Dr. Goldberg
said. "All of this material should prove useful in raising the level of patient care
by increasing ultrasound knowledge."
