Late last month, members of the Rheumatology Fellowship were part of a novel training method to get experience using ultrasound to guide injections. The tools included a needle and point-of-care ultrasound system, as well as a dish of olives and block of semi-firm tofu.

Associate Program Director Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, had the idea of providing trainees a target to both identify with an ultrasound probe and then to hit with an empty syringe. Typically, he said, the syringe would contain a corticosteroid meant to ease joint pain like arthritis or sciatica.

Each fellow got to take a couple stabs at it, especially after some initial kinks were worked out in the process. “Next time,” Kumar said, “I think we’ll go with a firmer tofu.”

[Previously: Kumar aids fellows’ understanding of the musculoskeletal anatomy with a colorful approach.]