Spotlight Article on Dr. Joseph Worrall
ARDMS recognizes an outstanding Registrant.

Executive Director, Dale Cyr, is honored with the Joan Baker award
ARDMS congratulates Dale Cyr on his accomplishments.

ARDMS Provides Registrants with Frequently Asked Questions about the CME Audit
With the CME Audit underway, ARDMS has compiled some FAQs for Registrants.

2007 Conference Schedule
Exhibits provide a unique opportunity for people to speak one-on-one with ARDMS staff.

In this issue of Registry Reports we honor, congratulate, and thank two outstanding individuals for their contributions and accomplishments in the sonography profession - Dale Cyr and Dr. Joseph Worrall.  As you read on, please ponder for a moment what contributions you are making that may make a difference to the future of sonography. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.” Maybe as part of reviewing and refreshing our personal aspirations, we all can spend some time discussing ideas and setting goals to make history rather than to make history up.

At the Board of Directors meeting in February, Board members and executive office staff members again engaged in workgroups to discuss strategic issues and ideas. The diverse expertise produced a high level of dialogue that will guide the organization’s relationships with its environment, affect the internal structure and processes of the ARDMS, and affect overall ARDMS performance.

Diane M. Kawamura, Ph.D., RT(R), RDMS
Chair, ARDMS Board of Directors

Dr. Joseph A. Worrall will celebrate 83 years in style, amid transducers, electronic images, and baby bellies. Dr. Worrall, credentialed RDMS by the ARDMS in 1994, has been practicing OB/GYN ultrasound for over 13 years. He is a pillar to the ultrasound and medical community and proves that learning your trade never ends, only grows.

Dr. Worrall was not always an ultrasound professional, in fact, up until 1992 he delivered numerous infants and was a renowned gynecologic surgeon. He gave surgery up in 1992 “because I felt I was getting too old and I did not want my colleagues tell me that maybe it was time I quit doing surgery.”

Due to his passion and love for the field, Dr. Worrall refused to retire and decided OB/GYN ultrasound was something to look into.

“Our clinic has had an ultrasound machine since the 1970’s," said Dr. Worrall, “I have always liked gadgets, and I decided I wanted to do OB/GYN ultrasound. I have been very happy with that decision.”

After graduating medical school in 1948, Dr. Worrall rapidly found his niche and has been contributing to the medical world for nearly 60 years. During the past six decades, our world has seen a plethora of technological advancements and breakthroughs. None more affected then the medical field. Dr. Worrall has seen the age of computers advance medicine light years beyond what could have been imagined. Not only has technology decreased human error it has served as a gateway for doctors around the world to communicate and network, drawing on knowledge, ethics and cultural education.

“The internet has been a huge help to me. I belong to an international medical imaging forum that has expanded my horizons a great deal,” comments Dr. Worrall, “We [members of the forum] exchange images daily, and it has been a rewarding experience both professionally and personally. We are like a family. Medicine is much different in some parts of the world as are the lives of doctors.”

Dr. Worrall remains steadfast in his profession and is not planning to give it up any time soon. He cares for his patients and genuinely wants them to be at ease and feel that they matter to him. Each patient and case is important and has a face not just a number.

“I do not hesitate to have patients return for a continuation of the exam if I have not been able to satisfy myself. For example, if I am unable to get the nuchal translucency, and the CRL is not approaching 84 mm, I will have the patient return, at no additional charge,” says Dr. Worrall, “If I have to run over the hour (for example, if I have found an anomaly and need to work it out, deal with a distraught mother, etc) I will do so.”

ARDMS is proud to have Dr. Worrall as a Registrant. We celebrate his medical contributions, dedication and continuing education.

“I have no plans to retire, as long as I am healthy enough and have my marbles, I will continue, because I enjoy working very much.” – Dr. Worrall.

Is there an outstanding member in the sonography or ultrasound community that you feel should be recognized for their efforts, contributions, or accomplishments? Please send the information to communications@ardms.org

Dale Cyr, the ARDMS CEO and Executive Director, was recently honored with the Joan P. Baker Pioneer Award. Established in 1994 by the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS), the award honors a Sonographer who has made a unique, outstanding, and enduring contribution to the sonography profession.

Dale began his diagnostic ultrasound studies at Seattle University. There, under the program direction of Ms. Baker, Dale studied all facets of diagnostic ultrasound, and performed his clinical internship at the University of Colorado Medical Center, in Denver, Colorado. Eventually his interests led him to focus primarily on the field of fetal sonography at the University of Washington, in Seattle, Washington, where he was Chief Sonographer.

“This award was particularly meaningful,” said Dale Cyr, “because it was presented to me by my instructor, mentor, and friend, Joan Baker. This prestigious award is also a reflection of all the wonderful sonographers and physicians at the University of Washington Medical Center, who I worked with, and supported me, for many years as everyone made, and continues to make, significant differences in patients lives on a daily basis with their clinical and research skills.”

“One of my proudest moments as a teacher was to witness Dale receiving the Pioneer Award and recognizing him as one of the prodigies of Seattle University's ultrasound program,” said Ms. Baker.

Nominees for the Joan P. Baker Pioneer Award are evaluated on the contributions they have made that have progressed or changed the field of ultrasound and/or increased the knowledge and wellbeing of Sonographers. Indeed, Dale’s long history of clinical research, published studies, educational lectures, national organizational committee roles, and work as ARDMS’s Executive Director, has helped shape the profession of Sonography.

“Joan’s focused and prophetic vision of the field has had a profound impact on me,” said Dale, “She instilled the need for continuing professional development and the shared responsibility of all Sonographers to advance the field of ultrasonography.”

In 1986, Dale published the first peer-reviewed study on in-depth fetal echocardiography techniques. Just two years later in 1988, utilizing new technology for superior image quality, Dale’s first trimester research on fetal bowel and central nervous system development helped elucidate the difference between normal and what was previously thought to be aberrant development. His research helped to establish the concept of embryosonology and fetal echocardiography as dedicated clinical sub-specialties. Throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Dale always worked collaboratively with others in the field as well as consulting with all major sonography equipment manufacturers. Dale was a primary investigator in the development of Power Doppler techniques and uses, and has traveled the globe lecturing on varying topics in the field.

His tenure as CEO and Executive Director for ARDMS has seen the development of new credentials in the specialty areas of breast and fetal echocardiography as well as the first physician credentialed in vascular interpretation and, under his leadership, the ARDMS has also developed a global expansion program. These new credentials have enjoyed immense community support and have lead to the development of educational materials and professional conferences. Dale was also the founding Executive Director of the Breast Ultrasound Foundation which fostered sonography education for professionals and the public. Under his direction, the Foundation produced two sets of widely acclaimed educational CD-ROMs for breast sonography professionals and distributed more than 3 million breast ultrasound brochures to patients throughout the United States.

“Every teacher gains so much satisfaction from seeing their graduates grow and make a significant contribution to their chosen career and the impact a teacher has is revealed in how their graduates perform and succeed,” said Joan Baker. “Thank you, Dale, for all you do for our profession.”

Joan P. Baker, for whom the Pioneer Award is named after, is credited with establishing the sonography occupation under the U.S. Office of Education in 1973. Ms. Baker was also instrumental in the establishing SDMS in 1969, ARDMS in 1975, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. She served as the first president for SDMS and ARDMS and was recognized by the Smithsonian Institute as a pioneer in the field of ultrasound.

CME Audit: ARDMS Answers Registrant’s Frequently Asked Questions.

The new ARDMS CME audit program has begun. Here are answers to some questions that we have received from our Registrants.

Overview of the CME Audit:

This is the first year that ARDMS has implemented a CME audit system, a very common practice with large, and substantial, credentialing organizations. ARDMS audits a relatively high percentage of Registrants to assure compliance with existing continuing medical education policies and procedures.

When you paid your 2007 ARDMS annual renewal fee, you attested that you were in compliance with all ARDMS rules and policies. ARDMS verifies its Registrants’ compliance with CME requirements by conducting an annual audit of a percentage of randomly selected Registrants whose three-year CME period ended in the previous year. For example, if your three-year CME cycle was between January 1, 2004 and ended December 31, 2006, you attested that you have earned a minimum of 30 ARDMS acceptable CME credits.

Registrants with a Three Year Period Ending in 2006:

If your three-year CME period ended in 2006 and you were selected for the audit, you should have received an official CME audit notification letter sent via certified mail in mid-March 2007. The letter contains all the information you need to know on how to correctly submit CME documentation. It is also available under the Registrants Secured Services section at www.ARDMS.org .

ARDMS understands that this is a new process and may take some time to adapt to. In response, ARDMS has developed a quick question and answer guide to help Registrants navigate the process.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: I have the required number of CMEs, but can’t find the certificates.

Q: I thought I had the required number of CMEs, but realized I don’t have enough.

Q: I need more sheets to write my CMEs on.

Q: The envelope provided for me isn’t big enough for my CME documentation, what should I do?

Q: I want to be sure you receive my CME audit packet, how can I do that?

Q:How do I know if I passed or failed the audit?

Q: What do I do if I already have 15 CMEs on my ARDMS transcript?

Q: Do you accept CME transcripts?

Q: I earned my credential on 5/4/03 and the CME audit letter I received says to submit only those CMEs I earned between 1/1/04-12/31/06. Does that mean I can’t use the CMEs I was awarded for earning my credential?

Q: I was out of town and was not able to pick up my registered mail; what should I do?

If you did not find an answer to your question, please visit www.ARDMS.org/cmeaudit for more information or ask us directly by calling 1-800-541-9754.

Throughout the year, ARDMS exhibits at various conferences and shows. These exhibits provide a unique opportunity for attendees to speak face-to-face with ARDMS staff. ARDMS representatives are available to offer information and answer questions pertaining to prerequisites, exams, becoming a Registrant, policies and any other question that one may have. We make it a point to help you understand what we do and how to become a part of a growing and prestigious organization! Come and visit with us!

Here is a listing of the major conferences in 2007 that ARDMS will be attending and offering a booth for you to visit and ask questions:

• Leading Edge
  May 1-4, 2007
  Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa, Atlantic City, NJ

• Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS)/Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU) Annual Meeting
  June 7-10, 2007
  Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD www.vascularweb.org

• American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)
  June 16-20, 2007
  Washington State Trade and Convention Center, Seattle, WA www.asecho.org

• Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) October 11-14, 2007 Red Rock Resort, Casino and Spa, Las Vegas, NV www.sdms.org

*Please note: This is a tentative schedule. This information may change. Please visit each organization’s web site in 2007 for updated meeting information.

In addition to providing invaluable information to individuals who stop by the ARDMS booth, we also provide fun giveaway items and useful handouts. Previous giveaways have included light-up yo-yos, stress balls, puzzles, keychain flashlights, maracas, crazy pens, bandage dispensers, spray hand sanitizers and many more. Come and stop by our booth to pick up one of the new giveaways for 2007!

Make sure you share the 2007 conference schedule with other health professionals that may be interested in attending. We hope to see you on the exhibit floor and we encourage you to stop by the ARDMS booth to take advantage of the knowledge the ARDMS staff has to offer.

ONGOING CME OFFERINGS 

Breast Ultrasound Foundation. Five CD-Rom set on breast ultrasound for only $100. (800) 541-9754 x221.

CME COURSE DIRECTORY

• June 16-20, 2007
  Seattle, WA
  American Society of Echocardiography 18th Annual Scientific Sessions
  Washington State Convention and Trade Center
  Information: 919-861-5574
  www.asecho.org

ARDMS publishes meeting and conference notices as an informational source only. This is only a compilation of possible CME courses. ARDMS does not review or endorse these or other sources of CME information. Registrants seeking CME credits should ensure in advance that ARDMS accepts the sponsor of the particular activity.