The Society of Point-of-Care Ultrasound has awarded Janelle Bludorn, a clinical assistant professor of Physician Assistant Studies, with its 2020 SPOCUS Golden Probe Award for her contributions and dedicated service to the society’s mission. 
The society called Bludorn an “advocate, disrupter, and mentor,” of point-of-care ultrasound, otherwise known as POCUS. This type of care encapsulates many scenarios in which an ultrasound machine can be used in order to diagnose patient issues. The training and use of POCUS is emerging as an additional tool for PA educators and PAs.
In a newsletter, the society noted several POCUS presentations led by Bludorn, including on the national stage at the American Academy of PAs annual conference in 2019.
“Her efforts to promote POCUS are the epitome of our organization’s goals of democratizing and promoting POCUS use across the clinical spectrum,” the newsletter read.
Paul Chelminski, the director of the PA program, said UNC-Chapel Hill’s strategic plan has prioritized point-of-care ultrasound as an institutional priority.
“The UNC PA program is proud that Janelle is a national leader in this essential bedside tool,” he said.
Janelle Bludorn, MS, PA-C, practices emergency medicine with UNC Health. The PA program is housed in the Department of Allied Health Sciences. Paul Chelminski (’95 MD, ’03 MPH) has served as program director since its inception in 2015.