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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/
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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/ We’ve all been there — you walk into a shift expecting the usual, and suddenly you’re handed an exam you’ve never done before. Now what? In this episode, we’re talking about the reality of those unexpected moments in ultrasound — the ones that push you out of your comfort zone and force you to adapt on the spot. We’ll dive into how hybrid learning, cross-training, and continuous education can prepare you for those challenges, and how to navigate the fine line between stepping outside your scope and stepping up to provide care when your patients need it most. It’s not about being reckless — it’s about being ready, resourceful, and resilient when the job throws you something you didn’t see coming. 
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December 2025
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