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In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara sits down with Dr. Judy Hung (Mass General Hospital, Boston) for a candid, sonographer-focused conversation on valvular heart disease—and why high-quality echocardiography drives real clinical decisions in today’s structural heart era. Dr. Hung shares what drew her to valve disease through the lens of physiology and hemodynamics, and why echo is the frontline tool for determining whether stenosis or regurgitation is truly hemodynamically significant. The discussion dives into common valve-assessment pitfalls—like failing to chase the highest aortic stenosis gradients with multiple windows, skipping the non-imaging (Pedoff) probe, and missing key steps in MR quantification (zoom, baseline shift, and PISA setup). They also unpack how echo data influences heart team decisions for TAVR, why sonographer training and career pathways matter for retention, and how the profession may evolve with AI-assisted measurements and improving 3D transthoracic imaging—without replacing the need for skilled sonographers. Plus: a few fun rapid-fire moments (equitherapy with "donkeys,” talking to chickens, and an echo myth Dr. Hung is ready to retire for good). If you’re ready to level up your valve game—this one’s 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/
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What really goes into building an echocardiography training program from scratch?
In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara sits down with Daniel Bourque for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about launching and sustaining a hospital-based echocardiography program at Orlando Health. Daniel shares the five-year journey of developing an employer-backed echo program—from navigating state licensing, board reviews, and massive documentation requirements to selecting students, building clinical rigor, and fostering real-world decision-making at the bedside. With over 1,300–1,500 clinical scanning hours, early hands-on exposure, and strong internal recruitment, this program is a powerful example of what’s possible when education stays rooted in clinical reality. Together, Lara and Daniel unpack:
Because strong programs don’t happen overnight—and the work behind them deserves to be seen. 💜💙 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, Lara sits down with Kelly Thorson, DHSc, MSRS, MS, ACS, RDCS, FASE, to talk about what it takes to build—and sustain—excellence in pediatric and fetal echocardiography. Kelly shares practical insight on recruiting and training pediatric echo sonographers, why mentorship and lifelong learning matter, and how sonographers can grow into research, education, and leadership pathways. They also dive into the real-world integration of 3D echo and strain in pediatric labs—how to train teams, improve consistency, and expand access to advanced imaging even outside academic centers.
💜💙#SonographersAfterDark #iHeartEcho #AllAboutUltrasound #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/ 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 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/ In this episode of Sonographers After Dark, Lara sits down with Richie — educator, innovator, and program developer — to talk about the evolution of ultrasound education and echocardiography training. Richie shares his journey from launching his first ultrasound program in 2001 to developing the program at Duke University, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. They dive into what it takes to build a strong ultrasound program — from clinical site partnerships and student selection to teaching physics in ways that actually click. Richie opens up about his passion for making learning interactive and engaging for today’s students, while Lara explores how these principles are shaping new programs like her upcoming ECHO initiative in Ohio. The conversation also touches on major shifts in echocardiography technology, the role of AI in the scan room, and Richie’s upcoming physics textbook designed to help sonographers optimize imaging performance. If you’ve ever thought about teaching, building a program, or taking your ultrasound career to the next level — this one’s packed with inspiration, insights, and innovation.
🎧 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/ #allaboutultrasound #iheartecho #sonographersafterdark #ultrasoundeducation #echocardiography 
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December 2025
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