WFUMB has established five international Centers of Excellence, which, through the efforts of local ultrasound societies, offer accredited medical ultrasound education programs in developing countries, while increasing that local society's expertise in education. As part of the program, WFUMB provides qualified visiting professors to enhance these educational experiences.

Center	Location	Established
Bangladesh Society of Utrasonography (BSU)	Dhaka, Bangladesh	February 24, 2004
Uganda Association of Sonography (UGASON)	Kampala, Uganda	June 8, 2004
Sociedad Venezolana de Ultrasonido en Medicina (AVUM)	Caracas, Venezuela	February 6, 2005
Romanian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology	Timisoara, Romania	June 1, 2007
Indonesian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine	Jakarta, Indonesia	February 12, 2011
Kenya Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (KESUMB)	Nairobi, Kenya	2013
Mongolian Society of Diagnostic Ultrasound (MSDU)	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	2013
Nigerian Society of Ultrasound Practitioners (NSUP)	Lagos, Nigeria	2013
Societe Togolaise D'Ultrasonographie Medicale	Lome, Togo	2013

COE REQUIREMENTS: Download the Application

MISSION - The WFUMB Center of Excellence (COE) shall provide education in medical ultrasound in developing countries, grant recognition to participants after completion of a course, and accumulate ultrasound-related reference materials.

TERMS - The COE shall be established for an initial term of 3 years. The agreement with the COE shall be eligible for renewal on a biennial basis thereafter. In order for the agreement to be renewed, the COE must have upheld their responsibilities in accordance with this agreement and be approved for renewal by the WFUMB COE Advisory Board and the WFUMB Administrative Council.

FUNDING - During the first 5 years of the contract, an annual grant of up to $5,000 (USD) per year is available to defray administrative and travel costs associated with COE activities. In order to qualify for the grant, the COE must submit a detailed activity report, including an itemized finance report with supporting receipts, prior to disbursement. Disbursement requests and accompanying reports must be submitted to the WFUMB's administrative office prior to March 31 for the prior year, with no opportunity for retroactive payments. All financial requests must be approved by the WFUMB Administrative Council and WFUMB Treasurer.

After 5 years, the COE must be financially independent of WFUMB and will no longer be eligible for annual funding. The COE may continue to affiliate with the WFUMB as a "WFUMB Center of Excellence" while the COE remains in compliance with the terms of the agreement.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SPONSORING SOCIETY - The Society sponsoring the COE must be a legally-established organization and partnered with a WFUMB federation. It must be located in a developing country and possess an independent office with sufficient past experience in ultrasound education. Also, it must have the ability to attract trainees, not only from its own country, but also from surrounding countries.

The Society shall initiate the administration of the COE, taking advice from the WFUMB COE Advisory Board. The secretary of the COE, who represents the COE, shall be appointed by and reside within the office of the Society.

The Society is responsible for managing the finances of the COE, including disbursements for the expenses of all COE activities and collection of course fees.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COE - The COE shall be responsible for conducting annual educational programs under the name of "WFUMB Center of Excellence." The COE is responsible for managing all of its financial obligations, consistent with its WFUMB-approved budget, through the sponsoring Society, and for providing timely activity reports to the WFUMB COE Advisory Board and WFUMB Administrative Council.

An educational program should be conducted at least once a year and divided into two tracks: one for ultrasound practitioners and one for ultrasound educators.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WFUMB COE ADVISORY BOARD - The WFUMB COE Advisory Board provides counsel regarding a COE's education curriculum; reviews COE requests and recommends approval of said requests to the WFUMB Administrative Council; recommends educators for the COE educational programs from the other societies affiliated with WFUMB; and reports on the activities of the COE to the WFUMB Administrative Council.