Imaging equity: Why vascular neurologists need routine ultrasound training.

Abstract

Stroke disparities persist globally and are driven in part by diagnostic delays and uneven access to advanced neuroimaging. Cerebrovascular ultrasound offers a portable, bedside modality that can optimize stroke evaluation across diverse clinical environments, yet formal training in its use remains inconsistent. This perspective argues that structured, competency-based ultrasound education within vascular neurology fellowships represents a practical, equity-aligned intervention to address diagnostic gaps. While training alone cannot resolve structural drivers of inequity, standardizing ultrasound proficiency can equip clinicians with adaptable diagnostic skills, support timely decision-making, and promote more equitable stroke care delivery across practice settings.