Touro University Nevada Unveils New OptumCare Ultrasound Training Facility
Touro University Nevada took the next step to enhancing medical education for its students by unveiling the new OptumCare Ultrasound Training Facility on Jan. 21.
Located inside the Michael Tang Regional Center for Clinical Simulation, the new ultrasound training facility will help Touro students from all programs hone their ultrasound skills. A special ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the center’s grand opening and was attended by the Touro College and University System Leadership, Dr. Robert McBeath, President of OptumCare Nevada, several healthcare professionals and students, and members of the Southern Nevada community.
“The creation of this new facility, which incorporates state-of-the-art equipment that will educate our students on the use of ultrasound technology in healthcare, is a testament to the wonderful partnership with OptumCare Nevada,” said Shelley Berkley, CEO and Senior Provost of Touro University Western Division. “It is the latest example of how OptumCare/Southwest Medical Associates is partnering with Touro to improve the quality of healthcare in our state.”
“We know firsthand that supporting and improving the healthcare education system in Nevada improves our overall healthcare system, and we are dedicated to doing exactly that,” McBeath said. “We know this facility will help new medical professionals hone their skills. This, in turn, will help the patients we serve, as well as the entire community. It’s also a testament to our wonderful and growing partnership with Touro University Nevada.”
Erica Stiles, a student in the School of Physician Assistant Studies, also shared her personal story about how working with ultrasounds as a student helped her discover cancerous nodules in her thyroid.
A native Nevadan, Stiles discovered she had thyroid cancer after volunteering to have her thyroid checked during an in-class ultrasound demonstration.
“After class, the instructor advised me to get it checked out,” she recalled. “I later found out it was cancerous.”
Stiles was eventually sent to an ear, nose, and throat specialist to learn more about surgery, and a full thyroidectomy was recommended. She had her thyroid removed shortly after, and was back to class the following week.
“After surgery, I felt great,” she said. “I’m so grateful that Touro had this technology available, because who knows how long it would’ve been before I found out about my cancer.”
