Lauren Kline

#YOWO

1-6-14

When most people think about think about the ultrasound field, they, as I did in the beginning, probably have a head full of misconceptions. For me, there was an image that popped up of an ultrasound technologist in a dark room, happily taking pictures of babies all day. However, this could not be farther from the truth! In just my first semester of sonography school, between balancing classes and going to clinical sites, that pleasant image mentioned earlier was shot full of holes. Even though my initial dream of what my future career would be like was dashed, learning what ultrasound was really about opened up a plethora of new opportunities that continuously heighten my excitement.

My first day of class was an experience I will never forget. By the end of the period, I was incredibly overwhelmed, and more anxious to start learning than I had ever been before! We started out learning key words that were used in the field, terms like “anechoic” and “posterior enhancement.” I remember calling my mom and dad as soon as I got out of class, tripping (more like face planting, really) over my words, overwhelmed with eagerness to share with them everything that I had learned. To me, the most surprising knowledge I had gained was, that, despite my narrow mindedness, ultrasound did not solely consist of looking at babies! Daily, diagnostic sonography is consistently referred to in hospitals and health care centers around the world to look at an abundance of things inside the body. Ultrasound can see every abdominal organ, the pelvic organs, the heart, and almost all of the venous and arterial systems. Even all those things are just a small part of what ultrasound can be utilized for.

Now that I knew how many career prospects I had in sonography, the wheels started to turn as I began to think about my new options, outside of an obstetrician’s office. I have always possessed a love for people and taking care of others, so my new goal was to determine how I could use my newfound talent to improve the quality of life for others after my graduation.

Growing up in a rural community, it is all too common to see people skipping doctor’s appointments or other healthcare related visits. A majority of the time, the reason behind this is because they simply cannot afford the gas it would take to get to their doctor’s office, or they do not drive and cannot find a way of transportation. When people are faced with choosing between daily living expenses and their overall health, it becomes an issue that needs immediate consideration. While exploring some career opportunities the sonography field offered, I discovered that there are mobile units, which are used outside of the hospital. A mobile unit can consist of a minimized ultrasound machine that is very portable, and is equipped with a method of sending captured images to the radiologist from wherever an ultrasound technologist might be. This was inspiring! My mind started to wander to the people living in exceptionally rural communities in surrounding areas. Mobile units would be an effective way to prevent the elderly, disabled, and poverty stricken from having to sacrifice their health because of situations out of their own control. Right now, there is not a system implemented in these rural communities to bring mobile units to patients. Being able to go to people in residences where the nearest hospital or health care center is over an hour away would substantially help bridge the gap between a doctor and their patients. I want to build that bridge into a highway!

In the meantime, I am still learning just what ultrasound really consists of. Interpreting the images on the screen into something that I understand is a daily struggle, but I feel myself getting more confident with my skills all the time. My motivation is thinking about the good I can do with this talent and ways I can improve the quality of life for the people who need it most. Saving lives for a living? Don’t call me a hero, just consider it my calling.