Philips forges partnership to transform technology training in APAC

MedTech company Philips has joined forces with Western Australia’s Edith Cowan University (ECU) in a strategic partnership designed to elevate clinical ultrasound training. The collaboration seeks to empower healthcare professionals with advanced skills, enabling them to provide better care for more people amid escalating healthcare challenges.

As complexities in healthcare grow, 71% of healthcare leaders in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) have expressed concerns over workforce shortages delaying patient care. Moreover, the rapid evolution of medical technology underscores the importance of continuous learning and digital upskilling for healthcare professionals.

In response, Philips and ECU will co-develop a dynamic curriculum aimed at enhancing skills in Ultrasound Point of Care through a series of innovative and practical courses.

“At Edith Cowan University, we are dedicated to providing innovative and practical courses to build the next generation of healthcare professionals that are confident in working in the complex landscape of healthcare today. The partnership with Philips reflects the high quality and relevant curriculum that evolves as technology does,” said Moira Sim, Professor and Executive Dean of the School of Medical and Health Sciences at ECU.

With APAC healthcare systems increasingly embracing advanced technologies to improve care access and patient flow, the partnership focuses on bridging knowledge gaps through specialised training. Philips will leverage its cutting-edge health technologies and expertise to collaborate with ECU academics, delivering high-quality education that supports healthcare’s digital transformation.

The training program will encompass both theoretical insights and hands-on skills using Philips ultrasound devices. Short courses will address specific clinical applications such as improving vascular access, fistula cannulation during dialysis, and FAST exams for emergency physicians.

Specialised courses in obstetric ultrasound will target midwives and general practitioners, while cardiovascular ultrasound sessions will provide sonographers with advanced quantification techniques and cardiologists with training in echocardiography for structural heart disease. Additional modules in general imaging will cover advanced liver and pelvic imaging, musculoskeletal and paediatric scanning, and more.

Building on this foundation, the partnership’s second phase will extend these courses to broader APAC markets, as well as to Philips channel partners and clinical applications teams, starting in Australia. Philips experts will lead workshops and training sessions, with the potential use of ECU’s Medical Sonography Simulation Lab at the Joondalup Campus for onboarding and training of new staff and partners.

“Philips is collaborating closely with healthcare institutions worldwide to meet the demand for more digital health technologies as healthcare challenges around workforce shortages call for more efficient workflows,” said Denilson Kuratomi, Head of Ultrasound, Philips APAC.

“The partnership with ECU is the right step towards this, equipping healthcare professionals with the confidence and skills to utilise new technologies to address specific pain points in the healthcare system. We are confident that this will ultimately help unleash the full possibilities of digital transformation.”

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