The World Interactive Network Focused On Critical UltraSound (WINFOCUS) is the world leader scientific network committed to develop Point-of-Care Ultrasound practice, research, education, technology, and networking, addressing the needs of patients, institutions, services, and communities living in out-of-hospital and in-hospital critical scenarios.
Gabriele Via, MD, EDIC
Winfocus President
Dear colleagues, fellow PoCUS-practitioners, and friends,
2022 has been another year of struggle for many healthcare workers worldwide due to the persisting pandemic(s), the worrisome geopolitical global scenario, and the international financial crisis. Indeed, these challenging conditions have weighed even more on limited-resource healthcare systems.
WINFOCUS holds at the core of its vision and mission a mandate to make diagnostic imaging more accessible, patient-centered, and equitable by spreading PoCUS education and use in the most diverse clinical settings. Significant achievements were obtained by our community this year again, thanks to the collaborative work of many of you and the several groups part of WINFOCUS Network: 2022 was marked by the resurgence of in-person PoCUS educational events worldwide, the creation of the WINFOCUS Academy (https://winfocus.formacao.live/), and the milestone WINFOCUS World Congress 2022, a unique hybrid multi-lingual event in 11 languages offered for free to more than 21.200 registered participants from 127 countries (https://www.winfocusworldcongress.com).
In addition, the largest PoCUS Workshop ever organized has been a source of awe: the PoCUS One World Workshop ever organized has been a source of awe: the PoCUS One World Workshop (POW!) involved 1726 participants in 69 venues simultaneously, including several ones in underserved areas of the planet offering free PoCUS education. As a tangible sign of the growth of our organization, WINFOCUS membership increased in 2022 by 41%.
Allow me to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks. To our members for their trust in WINFOCUS educational offer and scientific authoritativeness. To WINFOCUS officers for their contribution to the success of our endeavors. To the industry for the generous support of our initiatives. To WINFOCUS Secretariat for their invaluable work at our organization’s service, accomplished with remarkable professionalism.
Several challenges and opportunities await us in 2023: continuing the update and broadening of our educational curricula; launching the new research projects; partnering with other scientific organizations in defining standards for PoCUS practice; strengthening the collaboration with humanitarian organizations; and expanding our network further.
In this Festive Season, let me wish you all a New Year rich in meaningful encounters, joyful moments, professional achievements, generous sharing of our expertise and knowledge, and better care for patients. May we continue to promote together a culture of a clinical-sonographic integrated approach to patients, a PoCUS- augmented physical exam, and further foster PoCUS practice worldwide.
WINFOCUS President
Lugano, Switzerland
Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care
Cardiocentro Ticino
WINFOCUS Former President
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
King Saud University for Health Sciences
WINFOCUS President Elect
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Department of Emergency Medicine
WINFOCUS Treasurer
New York City, NY, USA
New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
Vice Chief, Quality Management, Dept of Emergency Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
WINFOCUS General Secretary
Rosario, Argentina
Hospital de Emergencias “Dr. Clemente Alvarez”
WINFOCUS Board Member Advisor
Milan, Italy
Winfocus Milan ITC Director
WINFOCUS Board Member
Newcastle, United Kingdom
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Department of Emergency Medicine
He specialises in ultrasound in emergency care, medical education (surgical skills) and the annual thoracotomy course (PERT).
WINFOCUS Delhi ITO Director
Gurgaon, India
Institute of Critical Care & Aneasthesia Medanta
WINFOCUS Board Member
Buenos Aires, Argentina
UNCPBA (Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires) School of Medicine Professor
WINFOCUS Board Member
Lleida, Spain
Professor of Medicine at University of Lleida
WINFOCUS Board Member
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
King Fahad Specialist Hospital
WINFOCUS Board Member
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Profesor at Argentine Biology and Medicine Ultrasound Society (SAUMB)
WINFOCUS Board Member
Shah Alam, Malaysia
Associate Professor Emergency Medicine Universiti Teknologi MARA
President for the Society of Critical Care & Emergency Sonography Malaysia.
WINFOCUS Malaysia & Indonesia Coordinator
Ipoh ,Perak , Malaysia
Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun
Department of Trauma & Emergency Medicine
WINFOCUS Brazil Coordinator
Estado de Minas Gerais,Brazil
Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais.
Specialist in Intensive Care and Nephrology
Coordinator of the CTI of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Barbacena
Partner-director of the Pró-Renal S/C Ltda.
WINFOCUS Board Member
Nantes, France
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes
Emergency Physician in the prehospital emergency service of universitary hospital of Nantes. Education, Research, Emergency Ultrasound Section coordinator for the west region in France
WINFOCUS Board Member
Maribor, Slovenia
University Clinical Centre
Emergency department
WINFOCUS Board Member
Madrid, Spain
Francisco de Vitoria University
General Manager
Marketing and Communication Manager
Communication and Digital Strategist