Student Stories

A Ph.D. candidate reflects on lessons learned about injury, recovery, and growth

How research enriches the medical school experience. Federico Prokopczuk is in his fourth year as an M.D./Ph.D. trainee. A native of Rancho Cucamonga, California, he graduated from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology before joining the Heersink School of Medicine in June 2021.

It’s been called “The Stethoscope of the Future.” Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can be applied in a variety of settings thanks to its small size and portability, from hospital bedsides to sports sidelines to primary care clinics. These palm-sized devices allow health care providers to quickly and easily perform ultrasound scans, creating detailed images that can help clinicians make informed decisions or provide real-time guidance during a procedure. The devices can aid in identifying various conditions, including soft-tissue infections, fluid accumulation, and heart failure.