About Us

About Us

Cleveland Clinic Akron General (CCAG) offers a 1-year Emergency Medicine Ultrasound fellowship, accredited by EUFAC as of 2024. We are an academic community hospital with 10 residency programs, including an EM residency, and affiliations mainly with NEOMED. As a level 1 trauma center, we also hold accreditations in geriatrics, chest pain, and stroke care, with one main site and three freestanding EDs, plus affiliated rural locations.

The fellowship features a curriculum aligned with EUFAC standards, including TEE and nerve block training. Fellows access advanced simulation tools such as SonoSim and Surgical Sciences Ultrasound Mentor and benefit from Akron General's expanding sim center.

Key program details:

  • Ultrasound studies per fellow: 1000
  • Dedicated ultrasound/elective month: Yes
  • Residents who became fellows: 4
  • Hands-on shifts: ~7 shifts/month (4 hours each)
  • Image review: At least 3 sessions/month
  • Didactic hours: Monthly fellow day with didactic components, about 6 resident ultrasound conferences annually (4+ hours each), plus additional sections totaling 25 – 30 hours/year, and asynchronous EM Sono learning.
  • Significant Educational and Administrative Opportunities
    • Support from Cleveland Clinic Emergency Medicine’s Point-of-Care Ultrasound
    • Established pathways for professional societal involvement in organizations like ACEP and SAEM at the state, regional and national levels.
  • Ultrasound equipment:
    • Customized BBraun nerve block kits, 
    • 2 Mindray TEX as well as Zonare, TE7 and TE7 Max machines
    • 2 transesophageal probes, high frequency linear probe, high frequency curvilinear probe, endocavitary probe, plus standard complement

Thank you for your interest in our fellowship.

Welcome

Welcome

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Fellowship.

Cleveland Clinic Akron General functions as the southern regional hospital for Cleveland Clinic. The fellowship program features a curriculum based on EUFAC requirements to support learning, including a TEE program, a nerve block program, access to a SonoSim simulator, a Surgical Sciences Ultrasound Mentor with OB/TEE modules and use of Akron General’s simulation center.

The program aims to equip graduates with training relevant to multidisciplinary care in emergency medicine ultrasound.

Thank you for considering our fellowship program.

Sincerely,

Robert Stenberg, MD
Robert Stenberg, MD
Program Director

Rick Slater
Rick Slater
Fellowship Program Manager
Phone: 330.344.6425
Email: slaterr@ccf.org

Teaching Faculty

Teaching Faculty

We are committed to providing excellent clinical exposure, as well as direct expert instruction, promoting self-directed education and fostering the refinement of the fellow' scientific and academic pursuits. In addition to the world-class training, we provide a welcoming culture for patients, residents and fellows, employees, business partners and the communities served by Cleveland Clinic.

Program director

  • Dr. Robert Stenberg FPD-AEUMUS is the ultrasound director and fellowship director. He is engaged nationally, is the incoming AEUS Education Officer and has special interests in nerve blocks, resuscitation and procedural ultrasound. 

Core faculty

  • Dr. Joshua Jacquet FPD-AEUMUS is the assistant ultrasound director and assistant fellowship director. He is very involved with Ohio ACEP and is an expert in lung ultrasound and technical components of ultrasound such as middleware.
  • Dr. Brian Makowski is ultrasound faculty, ACEP Critical Care Subcommittee Co-Chair, nerve block guru and graphic design specialist.
  • Dr. Justin Eggleston is ultrasound faculty, core faculty and ultrasound elective director. 
  • Dr. Kevin Watkins is ultrasound faculty, core faculty, Associated Program Director, Wilderness Medicine Director, with a special interest in cardiology. 
  • Dr. Jessica Krizo, PhD, is our Health Scientist research faculty that is an expert interfacing with IRB, project development and completion. 
  • Dr. Erin Simon is our research director with a profound publication history and excellent resource.
Application

Application

Thank you for considering Cleveland Clinic Akron General as you explore fellowship opportunities. Cleveland Clinic Akron General provides a distinguished medical education experience, supported by our dedicated and knowledgeable staff. The institution is recognized for its clinical expertise and exceptional care. We uphold rigorous standards of excellence, ensuring superior patient care and exemplary education for our medical students, residents and fellows.

  • Fellowship applications must be submitted through the online National Resident Match Program
  • Application Deadline: See the NRMP website for application schedule
  • Interview Dates: TBD
  • Available fellow spots: 2
  • Expected Program Length: 1 year

Eligible candidates

The Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Fellowship is available to candidates who, at the beginning of the fellowship, have completed an ACGME-accredited Emergency Medicine Residency program, are board-certified or eligible for board certification in Emergency Medicine and meet the eligibility requirements for Ohio medical licensure. Fellows are required to obtain a full medical license to practice in the state of Ohio.

Current Fellow

Current Fellow

Christopher Riwniak, DO
Medical School: Ohio University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, OH

Research & Innovations

Research & Innovations

For more information about resident research in Emergency Medicine Ultrasound, please contact:

Robert Stenberg, MD FPD-AEUMUS
Program Director
330.604.7766

Publications

  1. Ceraolo, Negin, et al. Ocular Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Rapid Diagnosis of Anterior Lens Dislocation Following Blunt Head Trauma. Visual Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 38, 14 Jan. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.visj.2025.102200
  2. Stenberg R, Bowling J, Jacquet J, et al. Point-of-care ultrasound diagnosis of acute valvular emergencies. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Published online November 12, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2024.11.009
  3. Bowling J, Zoumberakis E. Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks for Flexor Tenosynovitis. POCUS J. 2024;9(2):12-14. doi:10.24908/pocus.v9i2.17395
  4. Stenberg R, Truong N. TEE and Area of Maximal Compression. ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Section. October 16, 2024. https://www.acep.org/emultrasound/newsroom/oct2024/acep-newsletter-tee-and-area-of-maximal-compression
  5. Makowski B, Jacquet J, Strausbaugh L. Acute Mitral Regurgitation in the Emergency Department. ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Section. October 16, 2024. https://www.acep.org/emultrasound/newsroom/oct2024/acute-mitral-regurgitation-in-the-emergency-department
  6. Bowling JM, Ray R, Stenberg R. Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Nerve Block for Relief of Acute Cholecystitis Pain. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. Published online August 16, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2024.08.008
  7. Bowling J, Stenberg R. Decoding Critical Aortic Stenosis: A Guide to Spotting the Heart’s Sneaky Traffic Jam with Ultrasound. ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Section. July 16, 2024. https://www.acep.org/emultrasound/newsroom/may-2024/decoding-critical-aortic-stenosis-a-guide-to-spotting-the-hearts-sneaky-traffic-jam-with-ultrasound
  8. Boivin Z, Stenberg R. Cardiac Tamponade. ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Section. June 4, 2024. https://www.acep.org/emultrasound/newsroom/may-2024/cardiac-tamponade
  9. Stenberg R, Goff L, Simon EL. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae nerve block for relief of chest pain from pneumonia in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2024;80:230.e1-230.e2. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2024.04.026
  10. Stenberg R, Sun J, Makowski B, Krizo J. Ultrasound guidance for real-time management of acute ischemic priapism. Am J Emerg Med. 2024;79:230.e3-230.e5. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2024.03.024
  11. Stenberg R, Septaric K, Simon EL. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae nerve block for relief of endometriosis pain in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. Published online March 15, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2024.03.001
  12. Makowski B, Stenberg R. Transcranial Doppler in the Emergency Department: A Clinical Application and Quick Reference. ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Section. February 29, 2024. https://www.acep.org/emultrasound/newsroom/feb2024/transcranial-doppler
  13. Mirsch D, Jelic T, Prats MI, et al. Just the facts: brachial plexus blocks for upper extremity injuries in the emergency department. CJEM. Published online December 7, 2023. doi:10.1007/s43678-023-00628-6
  14. Bowling JM, Stewart R, Singer E, Wilson Y, Paulin D. Six-Year-Old With Dysphagia. Ann Emerg Med. 2023;82(2):e69-e70. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.01.038
  15. Smalley CM, Simon EL, Muir MR, Fertel BS. A Real-World Experience: Retrospective Review of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Utilization and Quality in Community Emergency Departments. West J Emerg Med. 2023;24(4):685-692. doi:10.5811/westjem.58965
  16. Downs T, Jacquet J, Disch J, et al. Large-scale Implementation of Fascia Iliaca Compartment Blocks in an Emergency Department. West J Emerg Med. 2023;24(3):384-389. doi:10.5811/westjem.58793
  17. Stenberg RT, Nelson J, Rabinowitz J, Simon EL. Spontaneous Hyphema and Vitreous Hemorrhage Causing Secondary Glaucoma in a Patient on Apixaban. J Emerg Med. 2023;64(3):359-362. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2022.12.021
  18. Stenberg RT, Wahi-Singh B, Wahi-Singh P, Hill A, Simon EL. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for pain management of rectus sheath hematoma in the emergency department (ED). Am J Emerg Med. 2023;63:183.e1-183.e3. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2022.10.036
  19. Rich Dowd DO, Stenberg R, Desai S, Broadstock A, Md FLB, Jake Freudenberger DO. POCUS for the win: Pulmonary embolism. EMRA EM Resident. November 21, 2022. https://www.emra.org/emresident/article/pocus-ftw-pulmonary-embolism
  20. Taylor LA, Stenberg R, Tozer J, et al. Novel Approach to Ultrasound-Guided Thoracostomy. J Ultrasound Med. 2022;41(3):743-747. doi:10.1002/jum.15759
  21. Stenberg R, Mancini G, Guthrie T, Simon EL. Intraocular mass as first presenting symptom of metastatic squamous cell lung cancer. Am J Emerg Med. 2021;50:814.e1-814.e2. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2021.06.041
  22. Heaney A, Kimball T, Jacquet JM, Griffin G, Simon E. The Case Files: Delayed Pneumothorax in a COVID-19 Patient. Emerg Med News. 2021;43(10A). doi:10.1097/01.eem.0000794748.67208.33  
  23. Joyce M, Stenberg R. Physics and Knobs. In: Nicholson BD, Vitto MJ, Dhindsa HS, eds. Manual of Austere and Prehospital Ultrasound. Springer International Publishing; 2021:3-9. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-64287-7_1
  24. Stenberg R, Shenvi C. Targeted Evaluation of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Shock or Hypotension. Ann Emerg Med. 2020;76(1):34-41. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2020.01.003
  25. Jaquet J. Lung Ultrasound in COVID-19. Institute for Advanced Medical Education. Published online 2020. www.iame.com/online-courses/lung-ultrasound-in-covid-19/
  26. Stenberg R, Migliaccio D, Park DB. Pediatric Cardiothoracic Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Part II. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Reports. 2019;24(2). https://www.proquest.com/docview/2168832579?fromopenview=true&pq-origsite=gscholar&sourcetype=Trade
  27. Stenberg R, Migliaccio D, Park DB. Pediatric Cardiothoracic Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Part I. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Reports. 2019;24(1). https://www.proquest.com/docview/2158460403?sourcetype=Trade
  28. Jacquet J, Hong C. Ultrasound-Guided Central Venous Access. Crit Decis Emerg Med. 2014;28(5):15-22. https://webapps.acep.org/CriticalDecisionsTesting/PDFpubs/2014-05-may.pdf