The Department of Interventional Pulmonology at G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital (GKNMH), a well-established centre for Respiratory care for 20 years, considering the belief “Ultrasound is the Stethoscope of the Future”, organised the 2nd edition of the Thoracic Ultrasound Workshop on 14th June 2025.
The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Ragupathy Veluswamy, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, and he delivered the Presidential Address at the inauguration.
The event was part of GKNMH’s ongoing efforts to promote point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in pulmonology and critical care.
The hands-on workshop focused on enhancing diagnostic and procedural skills in bedside thoracic ultrasonography — a fast-evolving tool in respiratory medicine. It was led by senior pulmonologists and ultrasound experts from around the country.
The workshop included didactic sessions, live demonstrations, and skill stations on pleural effusion assessment, pneumothorax detection, lung consolidation imaging, and guided thoracentesis and other interventional procedures.
The keynote address and highlight of the event was the talk by Dr Tudor Toma from the United Kingdom, who is a pioneer/researcher in the field of lung ultrasound and AI, on “Artificial intelligence in Lung Ultrasound”, as AI is infiltrating healthcare in a big way, which can facilitate and guide the clinician towards precision of care for our patients.
Dr. Sundarakumar, Head, Department of Interventional Pulmonology, emphasised the increasing importance of lung ultrasound in bedside care: “In an era of non-invasive, rapid diagnostics, lung ultrasound is becoming an essential skill for every pulmonologist. This workshop aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice.”
Dr. Vijayaravinth, Interventional Pulmonologist and Organising Secretary, and Team of Pulmonologists Dr. Senthilkumar and Dr. Harivignesh from the hospital, conducted the workshop.
Attendees appreciated the structured learning modules and one-on-one guidance provided during the hands-on sessions. Many hailed it as a timely initiative to upgrade clinical competencies in a resource-effective manner, especially in emergency and ICU settings.
Participants practised real-time scanning techniques using high-end ultrasound machines on mannequin models, animal models and patient volunteers.
GKNM Hospital, a reputed tertiary care centre, continues to serve as a hub for academic excellence and skill-based medical education in South India.
With the success of this program, the Pulmonology Department plans to make the lung ultrasound workshop an annual fixture and a “Centre of Excellence of Learning Thoracic Ultrasound” to disseminate skills pertaining to Thoracic Ultrasounds and build a stronger community of ultrasound-trained respiratory care physicians.
The event concluded with certificate distribution and an interactive Q&A session, fostering collaboration and continuous learning among participants.
