Inova Female Cadaveric Anatomy and Rehabilitative Pelvic Floor Ultrasound Symposium

Course Description

Inova Female Pelvic Floor Cadaveric Anatomy and Ultrasound Symposium is a 2.5-day course focusing on the skills necessary to treat women with pelvic health dysfunction. This on-site symposium will cover anatomy with emphasis on the pelvic floor, the physiology of micturition, and dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract and pelvic muscles. The audience should be familiar with female patient history taking, pelvic floor examination, and testing and treatment interventions for pelvic floor muscle conditions. Urogynecologic surgeries, medication, prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction, and documentation will also be discussed. The focus of the practice labs will be on external and internal pelvic floor ultrasound examinations. The student-to-teacher ratio will be set to ensure adequate supervision during the labs.  

This continuing education seminar will provide instruction in generating and interpreting rehabilitative ultrasound images related to the pelvic floor. Day one comprises lectures by physician/s followed by cadaveric dissections in the afternoon. Both lecture and lab material will be presented that will allow the participant to immediately incorporate the use of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging into their evaluation and treatment plans for patients with diagnoses including lumbopelvic pain and instability, pelvic organ prolapse, and urinary incontinence.

The course comprises lectures and labs that present both ideal and abnormal responses of real-time imaging of the transverse abdominals, rectus abdominis, deep multifidus, levator ani, bladder, bladder neck, urethra, and vagina during contraction and Valsalva. Imaging methods used during labs include transabdominal and transperineal/translabial viewing methods. Prior experience with perineal and vaginal assessments is required to take the course. During labs, participants can practice using machines provided by our co-sponsor, The Prometheus Group.

Prerequisites

Pelvic floor physical therapists whose practice focus is on female patients with a background in orthopedic/musculoskeletal coursework in their curriculum before attending the course. This course is NOT for physicians or sonographers. Pelvic Health Training (4 day course) and one year of experience is preferred. This is an intermediate-level rehabilitative ultrasound imaging course intended for therapists with sound knowledge of training techniques for the local stabilizing muscles of the pelvic floor, transverse abdominals, and deep multifidi muscles and experience with internal vaginal exams. Prior coursework regarding the local stabilizing pelvic floor muscles is encouraged but not required.

Assignments

Pre-readings will be provided electronically to course participants for completion before the course. Electronic lecture handouts will be provided.  After completing the survey, the attendee will receive a Course Completion Certificate.  A printed lab manual will be provided on-site.

Lab Participation & Consent

Participants are expected to stay through the entire course; please make your travel plans accordingly. Deduction of contact hours and ineligibility to participate will occur for participants who leave the course early. Participants will be working in groups of 2-6 during Ultrasound labs. This course includes extensive labs with intra-vaginal & intra-rectal assessment & examination. The Consent & Release Form must be filled out and turned in to the organizer on Day 1 of the course (this form is provided on-site). If the course participant does not turn in the completed form on Day 1, they will not be permitted to take the course. All participants must participate in labs as both “therapist” & “patient.” Participants who cannot participate as lab subjects are required to provide their own lab partners. Failure to participate as a lab subject or to provide required lab partner, if needed, will result in forfeiture of course completion and registration costs. If you are not sure whether you need a medical model or if you are unfamiliar with the process of obtaining a medical model, please read: Medical Models for Internal Pelvic Assessment.pdf. Participants that MUST provide their own lab partners include (but are not limited to):

• ALL Male participants
• Pregnant women (except with written physician permission for FULL participation)
• Active vaginal infections
• Active STD or herpes lesions
• Active bladder or rectal infections
• Severe pelvic/vaginal/rectal pain that inhibits examination.
• Lack of prior vaginal exam by a physician
• Active OB/GYN cancer

Agenda

Date/Time	Location | Session Topics	Date/Time	Location | Session Topics	Date/Time	Session Topics
Apr 19, 2024	ASTEC	Apr 20, 2024	Annandale	Apr 21, 2024	Annandale
7:30 am	Registration
8:00 am	Introduction, Goals, Objectives	8:00 am	Ultrasound in Physical Therapy, reliability and validity, clinical applications in a pelvic health practice	8:00 am	Lecture: TPUS of the female pelvis, anterior and middle compartments
8:15 am	Pelvic floor anatomy	8:30 am	Lecture: Ultrasound instrumentation, image generation and interpretation, measurements and annotations	9:00 am	TPUS Demonstration, anterior and middle compartments
8:45 am	Pelvic Organ Prolapse, perineocele, Surgical procedures / Videos, CLEAR Guidelines for referral	9:30 am	Lab I: Knobology Image creation, presets, probe manipulation, image optimization, measurements	9:30 am	Lab IV: TPUS Evaluation of the anterior and middle compartment, motor training, pressure management
10:45 am	Urinary incontinence	10:30 am	Lecture: TAUS for pelvic contents and PFM, morphology, dysfunction	10:45 am	Lecture: TPUS for the posterior compartment
11:15 am	Fecal incontinence, PERINEAL Clinic, Surgical procedures / Videos, CLEAR Guidelines for referral	11:30 am	TAUS demonstration  Pelvic Anatomy PFM funneling Bladder volumes	11:30 am	TPUS Demonstration, posterior compartment
12:00 pm	Lunch	12:00 pm	Lunch	12:00 pm	Lab V: TPUS Evaluation of the posterior compartment, vountary and involuntary motor control
1:00 pm	Anatomy Lab: Station 1	1:00 pm	Lab II: TAUS Pelvic Contents, Motor Control of PFM, Pressure Management, Post Void Residual	2:00 pm	Adjourn
2:30 pm	Anatomy Lab: Station 2	2:30 pm	Lecture: Abdominal Wall Anatomy and Applications for Pressure Management
3:00 pm		3:30 pm	US Demonstration: Anterior and Lateral Abdominal Wall, Clinical Applications for Pressure Management
4:00 pm	Question and Answer	4:00 pm	Lab III: Imaging Abdominal Wall for Pressure Management
4:30 pm	Adjourn	5:00 pm	Questions/Discussion
		5:30 pm	Adjourn
		6:30 pm	Group Dinner

Cost

Early pricing before February, 1, 2024 = $675
Pricing February 1 - March 30, 2024 = $775
April 1 - April 12, 2024 = $875
On-Site pricing = $950

Refund Policy

A full refund will be issued for cancellations requested by March 31, 2024. Cancellations between April 1-12, 2024 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds for cancellations April 13, 2024 and after. The organizers reserve the rights to cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances.

Lunch

Lunch will be served. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions.

Location and Parking Information

On April 19:
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Inova Advanced Surgical Technology and Education Center (ASTEC)
3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042

Please enter Inova Fairfax Medical Campus on Blue Road and park in Blue Garage. Parking is $5 per day.

On April 20:
Inova Physical Therapy Center - Annandale
7619 Little River Turnpike Suite 1000, Annandale, VA 22003

On April 21 (Please note: Sessions are running scheduled 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.):
Inova Physical Therapy Center - Annandale
7619 Little River Turnpike Suite 1000, Annandale, VA 22003

Please park in parking deck available on site. ​

Core Faculty

S. Abbas Shobeiri, MD, MBA
Dr. S. Abbas Shobeiri is a gynecologic surgeon board-certified in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at Inova Health System. He joined Inova with extensive clinical experience.

He is an expert in postpartum urogynecology, managing obstetric perineal and pelvic floor injury, 3D ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor, vaginal agenesis or stenosis, and managing vaginal mesh.

Dr. Shobeiri is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University and Bioengineering at George Mason University. He is the Director of Inova Pelvic Floor Program and the director of Inova National Center of Excellence for Continence. Dr. Shobeiri is the system division chief of benign gynecology at the Inova.

Dr. Shobeiri has authored more than 220 scientific articles, many books, and book chapters, and is the editor of multiple medical textbooks. His work in pelvic floor imaging and complex pelvic floor repair draws patients from all over the United States and the world who require specialized management. His work has directly and indirectly helped patients and providers.

Ramona C. Horton, PT, DPT, MPT
Ramona C. Horton MPT, DPT completed her graduate training in the US Army–Baylor University Program in Physical Therapy in San Antonio, TX. She exited the army at the rank of Captain. She applied her experience with the military orthopedic population in the civilian sector as she developed a growing interest in pelvic dysfunction. A desire to expand her knowledge of evidence-based practice and research was the impetus to further her academic pursuits, receiving a post-professional Doctorate in Physical Therapy from A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ. In 2020, Ramona received the prestigious Academy of Pelvic Health Elizabeth Noble Award for her contributions to the field of pelvic health.

Ramona is the lead therapist for her clinic's pelvic dysfunction program in Medford, OR. Her practice focuses on treating men, women, and children with urological, gynecological, and colorectal issues. Ramona has completed advanced studies in manual therapy, emphasizing spinal manipulation and visceral and fascial mobilization. She developed and instructed the visceral and fascial mobilization courses for the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. She presents frequently at local, national, and international venues on women’s health, pelvic floor dysfunction, and manual therapy.

Proctors

	Pany Nazari, PT, DPT, BCB-PMD, PRPC Dr. Pany Nazari received her BS degree in 1994 from Howard University in Washington, DC, and her doctorate degree in 2016 from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. For the first decade of her career she focused on mastering the assessment and treatment of a variety of orthopedic issues, with a focus on the spine, sacro-iliac joint, and pelvis. Since 2005, Pany has dedicated her educational and clinical concentration on pelvic floor rehabilitation. Her passion is to use various forms of biofeedback in conjunction with manual therapy along with a strong emphasis on patient education to facilitate optimal function for individuals.
	Laura Berg, BS, RDMS, RVT Laura Berg is an experienced OB-GYN Research Sonographer at Inova Fairfax Hospital. She holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Maryland and a certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is registered in multiple specialties, including abdomen, vascular, OB-GYN and fetal echocardiography. Laura's career began at Sibley Memorial Hospital, where she spent eight years as an essential member of the maternal fetal medicine team, performing detailed ultrasound imaging for expectant mothers. In 2022, Laura joined the OB-GYN Research Department at Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she now conducts ultrasounds for studies aimed at advancing women's healthcare. She provides invaluable support to the urogynecology fellows by offering guidance in pelvic floor ultrasound imaging techniques and interpretation. As a mother herself, Laura personally understands the impact of pelvic floor conditions and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for her patients.
	Stephanie McKenna, DPT Dr. McKenna received her bachelor's degree with top honors in exercise science from Florida State University in 2012, where she competed as a collegiate swimmer. She then received her Doctor of  Physical Therapy from Mercer University in 2018 and has worked for Inova since 2019. Dr. McKenna is passionate about treating and helping all individuals with pelvic floor and orthopedic dysfunction, with a special interest in pre/postpartum and pelvic pain conditions. Stephanie is now a leader in the pelvic floor physical therapy specialty section among Inova and aims to advance the profession and inspire excellence in all clinicians.
	Emi Alcoba, MD Urogynecologist
	Zinat Karimi, MD Urogynecologist

Event Sponsor Information