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Career Opportunities in Echocardiography, Now and Beyond
SONOGRAPHERS’ COMMUNICATION
Career Opportunities in Echocardiography, Now and Beyond Echocardiography offers a career track as varied and diverse as the field itself. Job possibilities include adult and pediatric scanning, contract/travel positions, research, industry-related positions, teaching, hospital administration, or any combination thereof. In the US in 2004, more than 11.5 million echocardiograms were performed in hospitals over 100 beds and in 400 cardiology practices. The number has grown steadily since. Each specialty presents its own unique and interesting insight into this expansive field. A clinical background in adult and/or pediatric scanning is requisite for most positions, and provides a good understanding of the specialty. There are a wealth of excellent schools that provide the foundation for careers in echocardiography. As a cardiac sonographer, one can choose to work in an assortment of settings. Typically, a hospitals has a faster pace and sicker patient base than a doctor’s office. One’s personality and ambitions should be a consideration in deciding where to apply. If one’s long-term interests lie outside the realm of direct patient care, it is advisable ‘‘do one’s time.’’ For someone interested in transitioning to a new role, having a solid skill set and mixed experience base ameliorates one’s chances of branching out. A sure-fire, albeit challenging, way to garner experience from multiple facilities in a short time is to do travel echocardiography. This can be done locally, regionally or nationally, as a supplement to a full-time position or in place of a permanent position. Some choose to find their own work and contract themselves, while others use agencies to find work. The lengths of these contracts vary by facility and assignment. This type of work is volatile in nature, as it is subject to demand and availability and is ideally suited for those who adapt to change easily. Research is a particularly vibrant field in echocardiography. Many academic institutions, hospitals and clinics are actively involved in a vast array of ultrasound research. These applications include, but are not limited to contrast perfusion, tissue tracking, multi-modality fusion imaging, cell and gene therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and medical device testing. Echocardiography also plays a vital role in other types of medical research as an indicator of efficacy in the treatment of diseases like congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and valvular heart disease. This would be a great job for someone with keen technical savvy and an interest in cutting-edge technology. Research is the key driver of breakthroughs and ensures echocardiography’s place at the forefront of the future of non-invasive diagnostic imaging. Research is not limited to universities and hospitals, however. It feeds the pipeline of industry sales. Conversely, increased sales drive more research and development (R&D) spending. There are
30A Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
many established multinational conglomerates as well as smaller companies and newer start-ups. Positions are usually divided into sales or applications. This would be a great career choice for someone with strong interpersonal skills and an interest in the latest advancements in echocardiographic technology. Sales representatives sometimes, but not always, have a clinical background. Their primary duty is to sell equipment and technologies. Applications Robert J. Davis, RCS specialists usually have a clinical background and are responsible for demonstrating the equipment, educating customers and providing technical and troubleshooting support. Beyond that, there are marketing, R&D and management positions available within certain companies. Some may want to share the knowledge they have gained in their professional endeavors by teaching. This sometimes requires the sonographer to get additional education and is best suited for individuals who are patient and able to communicate well. Teaching can be very rewarding, as it allows one to influence the future of the field by cultivating the minds of the next crop of cardiac sonographers. Still others may find their calling in management and seek transitions to positions as a supervisors, managers, and so on. This role presents different challenges, as the focus is not so much a technical one, but rather geared toward motivating others and pushing them to perform at the top of their abilities. Managers are also involved in staffing, budget and other administrative duties, so people with strong leadership capabilities will do best in this role. Above all else, one must consider the best fit for one’s interests, needs and long-term ambitions. While a travel position may work well at a certain phase in life, that may not be the case later on. Echocardiography is constantly evolving as an art and science; it is wellpoised to be a sustainable and rewarding career for the foreseeable future, no matter the position.
Volume 22 Number 10
Career Opportunities in Echocardiography, Now and Beyond Echocardiography offers a career track as varied and diverse as the field itself. Job possibilities include adult and pediatric scanning, contract/travel positions, research, industry-related positions, teaching, hospital administration, or any combination thereof. In the US in 2004, more than 11.5 million echocardiograms were performed in hospitals over 100 beds and in 400 cardiology practices. The number has grown steadily since. Each specialty presents its own unique and interesting insight into this expansive field. A clinical background in adult and/or pediatric scanning is requisite for most positions, and provides a good understanding of the specialty. There are a wealth of excellent schools that provide the foundation for careers in echocardiography. As a cardiac sonographer, one can choose to work in an assortment of settings. Typically, a hospitals has a faster pace and sicker patient base than a doctor’s office. One’s personality and ambitions should be a consideration in deciding where to apply. If one’s long-term interests lie outside the realm of direct patient care, it is advisable ‘‘do one’s time.’’ For someone interested in transitioning to a new role, having a solid skill set and mixed experience base ameliorates one’s chances of branching out. A sure-fire, albeit challenging, way to garner experience from multiple facilities in a short time is to do travel echocardiography. This can be done locally, regionally or nationally, as a supplement to a full-time position or in place of a permanent position. Some choose to find their own work and contract themselves, while others use agencies to find work. The lengths of these contracts vary by facility and assignment. This type of work is volatile in nature, as it is subject to demand and availability and is ideally suited for those who adapt to change easily. Research is a particularly vibrant field in echocardiography. Many academic institutions, hospitals and clinics are actively involved in a vast array of ultrasound research. These applications include, but are not limited to contrast perfusion, tissue tracking, multi-modality fusion imaging, cell and gene therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and medical device testing. Echocardiography also plays a vital role in other types of medical research as an indicator of efficacy in the treatment of diseases like congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and valvular heart disease. This would be a great job for someone with keen technical savvy and an interest in cutting-edge technology. Research is the key driver of breakthroughs and ensures echocardiography’s place at the forefront of the future of non-invasive diagnostic imaging. Research is not limited to universities and hospitals, however. It feeds the pipeline of industry sales. Conversely, increased sales drive more research and development (R&D) spending. There are
30A Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
many established multinational conglomerates as well as smaller companies and newer start-ups. Positions are usually divided into sales or applications. This would be a great career choice for someone with strong interpersonal skills and an interest in the latest advancements in echocardiographic technology. Sales representatives sometimes, but not always, have a clinical background. Their primary duty is to sell equipment and technologies. Applications Robert J. Davis, RCS specialists usually have a clinical background and are responsible for demonstrating the equipment, educating customers and providing technical and troubleshooting support. Beyond that, there are marketing, R&D and management positions available within certain companies. Some may want to share the knowledge they have gained in their professional endeavors by teaching. This sometimes requires the sonographer to get additional education and is best suited for individuals who are patient and able to communicate well. Teaching can be very rewarding, as it allows one to influence the future of the field by cultivating the minds of the next crop of cardiac sonographers. Still others may find their calling in management and seek transitions to positions as a supervisors, managers, and so on. This role presents different challenges, as the focus is not so much a technical one, but rather geared toward motivating others and pushing them to perform at the top of their abilities. Managers are also involved in staffing, budget and other administrative duties, so people with strong leadership capabilities will do best in this role. Above all else, one must consider the best fit for one’s interests, needs and long-term ambitions. While a travel position may work well at a certain phase in life, that may not be the case later on. Echocardiography is constantly evolving as an art and science; it is wellpoised to be a sustainable and rewarding career for the foreseeable future, no matter the position.
Volume 22 Number 10