SONOGRAPHERS’ COMMUNICATION

SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAVEL GRANTS CAN LAUNCH CAREERS AND

CHANGE LIVES

Volume 2

Kenneth Horton, RCS, RDCS, FASE

Chris Kramer, BA,RDCS

Although the 2012 ASE Scientific sessions are still 8 months away,planning is well under way, and this month there are some importantdeadlines to add to your calendars. One of the main goals of the ASEis to be the source for cardiovascular ultrasound education. All practic-ing sonographers need to stay current with technology and tech-niques, and we hope that you turn to the many resources the ASEhas to offer as your main source of continuing education. The ASEhas several opportunities for sonographer students to receive financialassistance for their education and/or provide some assistance to at-tend the annual ASE Scientific Sessions. The deadline to apply forthese awards/scholarships is November 30, 2011. I encourage youto encourage and assist the student sonographers in your programsand labs to apply for these grants.

� Alan D Waggoner Sonographer Student Scholarship—5 recipi-ents

� The UltraEcho, Ltd. Cardiovascular Sonographer Student TravelGrant—1 recipient

� Feigenbaum Cardiovascular Sonographer Student TravelGrant—1 recipient

The specifics of each grant and the requirements for applicationcan be found on the ASE Website at www.asecho.org. These $1,000grants demonstrate ASE’s commitment to students in our field.Students who attend the ASE Scientific Sessions are exposed to thepioneers of cardiovascular ultrasound and the leaders in the field.This exposure is often the first step in a student’s becoming more in-volved in our Society.

A perfect example is Chris Kramer, BA, RDCS. Chris received theAlan D. Waggoner Student Travel Grant in 2006, and since then hasbecome a valuable asset to the ASE and an invited speaker at the ASEScientific Sessions and many of the local courses sponsored or co-sponsored by the ASE. I asked Chris to share his experience withASE from the time he got started with echocardiography and re-ceived his grant to his current involvement. The following are hiswords:

Just a few years ago, I was a student in an echocardiography pro-gram, searching for a meaningful career that would allow personal sat-isfaction. Echocardiography fulfilled my dreams and needs personallyand professionally. Imaging allows me to be a patient advocatethrough listening, communicating, imaging, and sharing that informa-tion with the echo team. As the echo technician I have the opportu-nity to be a critical piece in the patient’s care. I see myself asperforming an imaging consult that details the morphology and phys-iology of the cardiovascular system. I am an essential piece to accuratediagnoses leading to appropriate therapies.

The journey I have experienced has exceeded all my expectations.I have evolved as a critical imaging thinker under the guidance ofmany expert teachers and mentors. I have learned that in echo, thepieces of imaging data must compute into a crystallized picture.

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I have learned what to expect when con-fronted with various symptoms and diseases.I have learned how to identify methods andapproaches that allow for the most accurateinformation in the echo consult. This learningprocess has allowed me to become theteacher and leader for students under mytutelage.

During my education I have been sur-rounded by passionate instructors. I am fortu-nate today to be immersed in that samepassion, and I try to emulate it in my day-to-day practice of ultrasound. When searching

for a profession, my interests always brought me back to the heart.I did a lot of research about echocardiography and was given theopportunity to shadow sonographers at a local heart hospital. Fromthe first parasternal image, I knew I wanted to pursue a career inechocardiography.

I was fortunate to receive the Alan D Waggoner Scholarship asa student in 2006. As a student scholarship recipient, I was able to ex-perience the ASE Scientific Sessions. At this meeting I began to expe-rience and understand ASE’s commitment to education. If you havenot experienced the Scientific Sessions in person, I encourage you tosign up for this year’s conference just outside Washington DC.

A couple years later I was later honored to be an invited speaker atthe Scientific Sessions. This progressed to having the opportunity tospeak all over the country and the world at different ASE sponsoredand co-sponsored conferences. ASE helped me start my journey andhas fueled my passion to be a leader in the developments of echocar-diography. I encourage sonography students to get involved in yourlocal echo chapters and communities. This initial challenge maylead to many varied and interesting experiences, as it has for me. I en-courage you to accept the challenge. The rewards you reap mayexceed your expectations.

As a new academic year has started, I would like to share some ofmy experiences, wisdom and encouragement. First, if you have no-ticed, I have mentioned passionmany times in this article. As studentsyou will experience sonographers who are passionate about theirfield. Passion is a driving force behind any worthwhile endeavor – ex-perience it! This passion results in a great attitude because you lovewhat you are doing. It will spill over to the patients, families,co-workers, and physicians you work with daily. Your passion andattitude will become contagious and it will result in your goal: to bea difference maker.

I encourage all echocardiography sonography students to apply forthe ASE scholarships and grants. The scholarship that I receivedopened doors and opportunities for me. Those doors and opportuni-ties are available for you.

ournal of the American Society of Echocardiography 23A