Back by Popular Demand

The IV Insertion Workshop offers professional growth and development, as well as increased autonomy for sonographers who find it difficult to perform quality studies without additional resources. This year, the well-attended workshops were held in the Imaging Village several times throughout the day on Sunday and once in the morning on Monday, allowing several opportunities for interested individuals. The IV insertion workshops provide an overview of the knowledge and skills required for peripheral IV access with hands on how to approach with respect to appropriate access site, standard technique, IV equipment, and methodology for placement and removal, as well as site care and infection control.

The Educators’ Summit was moderated by Richie Palma, Dennis Carney, Merri Bremer, and Carol Mitchell— all well-known educators in the profession of echocardiography. The summit is open to all interested individuals, but is truly intended to bring educators together to discuss best practices and methodologies to further the professional growth and development of sonographers.

The Local Society Echo Challenge was back this year, featuring “Three of Kind: A Cardiovascular Game,” developed and hosted by David B. Adams, RCS, RDCS, FASE. A hundred and twenty participants made up three teams; the team captained by Dennis Carney won. The event was not only entertaining but educational, with spirited completion.

Accolades and Applause

This year’s winner of the Distinguished Sonographer Teaching Award was Carol Mitchell, PhD, RDCS. The award recognizes an active cardiac sonographer instructor who is attentive to professional values and who exhibits values of leadership and dedication to the field of echocardiography for past, current, and future cardiac sonographers. Carol truly exemplifies these values and was chosen by her peers, faculty, fellows, sonographers, and students who nominated her. This year, all award winners were honored at the First ASE Gala, which was an amazing success as a sold-out event.

The Alan D. Waggoner Student Sonography Award is an award that we should all be proud of, as it promotes the professional growth and development of young sonographers. Nothing is more important than making sure our future is sound with competent future leaders who are more than capable within their field of practice. The scholarship program was established in 2001 in recognition of Mr. Waggoner’s professional achievements and service to ASE. Funding from the ASE Education and Research Foundation provides five $1,000 scholarships for students enrolled in cardiac ultrasound programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in the United States, or by an equivalent Canadian or international accreditation body. Included with each scholarship is a one year membership in the ASE, complimentary registration for the annual scientific sessions, and travel support. This year the following students were chosen from a vast pool of applicants, signifying their intellectual merit and strength:

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  Abraham Anderson, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL

  
  
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  Elizabeth Lehay, Hoffman Heart Institute School of Cardiac Ultrasound, Hartford, CT

  
  
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  Vladimir Masati, Johns Hopkins School of Cardiac Ultrasound, Baltimore, MD

  
  
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  Karin Ozowski, El Centro College, Dallas, TX

  
  
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  Heidi Rivisto, Mayo School of Health Sciences— Echocardiography, Rochester, MN

The 2010 scholarship recipients were recognized during the ASE Business Meeting/Edler Lecture and Awards Presentation.

The Feigenbaum Cardiovascular Sonographer Student Travel Grant is supported by a grant to the ASE Foundation from Elsevier to honor the 20 year commitment and tenure of the JASE founding editor, Harvey Feigenbaum, MD, FASE. It is presented to a sonography student enrolled in an accredited cardiovascular ultrasound program. The grant provides funding to assist the student to attend the annual Scientific Sessions or other ASE-sponsored educational courses. This year’s award winner was Robert N. Houde II of Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA.