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In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara sits down in person with soon-to-be graduate Camryn Womeldorf to explore what it really takes to become a sonographer—from the classroom to clinicals and into the real world.
This conversation pulls back the curtain on ultrasound school, highlighting the challenges that test students the most—physics, clinical performance, and the mental pressure of patient care. Camryn shares firsthand insights on building confidence, developing technical skill, and learning how to navigate patient interactions while maintaining professionalism. They also dive into what separates students who succeed from those who struggle, the importance of initiative during clinicals, and how small habits—like communication and work ethic—can shape an entire career. From landing a competitive role at Ohio State to preparing for registry exams, this episode is a real and honest look at the journey of becoming a sonographer—and what it takes to thrive beyond graduation. 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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🎙️ In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara Williams sits down with Christina Fields, BS, ACS, RVT, RDCS, RDMS, FASE for a real, unfiltered conversation about the highs, the challenges, and everything in between in the world of sonography.
From stepping into leadership as a technical director to navigating accreditation, mentorship, and the evolving expectations of advanced practice, Tina shares what it truly takes to grow in this field. But beyond the clinical and professional side, this episode dives into something deeper—the emotional weight of the job. They talk about burnout, showing up for patients on their hardest days, and what it means to keep going even when life outside of work feels heavy. Tina also shares powerful insights from her volunteer experiences, including international work in Nepal, and how those moments reshaped her perspective on purpose, patient care, and gratitude. This is more than a conversation about ultrasound—it’s about resilience, mindset, and remembering why you started. Because at the end of the day… the hard days will come—but they don’t have to win. 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/ Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in healthcare—it’s already reshaping what happens inside the ultrasound room.
In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara talks with Caroline Christopher from Cycle Clarity - the conversation explores how AI is actively transforming fertility ultrasound, with a closer look at CycleClarity and its role in automated follicular monitoring. From reducing scan time and improving measurement consistency to enhancing workflow efficiency, this technology is changing how sonographers approach high-volume, high-stakes imaging. The discussion breaks down how AI supports—not replaces—the sonographer, helping reduce physical strain, streamline repetitive tasks, and create more standardized, reliable data across scans. It also addresses the real concerns many professionals have about AI, including job security, increasing patient loads, and shifting expectations in clinical practice. Beyond the technical side, this episode highlights the impact on patient care—showing how improved visualization, reporting, and communication can help patients feel more informed and connected throughout their fertility journey. As demand continues to rise and staffing challenges persist, AI is emerging as a critical tool to help bridge the gap—supporting sonographers, improving efficiency, and ultimately elevating the standard of care in fertility imaging 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/ In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, host Lara Williams sits down with Douglas Richardson to explore the journey from clinical sonographer to healthcare leader.
Doug shares how he progressed from an uncertain start in college to leading accreditation efforts across multiple hospitals and stepping into a system-level strategy role. His experience highlights the realities of growth in healthcare—where clinical expertise must be paired with business insight, leadership skills, and the ability to influence change. The conversation covers:
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/ What does it really mean to be an advanced practice sonographer—and where is the profession heading next?
In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, we explore the evolving role of the sonographer beyond traditional scanning. From clinical expertise and pre-read responsibilities to remote work opportunities and expanded influence in patient care, this conversation dives into how sonographers are stepping into more advanced, high-impact roles across healthcare. Joined by Cherish Hockey, we unpack what it takes to transition into these positions—from building trust with physicians and strengthening diagnostic confidence, to navigating imposter syndrome and embracing continuous learning. We also talk about the realities of moving away from full-time scanning, the growing demand for quality-driven workflows, and how technology is opening new doors for sonographers willing to adapt. If you’ve ever wondered what’s next in your career—or how to position yourself for more—this episode is your roadmap to rising beyond the probe and into your full potential. 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/ #sonographersafterdark #iheartecho #allaboutultrasound #loveultrasound #AdvancedPracticeSonographer #ultrasound #sonographer In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara sits down with Carlton Hartwell, ACS, RDCS, FASE and they dive into the evolving role of the Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS) and what it truly means to move beyond scanning into leadership, education, and quality-driven practice.
While the ACS credential has been around for years, many healthcare organizations are still trying to define how to fully utilize these highly trained professionals. We explore the real-world responsibilities of the ACS—from protocol development and lab leadership to research involvement and advanced procedures like TEE. They also break down the pathway to credentials like ACS and American Society of Echocardiography fellowship, and why these designations are becoming increasingly important in today’s echo landscape. The conversation expands into:
If you’ve ever wondered what’s next in your career as a sonographer—or how to elevate your role within your lab—this episode is for you. 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/ #sonographersafterdark #iheartecho #allaboutultrasound #loveecho #loveultrasound #bettercardiology #echoquality #cardiacultrasound In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara Williams dives into the real work behind accreditation, quality improvement, and leadership in the echo lab. While accreditation may be the framework, the true goal is building a culture of quality that improves patient care, strengthens reporting, and creates consistency across the lab.
Lara unpacks the common roadblocks teams face when implementing quality programs, from managing different personality types and navigating difficult conversations to gaining physician and administrative buy-in. She also breaks down the importance of structured reporting, IAC standards, ASE guidelines, timeliness requirements, discrepancy policies, and creating meaningful quality review systems that go beyond simply checking boxes. This episode is a practical discussion for sonographers, technical directors, ACS professionals, and lab leaders who want to better understand how to lead change, improve reporting accuracy, support staff growth, and build a quality program that is both sustainable and effective. Lara also shares insight into using objective scoring tools, peer review, and ongoing education to identify growth opportunities and strengthen lab performance over time. If you are stepping into leadership, preparing for accreditation, or trying to elevate quality in your lab, this episode is for you. 💜🩵 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/ #sonographersafterdark #iheartecho #allaboutultrasound #loveecho #loveultrasound #bettercardiology #echoquality #cardiacultrasound This episode of Sonographers After Dark was sponsored by the American Society for Echocardiography, with support from an unrestricted educational grant from Bristol Myers Squibb.
In this episode, Lara Williams sits down with Margaret Kurnides, ACS, RDCS, FASE, and Amy Dillenbeck, MS, ACS, RDCS, RCS, FASE to discuss the growing adoption of goal-directed Valsalva in echocardiography and why it is transforming how sonographers evaluate patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The conversation explores how the traditional Valsalva maneuver often varies between sonographers, leading to inconsistent results. By contrast, the goal-directed approach creates a standardized and reproducible maneuver that can reliably unmask latent LVOT obstruction, which may be present in up to one-third of HCM patients who show no obstruction at rest. Margaret and Amy share practical insights from implementing the technique in clinical labs, including setup tips, infection-control considerations, and strategies for gaining physician and administrative buy-in. They also discuss imaging challenges, differentiating LVOT signals from mitral regurgitation, and the importance of correlating Doppler findings with the broader physiologic picture. The discussion takes on new urgency in the era of myosin inhibitor therapies, where accurate echocardiographic measurements—particularly LVOT gradients and ejection fraction—are critical for diagnosis, treatment selection, and medication titration. The group emphasizes why sonographers must understand the physiology behind HCM, not just the imaging protocol. The episode closes with a look at upcoming ASE micro-lessons on goal-directed Valsalva. If you scan echo—or teach it—this is a conversation about technique, physiology, and the evolving role of the sonographer in modern HCM care. 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/ #sonographersafterdark #iheartecho #allaboutultrasound #loveecho #loveultrasound #bettercardiology #echoquality #cardiacultrasound #hocm #hypertrophiccardiomyopathy #hcm #goaldirectedvalsalva It’s been almost a decade since Lara Williams and Judith Buckland, MBA, RDCS, FASE, last taught together (yes… the legendary “quack like a duck” kinetic learning moment is back). In this Sonographers After Dark episode, they reconnect to unpack how the ultrasound and echo world has transformed since 2016—through COVID-era shifts, remote education becoming the norm, and the rising demand to streamline the nonstop pressure on sonographers and physicians. Judith shares the real story behind her evolution from accreditation consulting to building process-driven quality systems—and why her biggest “aha” was that accreditation isn’t the destination… it’s the leverage that finally gets buy-in for standardization, peer review, and better outcomes. Together, they dig into the grind (and cost) of pursuing ACCME, the vision of bundling accreditation + QI + CME + credential requirements into one workflow, and the entrepreneur brain that keeps dreaming bigger. They also talk AI in echo (including vendor-agnostic automation, real-world “messy” data, and why this tech won’t replace sonographers—but can reduce burnout), plus what’s next: HOCM accreditation changes, goal-directed Valsalva, ICE/4D ICE advances, and the behind-the-scenes work of building platforms that make “better cardiology” possible.
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/ #sonographersafterdark #iheartecho #allaboutultrasound #loveecho #loveultrasound #bettercardiology #cardioserv #echoaccreditation #echoquality #cardiacultrasound #hocm #hypertrophiccardiomyopathy #hcm In this powerful episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara sits down with Joy Guthrie, PhD., ACS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, FSDMS, FASE, to discuss the evolution of advanced practice sonography and what it truly means to elevate our profession.
Joy shares the story behind launching one of the first Advanced Cardiac Sonography programs in 2016—and how it expanded to include Advanced Perinatal Ultrasound and Advanced Vascular tracks. Designed for experienced sonographers with at least three years of clinical practice and a bachelor’s degree, these hybrid programs combine online coursework with immersive on-campus residency. The result? Graduates who return to their institutions with increased responsibility, new job descriptions, and higher compensation. Together, Lara and Joy explore: • The shift toward advanced roles in cardiac, vascular, and perinatal imaging • Why many “advanced” roles aren’t labeled that way—but function at a higher clinical level • How accreditation and positions like Technical Director have reshaped expectations (often requiring ACS-level expertise) • The development of the CAAHEP Pathway program for advanced practice • Gaining physician buy-in and aligning with collaborative, extender-style practice models • Practical application tips for competitive advanced program admission • The unique challenges of pediatric echocardiography training and why hands-on experience is non-negotiable This episode is more than a conversation—it’s a roadmap for sonographers who are ready to expand their scope, elevate patient care, and help define the next generation of our profession. If you’ve ever wondered what the future of advanced sonography looks like… this is it. #SonographersAfterDark #AllAboutUltrasound #iheartecho #LoveUltrasound #LoveEcho💜 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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