Meet the Ultrasound Section at Stanford Hospital and Clinics

These are just a few of the things that are special about SHC's ultrasound section, which has grown tremendously. Eighteen years ago, there were three technologists; today, there are eight technologists, including those who work evening and weekend shifts. Depending on the time of year, there are also one to four travelers working in our section as well. Travelers are contracted agency staff who come from all over the United States; they work in one place for thirteen weeks up to one year. Each of our technologists is registered with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

In addition to the increasing number of staff, the technology has advanced in our section as well. Eighteen years ago, there were only three ultrasound machines. We now have one Siemens Syngo Dynamics System, for image interpretation and archiving, and six ultrasound machines--all Siemens Sequoias--along with a portable ultrasound ATL machine.

Our section is very busy and handles about 20 to 25 outpatients per day and 23 to 30 inpatients per day; the ultrasound technologists at Blake Wilbur scan about 8 to 10 patients per day. Many of our inpatients are fit into the schedule the same day they request a scan, so our technologists have to be very flexible. The ultrasound staff is thriving under the leadership of their Section Chief Brooke Jeffrey, MD, who has designed special bimonthly learning conferences that he holds on his own time, which allow the technologists to review the most interesting ultrasound cases with other physicians, residents, and body fellows.

Please meet our ultrasound section technologists:

Sarah Brandon, ARDMS, RVT, sonographer, is a graduate from the Foothill College Sonography Program. Ms. Brandon works part time in the Department; she has been here for almost two years and enjoys the challenging work. She decided last year to take her vascular board exams, and she now has that additional license.

Shirley Furuichi, ARDMS, RVT, senior sonographer, has worked in ultrasound at SHC for 18 years. She initially attended Foothill College and earned her degree in radiologic technology after becoming interested in radiology during a career day at her high school. After being hired at Stanford, she worked in X-ray for seven years and was asked to learn sonography. Consequently, Ms. Furuichi attended Foothill College and earned a degree and became registered in diagnostic medical sonography while continuing to work at SHC. The greatest changes Ms. Furuichi has seen over the years have been the innovations in ultrasound equipment: "We are always learning, which is the great part about being at a teaching institute. Dr. Jeffrey has been very active in trying out new software and equipment from Siemens' beta test site in Mountain View. Some of the software we get to test is confidential because it has not yet been released. It keeps our work on the cutting-edge." She has found it challenging to have the latest equipment housed in an older facility, which has not been remodeled in over 20 years: "While the ultrasound section has grown by adding new computers, machines, technologists, patients, etc., the space for the section has not."

However, Ms. Furuichi added, "I have really enjoyed working here. Dr. Jeffrey has been fabulous to work with, and he is the main reason why I have stayed here. Twice a month, he holds learning conferences on his own time for all of us to attend along with the other physicians, residents, and body fellows. We go over the most interesting cases, which gives us a chance to see what our colleagues are doing. The conferences are great teaching tools and provide a wonderful opportunity for us to learn and to improve." Another facet of her work that Ms. Furuichi enjoys is patient care and helping with diagnoses.

Amber Gee, ARDMS, traveler sonographer, was completing her associate of arts degree (AA) in X-ray when she did a rotation in sonography. Ms. Gee found ultrasound quite interesting, and she was relieved that it did not require the heavy lifting of X-ray cassettes. After talking with a friend who was also interested in ultrasound, she enrolled in Weeber State University in Utah and acquired a bachelor's degree in diagnostic medical sonography. Her first job in ultrasound was at a small hospital in Hamilton, Montana. Because she wanted to gain more experience in larger hospital settings, Ms. Gee became a traveler, and she has worked all over the United States for the past three years. This is her second time working at Stanford; she has been back since September 2007. Of all the places she has worked, Ms. Gee enjoys working at Stanford Hospital and Clinics the most: "I feel that when I work at other hospitals, I'm losing skills; when I work at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, I know I'm gaining skills. I really like working with the staff, patients, and physicians at Stanford. I feel like we are all part of a team. The physicians listen to my input, and they teach me new things so I'm always learning." The most challenging part of her day is dealing with difficult patients, but she views these instances as opportunities to gain new skills: "We do really thorough exams here, and the pathology we see is amazing."

Marianne Johnson, ARDMS, RVT, weekend senior sonographer, is well versed in X-ray and ultrasound. Prior to coming to SHC, she worked as the lead sonographer and radiology supervisor at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH l). Because of her versatility and positive work attitude, she recently won the SHC Wingspread Award for her outstanding work in ultrasound. Ms. Johnson was chosen as a "super user" for the EPIC Project. Along with Rebecca Wong, she is one of the "go to people" for questions about EPIC.

Alex Karanany, ARDMS, RVT, senior sonographer, has a medical degree from Egypt, where he was a medical doctor of general surgery. After immigrating to the U.S., he worked as the medical director for several physical therapy offices, and he considered becoming a physical therapist but decided against it. Mr. Karanany found sonography more interesting, so he attended the two-year accredited ultrasound program at Orange Coast College in Los Angeles and graduated in May of 2005. Six months after graduation, he passed the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) exams and was registered in abdomen, obstetric-gynecological, and vascular ultrasound. After working at more than 20 different hospitals and as a traveler, Mr. Karanany was hired in the ultrasound section of Stanford Hospital and Clinics in December of 2007. "Stanford Hospital and Clinics," Mr. Karanany commented, "is by far the best hospital at which I've worked. People here are very professional and knowledgeable, and I'm learning so much in the ultrasound section."

Amanda Nelson, RVT, ARDMS, senior sonographer, was a case worker for Child Protective Services in Texas before coming to Stanford. Although she considered getting her master's degree in social work, she did not find the work intellectually challenging enough. Because she loved animals, she began to take classes for veterinary school and worked in clinics. Mrs. Nelson found the medical parts of her classes and clinics exciting. After listening to her friends describe their experiences working in sonography, she decided to observe a sonographer at Parkland Memorial Hospital. Sonography was not only intellectually challenging but very interesting to Mrs. Nelson. So, she attended El Centro College in Dallas, Texas; passed the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) exams; and was registered in diagnostic medical sonography. She worked at Baylor Medical Center for two years. After working as a traveler, Mrs. Nelson came to Stanford in April of 2007 and became a permanent SHC employee in March of 2008.

The most satisfying part of her work is caring for her patients: "I enjoy working on cases where you can really make a difference in a patient's care, like when you find a DVT or cancer that you catch early. It feels good to be involved in helping to save someone's life. I also like explaining procedures to patients so that they understand what's happening to them and why, and they become more willing to cooperate." The most challenging part of her work is doing portable exams because there is not a lot of room for the large ultrasound machines.

Diane Orluck, ARDMS, RVT, sonography supervisor, will celebrate 18 years at SHC in July of 2008. She originally began in X-ray, worked for a while in CT and cath angio, and then pursued sonography. After acquiring a lot of experience in scanning, Ms. Orluck was recruited to the SHC sonography section; she was later awarded the SHC Wingspread Award for her outstanding work in ultrasound. She has found that the most substantial change in ultrasound has been the advances in technology: "You can see so much more now on each imaging exam, and you can see it so much more clearly." One thing that has remained the same for Ms. Orluck is the direct contact with patients that ultrasound provides: "Most people pursue ultrasound because they like the direct contact with patients. As sonographers, we are not just pushing buttons; we have to know the pathology and anatomy of the body. While the procedures used during each exam are the same, each patient is always different, so each exam is unique." In addition to the patients, Ms. Orluck explained, the hard work of their section chief, Dr. Jeffrey, makes the atmosphere in the ultrasound section special: "Dr. Jeffrey is the driving force behind ultrasound. His attitude is infectious, and he has created a very positive learning atmosphere that has inspired our section so that we are very enthusiastic about coming to work and about working towards the correct diagnosis."

Rebecca Wong, ARDMS, senior sonographer, has been at SHC for about six years. She works with many of the residents on the evening shift. Recently, she was chosen as a "super user" for the EPIC Project. Along with Marianne Johnson, she is one of the "go to people" for questions about EPIC. Ms. Wong already had her bachelor of arts degree when she decided to go into ultrasound. She completed the Foothill College Sonography Program, and she was hired at SHC to work full-time during the weekdays. When she started her family, Ms. Wong began working the evening shift to better accommodate her busy schedule.

Xin Yuan, ARDMS, sonographer, has a medical degree in general medicine from China. When she came to the United States, she first completed a respiratory program and earned an associate's degree. Subsequently, Ms. Yuan applied to Foothill College and earned a degree in diagnostic medical sonography. Her last rotation for her internship was at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, where she was hired after completing her rotation and becoming registered with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). "Utrasound is an art," Ms. Yuan commented. "I love the images and the anatomy and pathology of the field. I also love helping patients and working with Stanford physicians. Every day is challenging and, everyday, I learn something new and discuss new cases. Getting the correct diagnosis is also a challenge, and it's something I look forward to each day."

Lan Zhang, ARDMS, sonographer, has a medical degree in pediatrics from China. After obtaining her degree in diagnostic medical sonography from Foothill College, she rotated through SHC, and she was hired after completing her internship and becoming registered with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). She has been in the ultrasound section for over a year.