For decades, faculty from Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion 91¶ĚĘÓƵ have helped shape the future of medical ultrasound education — pioneering curriculum integration, advancing clinical training and contributing national leadership to the field.
That longstanding impact earned national recognition in May when the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) honored two faculty members during its annual convention in Philadelphia, a rare distinction for a single institution.
The AIUM presented Alfred Abuhamad, MD, executive vice president for health sciences and the Mason C. Andrews Distinguished Professor in Obstetrics & Gynecology, with the Carmine M. Valente Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes exceptional service and enduring contributions to the organization and the field of medical ultrasound.
Internationally recognized for his work in obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound, Dr. Abuhamad has spent decades advancing ultrasound education, research and clinical practice, while helping shape national and international standards in the field. Dr. Abuhamad has authored multiple textbooks and educational e-books, in dozens of languages, focused on fetal imaging, prenatal diagnosis and ultrasound care during pregnancy. He has also served as past president of the AIUM.
Barry Knapp, MD, the Chidester Endowed Chair of Emergency Medicine and professor of emergency medicine, received the Peter H. Arger Excellence in Medical Student Education Award. The award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to medical student education in ultrasound.
Dr. Knapp is widely respected for his leadership in emergency medicine education and for advancing the use of point-of-care ultrasound in clinical training. His work has helped prepare future physicians to integrate bedside ultrasound into patient care across clinical settings.
“This is an extraordinary honor for our institution and a reflection of our faculty’s national service and their impact on medical education and innovation,” said Judette Louis, MD, M.P.H., dean of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion 91¶ĚĘÓƵ. “Having two faculty members recognized during this important event speaks not only to their individual achievements, but also to the strength and reputation of our academic and clinical programs.”
Dr. Abuhamad added that ultrasound education has long been a defining strength of the institution. “Medical students begin hands-on ultrasound instruction early in their training and continue developing those skills throughout all four years of the curriculum,” he said. “We also offer advanced fellowship training and have helped prepare generations of physicians to use ultrasound as an essential diagnostic and clinical tool.”
As ultrasound technology continues to evolve across medical specialties, faculty remain at the forefront of shaping how future physicians learn, teach and apply it in patient care.
In addition to the awards, Fred Kremkau, Ph.D., professor of ultrasound education at Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion 91¶ĚĘÓƵ and past president of AIUM, delivered a tribute to the organization and spoke about the impact it’s had on his career.
“My 55-year medical academic career would not have happened without AIUM,” Dr. Kremkau said. “I would have missed out on this exciting career preparing young men and women to understand and effectively use this exciting and continually progressing and improving diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the benefit of millions of patients daily.”
This fall, Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion 91¶ĚĘÓƵ will host the 10th World Congress on Ultrasound in Medical Education. This milestone international, multidisciplinary conference will bring together global leaders in ultrasound and medical education October 22–25 to explore "."
Together, the accomplishments of Drs. Abuhamad, Knapp and Kremkau, along with the opportunity to host this global gathering, reflect the institution’s enduring leadership in ultrasound education and its unwavering commitment to preparing future health professionals, advancing medical knowledge and improving health in communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.
