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Travel sonography sounds glamorous—but what’s it actually like? Lara and Lydia keep it real as they talk through the highs, lows, and logistics of life as a travel ultrasound professional.
Lydia shares how she made the leap after hospital experience, why flexibility and new environments fueled her growth, and what surprised her most along the way. They dive into negotiating pay and schedules, understanding tax homes, extending contracts, and why adaptability and a good attitude go a long way at new facilities. If you’re considering travel work—or already living out of a suitcase—this candid conversation will help you navigate the road with clarity, confidence, and community. 💜💙 Watch the full episode here or listen on your favorite platform: Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SonographersAfterDark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonographersafterdark Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sonographersafterdark Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonographersafterdark/
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What does it really take to build a hospital-based echocardiography program from scratch—inside one of the busiest labs in the country?
In this episode, Lara Williams is joined by Amy Dillenbeck, who leads the echo training program at Cleveland Clinic, for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about launching a sonography school after COVID-era staffing challenges pushed facilities to think differently. Amy walks through the early overwhelm (researching successful programs, navigating Ohio requirements, creating objectives and lesson plans, recruiting, marketing—plus all the unexpected parts like scheduling, payments, and yes… snow days). They discuss why the program intentionally accepts only 8 students per year, how clinical support from staff sonographers makes or breaks the student experience, and how the results have exceeded every expectation--100% graduation, placement, and board pass rates, plus 23 hires in 3 years helping strengthen staffing and elevate lab culture. They also dive deep into HOCM, where Amy shares what she’s seeing shift in evaluation and why sonographers play a critical role in not missing LVOT obstruction. You’ll learn the practical “how-to” behind goal-directed Valsalva—a more standardized, measurable approach that can improve consistency and help unmask gradients without losing your images. Finally, Amy and Lara talk ASE, attending Scientific Sessions, why involvement builds confidence and opportunity, and what the FASE designation can mean for sonographers who want to lead, teach, and level up. 💜💙 #SonographersAfterDark #iheartecho 🎧 New episodes drop every Friday at 5 PM ET. Watch the fullepisode here or listen on your favorite platform: Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SonographersAfterDark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonographersafterdark Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sonographersafterdark Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonographersafterdark/ In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara sits down with Lauren Castro, ACS, RDCS, to talk about one of the biggest career transitions in our field—moving from clinical sonography into the ultrasound industry.
After nearly a decade in hospital echo labs, Lauren felt pulled toward a different kind of challenge: more travel, more teaching, and a new professional mindset. Today she works as a clinical specialist supporting ultrasound-enhancing agents in the cardiac space—educating sonographers, optimizing machines, and partnering closely with sales teams. Lara and Lauren dig into what that transition really feels like. They talk about adapting to the competitive sales culture, leveraging the credibility of hands-on clinical experience, and stretching into new skills like communication, team dynamics, and relationship building. Lauren shares inside tips on networking, tailoring your resume, preparing for interviews, and understanding the personality traits that help clinicians succeed in industry roles. They also get real about life outside of work—balancing travel with raising young kids, managing “mom guilt,” choosing the right employer for your family’s needs, and periodically reassessing your priorities as life changes. And yes… they touch on the physical relief that comes from not scanning every single day. Whether you're burned out, curious about industry opportunities, or wondering how to take the next step in your sonography career, this conversation offers honest insight, practical guidance, and inspiration for anyone ready to grow beyond the scan room. 💜💙 #SonographersAfterDark #iheartecho 🎧 New episodes drop every Friday at 5 PM ET. Watch the fullepisode here or listen on your favorite platform: Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SonographersAfterDark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonographersafterdark Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sonographersafterdark Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonographersafterdark/ In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara sits down with Debbie Dulin—educator, sonographer, and host of It’s All About the Frequency—for an unfiltered conversation about growth, mentorship, self-care, and the realities of life in the ultrasound profession. Debbie shares updates about her newest educational project launching at theultrasoundinstitute.org, and the two discuss how teaching, leadership, and community elevate the entire field. They dive into the value of professional organizations, advocacy around scan workloads, and how podcasts help bridge the gaps between sonographers who rarely get opportunities to connect. Lara and Debbie open up about the human side of healthcare—navigating personal struggles while still showing up for patients, learning from early-career mistakes, and creating shame-free spaces for new sonographers to grow. From boundary-setting to collaboration over competition, this episode is a reminder that our profession thrives when we support each other and share what we’ve learned along the way.
🎧 New episodes drop every Friday at 5 PM ET. Watch the fullepisode here or listen on your favorite platform: Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SonographersAfterDark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonographersafterdark Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sonographersafterdark Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonographersafterdark/ 
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