EMA-Southwest Healthcare Advanced Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship

EMA is proud to collaborate with Southwest Healthcare Medical Education Consortium (SHMEC) to offer a one-year accredited Advanced Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship. This program is tailored to emergency physicians aiming to develop expertise in advanced ultrasound techniques, and become leaders through development of research, education, and administrative skills related to the practice of ultrasound in the community setting.

Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Council

Welcome

We are thrilled to welcome you to sunny Southern California and to a program designed to help you excel in advanced emergency ultrasound. Our fellowship offers a unique and tailored experience, crafted to meet your individual needs and goals. Whether you're looking to become a leader in emergency ultrasound, refine your clinical expertise, or advance ultrasound education, we are here to support you every step of the way.

Our mission is rooted in mentorship, innovation, and a commitment to your success. Through hands-on training, personalized guidance, and exposure to cutting-edge ultrasound techniques, we aim to equip you with the skills and confidence to achieve your career aspirations.

At our program, we believe in fostering a welcoming and supportive environment where you can thrive both professionally and personally. From the camaraderie of our team to the vibrant Southern California lifestyle, we are confident that your time with us will be as rewarding as it is transformative.

– Mike & Jailyn, Co-Fellowship Directors

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About Our Fellowship Directors

Drs. Jailyn Avila and Michael Macias have dedicated their careers to advancing bedside ultrasound practices through education, innovation, and leadership. Their tireless efforts have impacted countless individuals and the broader medical community, setting new standards for ultrasound use in clinical settings.


Michael Macias, MD, AEMUS
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Michael Macias, M.D., FDP-AEMUS

Global Ultrasound Director

Dr. Macias is a leader in emergency ultrasound, specializing in program development, education, and workflow solutions. As the Southwest Healthcare GME Ultrasound Director and the Global Ultrasound Director for Emergent Medical Associates, he brings expertise in both academic and large community medical group settings.

In his role, Dr. Macias has enhanced ultrasound workflow and education, increasing utilization by 400% across 20+ hospitals in Southern California and Maui. He has established standardized POCUS benchmarks to guide program development and created tailored workflow solutions for numerous community emergency departments.

As an educator, outside of his residency and fellowship roles, Dr. Macias directs a national CME POCUS Course annually (Sound & Surf) tailored to community-based physicians. Dr. Macias is also the founder of The POCUS Atlas and contributed to educational apps including The Evidence Atlas App, The POCUS Atlas App, and The Nerve Block App, helping to shape emergency ultrasound education and practice.


Jailyn Avila MD, RDMS
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Jailyn Avila, M.D., RDMS

Physician at Temecula Valley Hospital

Dr. Avila is an international educator who has delivered over 350 lectures since 2017, earning multiple awards for her educational content and lecture style. She previously served as Ultrasound Director at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, POCUS Director for the University of Kentucky (involving inpatient and outpatient services), POCUS director of the UK Emergency Department and School of Medicine, and Vice President of Education at Butterfly Network Inc. She is now the Associate POCUS Director at Temecula Valley Hospital in California.

As the co-creator of Core Ultrasound, she provides online courses to over 200 residencies, including 25% of U.S. Emergency Medicine programs. Her YouTube channel, with 20,000+ subscribers, is a leading resource for ultrasound education.

Dr. Avila is known for her innovative approach to point-of-care ultrasound education. She combines expertise in multimedia and design to create engaging, accessible learning experiences, setting new standards in POCUS education.

Program Overview

Clinical Site:

Our fellowship is based in Southern California at Temecula Valley Hospital, a high-acuity, community-academic hybrid that serves as a comprehensive stroke and STEMI receiving center. It is also home to a strong 3-year Emergency Medicine (EM) residency program.

Accreditation:

The fellowship is accredited by the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Council (EUFAC). Fellowship graduates from our program are eligible to sit for the Focused Practice Designation (FPD) examination through the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM).

Ultrasound Machines:

Our department is equipped with four state-of-the-art ultrasound devices: three cart-based systems—Mindray TEX, Sonosite LX, and Sonosite Xporte—as well as one handheld unit, the Butterfly iQ+.


  • Program Highlights

  • Comprehensive Training:
    Our team of six ultrasound fellowship-trained faculty brings a wealth of experience to fellow education. The program offers comprehensive training in both primary and advanced emergency ultrasound applications, with a special focus on ultrasound-guided nerve blocks — an area in which our site is recognized as a center of excellence.
  • Cutting-Edge Workflow:
    Our fellowship and residency programs utilize an encounter-based workflow through the Butterfly Network, streamlining image archival and quality assurance while creating opportunities for ultrasound-related research.
  • Mentorship:
    In the rapidly evolving field of ultrasound, early-career mentorship and coaching are essential for success. Our program prioritizes understanding each fellow's unique goals and interests, creating a tailored strategy to guide their professional growth and help them thrive as leaders in the field.
  • Administrative Leadership:
    Our faculty bring extensive expertise in ultrasound program management at both local and regional levels. Fellows will gain essential skills in this area, preparing them to excel as future ultrasound program directors.
  • Educational Opportunities:
    Develop expertise as a digital educator and content creator for ultrasound-related materials, while mastering teaching skills through local GME opportunities and participating at regional and national conferences led by our faculty.

Curriculum Overview

Our fellowship follows the recommended EUFAC curriculum including at least 1000 exams of varied emergency ultrasound applications. Below is a brief summary of the activities related to our curriculum:

Clinical Training

Fellows participate in dedicated ultrasound scanning shifts in the emergency department each month, where they perform hands-on ultrasound exams on patients, often working alongside our faculty or resident/medical student learners.

Didactic Sessions:

Weekly image review (QA) sessions provide fellows with opportunities to review their image acquisition and interpretation skills and provoke thoughtful conversations about emergency ultrasound clinical utilization. Along with QA, weekly core content is covered to ensure a comprehensive understanding of ultrasound techniques. Journal articles are discussed weekly, analyzing landmark and emerging ultrasound literature in order to foster evidence-based practice and critical thinking.

Teaching Opportunities

Opportunities to lead hands-on training sessions for residents and medical students locally, providing practical instruction in ultrasound techniques. Fellows will also have the chance to showcase their expertise by participating as instructors at regional and national conferences.

Simulation

Fellows have access to advanced ultrasound simulation equipment, including a TEE simulator for transesophageal echocardiography and specialized ultrasound task trainers that provide a realistic and hands-on experience for mastering US-techniques and procedures.

Research and Innovation

Fellows will participate in a research project to advance ultrasound-related knowledge and contribute to scholarly activity. Additionally, they will engage in administrative or educational projects, such as developing protocols, designing curricula, or creating innovative teaching tools to enhance ultrasound education.

Application Process

Eligibility: Board-certified or board-eligible in Emergency Medicine

How to Apply: Our program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP),
you can apply to our program through the SCUF website.

Visit Our SCUF Page

Contact Us

Visit our SCUF page or contact us using the form below:

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Meet Our Fellows


Current Fellow

Taylor Fernberg, M.D.

Taylor Fernberg, M.D.

Ultrasound Fellow 2025

Taylor Fernberg is a native Southern Californian from nearby Murrieta. Seeking to stay close to home, he earned his medical degree from California University of Science and Medicine in Colton. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Southwest Healthcare Medical Education Consortium in Temecula, where he had the opportunity to work in the same hospital where he was born.

Dr. Fernberg has a strong interest in point-of-care ultrasound and has presented ultrasound research at both regional and national conferences. He is passionate about ultrasound education and its potential to improve emergency department workflow and patient care.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Fernberg enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. As a lifelong Southern Californian, he’ll take any opportunity to go to the beach—though he still hasn’t attempted surfing after all these years. In his free time, he enjoys coding projects involving the Raspberry Pi, 3D printing, and playing the drums with enthusiasm (if not precision).

Past Fellowship Graduates

C. Malcolm Roberson, MD, MBA

C. Malcolm Roberson, MD, MBA

Ultrasound Fellow 2024

Dr. Roberson studied biology at Morehouse College before coming to the University of Virginia for an MD/MBA. He completed my Emergency Medicine Residency at Trident Medical Center in Charleston.  He likes to play sports (basketball and football especially), create art, spend time outdoors with his wife and children, and is an avid gamer. His interests in emergency medicine include ultrasound, medical education, and sports medicine, and he is the founder of Project Ultra, a startup focusing on gamified ultrasound education.

Testimonials

Dr. Malcolm Roberson

Dr. Malcolm Roberson

Fellowship Graduate

"My fellowship adventure has been nothing short of outstanding, with a unique combination of experiences that are inspiring and helping me craft my career in my own vision. I have experienced wonderful support and mentorship, and I look forward to continued growth as I face the next steps in my journey.”

Dr. Taylor Fernberg

Dr. Taylor Fernberg

Southwest Healthcare EM Resident and Incoming Ultrasound Fellow

“Michael Macias and Jailyn Avila have created an exceptionally smooth ultrasound experience, seamlessly integrating the latest ultrasound devices with the EMR through Butterfly cloud storage. Their combined expertise in program organization, top-tier FOAMed material, and advanced multimedia skills make them an invaluable resource. The program also offers a wealth of hands-on experiences in the ED, where even non-ultrasound faculty rely on fellows and graduates for both diagnostic and procedural ultrasound guidance. This program is a rare blend of innovation, expertise, and practical experience.”

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