Advanced Cardiology Masterclass
Module 5: POCUS & Emergency Cardiology
Fluids
or no fluids? What would you actually do next?
Weekend 5 of the Advanced Cardiology Masterclass, with Dr. Kris Gommeren: emergency POCUS, the final Masterclass examination, an emergency POCUS practical, and advanced case discussions.
Key facts
May 6–7, 2028 · In person, Cluj-Napoca, Romania · 9:00–17:00, both days · Advanced level · Part of the Advanced Cardiology Masterclass · Available only as part of the full program · €5,900 early bird, €6,400 standard (all taxes included)
About the weekend
A dyspneic patient: cardiac or respiratory? Hypotension: hypovolemia, or inappropriate fluid administration? And when it is time to decide, fluids or no fluids, diuretics, drainage, vasopressors or inotropes, oxygen?
Dr. Kris Gommeren teaches POCUS and emergency cardiology. Saturday is POCUS in the emergency patient, with theory and practical emergency POCUS in two groups: rapid cardiac versus respiratory differentiation, lung ultrasound, pleural and pericardial assessment, focused cardiac ultrasound, hypotension, volume status, and how findings change fluid and vasoactive therapy. Sunday morning is the final Masterclass examination. Sunday afternoon brings an emergency POCUS practical and advanced case discussions, which the two groups take in alternating order.
This is the fifth weekend of the Advanced Cardiology Masterclass. It includes practical sessions and the final examination, and it is available only as part of the full five-weekend program.
What you will be able to do
By the end of the weekend, participants will be able to:
- Use focused ultrasound to rapidly assess dyspnea and distinguish major cardiac from respiratory/pleural causes
- Assess hypotension, hypovolemia, filling, and overall volume status in an emergency setting
- Integrate lung, pleural, cardiac, and venous findings into immediate treatment decisions
- Perform focused emergency POCUS efficiently in an unstable patient
- Demonstrate integrated Masterclass-level clinical reasoning in the final examination and case discussions
Weekend at a glance
Weekend 5: POCUS
& Emergency Cardiology
POCUS in the Emergency Patient; Final
Examination & Clinical Integration
May 6–7, 2028 • Cluj-Napoca, Romania • Dr. Kris Gommeren • Split groups, final examination, practical sessions, and case discussions · Practical sessions for full-program participants only
On Saturday, delegates are
split into two groups: one starts with theory and the other with practical
emergency POCUS, then they switch after lunch. On Sunday morning, all delegates
sit the final Masterclass examination. On Sunday afternoon, the two groups
alternate between a two-hour practical session and a two-hour advanced case
discussion. Practical sessions are reserved for participants enrolled in the
complete five-weekend Masterclass.
Is this weekend right for you?
This weekend is for clinicians who want to use focused ultrasound in the unstable patient, and to make immediate treatment decisions from lung, pleural, cardiac, and venous findings.
It includes the final Masterclass examination and practical sessions, so it is part of the full five-weekend program and not available separately.
Faculty
Dr. Kris Gommeren
Weekend 5: POCUS & Emergency Cardiology
Diplomate ECVIM • Diplomate ECVECC • Former President, EVECCS
Weekend 5 is taught by a Diplomate of both the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the European College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, who developed the emergency and critical care service at the University of Liège.
Kris Gommeren graduated from Ghent University in 2002, where he completed an internship and residency in internal medicine. In 2009, he became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and worked briefly in a referral practice before moving to the University of Liège, where he developed the ECC service. In 2017, he became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and in the meantime completed a PhD on the effects of systemic inflammation on the cardiovascular system.
The emergency and intensive care service of the University of Liège has grown into a service with a team of 11 veterinarians, including specialists, residents in training, PhD candidates, and ECC-dedicated veterinarians, assisted by 6 ECC veterinary nurses and a team of 12 rotating interns. Together they see more than 4,000 emergency cases every year, offering the best possible care including mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal therapies, and transfusion medicine to an average of 8 intensive care patients per day, while teaching students the necessary day-one competencies in this field.
Kris is a former president of EVECCS, a founding member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care UltraSound (VECCUS) interest group, and co-founder of the Animal Blood Bank Benelux. His research focus is on clinical medicine, and he is the author of peer-reviewed papers, books, chapters, and sections that aim to help all veterinary practitioners.
He is passionate about teaching, especially on point-of-care ultrasound, assessment of the cardiovascular system in critically ill patients, fluid therapy, transfusion medicine, and the assessment of volume status and fluid responsiveness.
Part of the Advanced Cardiology Masterclass
Weekend 5 is part of the Masterclass, and is available only as part of the full five-weekend program because it includes practical sessions and the final examination. The Advanced Cardiology Masterclass is a five-weekend advanced pathway from September 2027 to May 2028: advanced feline cardiology, advanced ECG and arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, advanced echocardiography, and POCUS and emergency cardiology. The Masterclass is completed only by attending all five weekends, and the European certificate is awarded only after completion of all five weekends and a pass in the final examination.
Conclusion
Two days of POCUS and emergency cardiology with Dr. Kris Gommeren, from emergency POCUS in the dyspneic and hypotensive patient to the final Masterclass examination and advanced case discussions.
Questions about whether the weekend fits you? hello@skillvet.com
Registration fees
- Full program, early bird (until 30th of April 2027)
€5,900 (all taxes included) - Full program, standard (after 1st of May 2027)
€6,400 (all taxes included)
What's included in the full program:
- Five in-person weekends, September 2027 to May 2028
- Practical sessions in Weekends 4 and 5
- Between-weekend tests, clinical tasks, and homework, case submissions, and one-to-one mentorship sessions
- The final examination
- The European certificate, on completion of all five weekends and a pass in the final examination
- Lunch and coffee on both days of each weekend
Not included: accommodation, travel, and evening meals.
Romanian VAT (21%) is legally required for all participants, regardless of country of origin or VAT registration status. This is a legal obligation under EU and Romanian tax law for in-person educational events; it cannot be waived or exempted.
FAQ
No. Weekends 4 and 5 include practical sessions and are available only as part of the full five-weekend Masterclass. The first three weekends can be booked individually.
On Saturday, delegates are split into two groups. One group starts with theory while the other starts with practical emergency POCUS, and the groups switch after lunch, so every full-program participant completes the same theory and practical content. On Sunday afternoon, the two groups alternate between a two-hour emergency POCUS practical and a two-hour advanced case discussion.
The
final Masterclass examination takes place on Sunday morning of this weekend
(May 7, 2028, 9:00–12:00) and is part of the full program.
The European certificate is awarded only after completion of all five weekends and a pass in the final examination.
Yes. Because the final weekends include practical training, places are limited and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
In person, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania .
The full-program fee covers the five weekends, the practical sessions, the between-weekend tasks and mentorship, the final examination, and the European certificate on completion, plus lunch and coffee on both days of each weekend. Accommodation, travel, and evening meals are not included.
English.
Accreditation has not been confirmed for this weekend. If that changes, the details will be published here.
Yes.
Contact hello@skillvet.com.
Cancellations submitted more than 30 days before the start date are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations received within 30 days of the start date are not eligible for a refund. To cancel, contact hello@skillvet.com.
Accommodation,
flights, and evening meals are not included in the registration fee and are the
responsibility of each participant.
No scholarships are currently available.
Registration is through the Masterclass main page.