Attendees at the 2026 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) Annual Convention: The Ultrasound Event can expect a dynamic and interdisciplinary program that reflects the evolving role of ultrasound across medicine.
That’s how AIUM president David Jones, MD, described this year’s meeting in Philadelphia, PA, which will feature late-breaking research presentations, hands-on workshops, and clinical sessions that attendees can apply in their practice.
David Jones, MD, AIUM presidentAIUM
“We’ve designed the meeting to offer something for everyone,” Jones told AuntMinnie. “It’s truly a comprehensive program that supports both deep specialization and broad professional growth.”
New offerings
New additions to this year’s meeting include three new pre-course offerings in gynecologic (GYN), obstetric (OB), and musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound. These learning opportunities allow attendees to build or refine core skills before the main meeting begins.
Jones said having these offerings is “something we’ve heard a strong demand for from our members and something we are leaning into.”
He added that the AIUM is also offering an affordable registration rate for students, residents, and fellows for this convention.
The meeting will also include an expanded poster hall, increased poster presentation opportunities, and a late-breaking abstract submission window, each designed to encourage learning, collaboration, and the sharing of research within the ultrasound community. It will also have a half-day session on Saturday, May 30 that will focus on attendees who are early in their careers.
“These initiatives mark the first time in several years that the AIUM has offered such opportunities, and early signs suggest that this meeting will include one of the largest groups of early-career participants in recent memory,” said Jones, who is also a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. He also serves as director of the Fetal Diagnostic Center at the university.
The AIUM is also launching a new Community of Practice Breakfast Forum, which Jones said creates a “more informal, collaborative setting and feedback loop” for leaders and attendees to connect around shared clinical interests. These sessions are designed to foster dialogue among peers and help create the future direction of the organization.
The keynote session will focus on AI’s role in ultrasound and be delivered by Alison Noble from the University of Oxford in the U.K. Her talk, “The Evolving Role of AI in Ultrasound,” will explore how modern AI, particularly video and multi-modal deep learning, can analyze ultrasound in real time, detect subtle acoustic patterns, and support clinicians during both scanning and diagnosis.
It will address critical questions around reliability, trust, and the evolving partnership between clinicians and intelligent systems.
Jones said the AIUM is focused on helping the ultrasound community navigate this transition toward advanced technology, adding that the future “will belong to clinicians who can integrate advanced technology with strong foundational skills and sound clinical judgment.”
“Overall, it’s a thoughtfully blended program, bringing together new ideas and formats while strengthening the core educational experience that attendees have come to expect from the AIUM,” Jones told AuntMinnie.
Ultrasound’s evolving role
The meeting will attract ultrasound specialists from multiple disciplines. Jones said physicians make up about two-thirds of meeting attendees, while approximately one-third are non-physician professionals. These include sonographers, nurse practitioners, advanced practice providers, researchers, and healthcare administrators.
“That diversity is not only intentional; it’s essential,” Jones said. “The AIUM is designed to bring together the full ultrasound community. By creating a space where clinicians, researchers, sonographers, and healthcare leaders all learn side by side, we foster collaboration, shared understanding, and innovation that ultimately translates into better patient care.”
Jones also reflected on the rapid evolution of ultrasound, noting that this meeting is an opportunity to reconnect with the “excitement and potential” of the field. This includes building connections, like networking, mentorship, and collaboration, which are “just as important” as the educational content itself, he said.
Why Philly?
And attendees can enjoy everything the city of Philadelphia has to offer, such as its cultural, culinary, and historical offerings.
“Philadelphia is truly having a moment, and we’re thrilled to be hosting AIUM 2026 here,” Jones said. “With the upcoming America 250 celebration, the city is taking center stage in commemorating the nation’s history, while major global events like the FIFA World Cup are bringing an added level of international energy and visibility.”
At the same time, Philadelphia is a major medical hub, home to multiple leading health systems, academic centers, and renowned hospitals such as Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“That strong healthcare presence makes it a particularly fitting location for a meeting like the AIUM’s, where education, research, and clinical practice come together,” Jones told AuntMinnie.
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