Elizabeth F. McIlwain, MHS, RCS, FASE

The Imaging Essentials Track embraced the theme of “Investigate, Innovate, Incorporate” at the 28th Annual ASE Scientific Sessions in Baltimore, MD this past June. Topics included foundational techniques of echocardiographic assessment and quantitation, sonographer driven research, and lab management. The sessions began with an afternoon devoted to an interactive echocardiography boot camp presented by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission. The boot camp theme continued throughout the meeting with intense, early morning sessions on diastology, pericardial disease, stress echo, and the advanced cardiac sonographer.

Practical application of newer technologies such as contrast, strain, and 3D echocardiography was woven into sessions on valvular heart disease, right heart assessment, mechanical device support, myocardial disease, and congenital heart disease. The Interventional Echocardiography session presented current recommendations, imaging protocols, and pearls and pitfalls of imaging TAVR, MitraClip, and various closure devices.

Lab management, sonographer licensure, and the role of the advanced cardiac sonographer were hot topics at the meeting. These sessions offered practical information and LOTS of discussion as the attendees presented scenarios and questions to the speakers. The Educator’s Summit provided discussion on clinical competency assessment and educating a different generation. This venue has become so popular that Technical Directors are now requesting a “summit” focused on their issues.

“Reaching The Summit” brought sonographer-driven research back to the Imaging Essentials Track! The presentations by the four sonographer finalists were AMAZING!! In the end, Leah Wright from the University of Tasmania, Australia was chosen as this year’s winner.

No ASE Scientific Sessions would be complete without scholarships and awards. The Hippodrome Theater rolled out the red carpet for the 8th annual ASE Foundation Research Awards Gala. Margaret “Koko” Park, BS, ACS, RCS, RDCS, RVT, FASE, from the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH, was presented the Sonographer Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations Koko!!!

The ASE Foundation funds the Alan D. Waggoner Student Scholarships. This program provides scholarships to students enrolled in a cardiac ultrasound program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This year’s recipients were:

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  Katie Bergevin, Bellevue College DUTEC Program, Bellevue, WA

  
  
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  Stacy Brinkerhoff, Seattle University Diagnostic Ultrasound Program, Seattle, WA

  
  
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  Debra Courtney, Sentara College of Health Sciences CVT Program, Chesapeake, VA

  
  
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  Heather Dreaher, Hoffman Heart & Vascular Inst. School of Cardiac Ultrasound, Hartford, CT

  
  
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  Lyndi Foreman, LSU Health Sciences Center Cardiovascular Sonography Program, New Orleans, LA

  
  
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  Heather Harvey, Alvin Community College DMS Program, Alvin, TX

  
  
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  Allison Huver, Mayo School of Health Sciences Echocardiography Program, Rochester, MN

  
  
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  Erika Mall, South Hills School of Business & Technology DMS Program, State College, PA

  
  
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  Michelle McMenamy, Molloy College CVT Program, Rockville Centre, NY

  
  
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  Brandon Mayes, Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Cardiac Sonography, Baltimore, MD

  
  
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  Angelica Petrisis, Hoffman Heart & Vascular Inst. School of Cardiac Ultrasound, Hartford, CT

  
  
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  George Platt, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences DMS Program, Little Rock, AR

  
  
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  Anne Reiner, Sentara College of Health Sciences CVT Program, Chesapeake, VA

  
  
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  Kristy Ricca, Clemson CV Imaging Leadership Program, Greenville, SC

  
  
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  Autumn Ridien, John A. Logan College Cardiac DMS Program, Carterville, IL

  
  
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  Rebecca Warren, Bellevue College DUTEC Program, Bellevue, WA

  
  
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  Lin Zhu, Lackawanna College Cardiac Sonography Program, Scranton, PA

Marjan Miri from the Grossmont College of CVT Program, El Cajon, CA was the inaugural recipient of the Katanick Student Scholarship Award. This award is presented to the highest ranking student sonographer candidate nominated for ASE Foundation scholarship awards.

Another first for 2017 was the Adams Global Service Award, a travel grant given annually to one new sonographer mission volunteer. This year’s award winner was Yan Wang, RDCS, FASE, from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Other travel grant winners were: