August 2004 | Vol. 22, No. 8

Board Director Profile

Patricia (Tish) A. Poe, BA RVT RDCS
Senior Vascular Technologist
Vascular and Transplant Specialists
Norfolk, VA and Hampton, VA

What degrees and credentials do you have?

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toledo in Ohio . I am registered with ARDMS in Adult Echocardiography (RDCS) and Vascular Technology (RVT).

How long have you been in the vascular technology profession?

I began training in the vascular technology profession in 1982 and achieved RVT status in 1989.

What made you decide to enter vascular technology as a career?

While working part-time in the Cardiology Department at the local hospital in Radford, VA, I became fascinated with echocardiography. In fact, this hospital was just making the transition from M-mode and phonocardiography to duplex technology. I began reading about the Echo technique, observing patient exams and asking a lot of questions. My supervisor gave me the opportunity to try my hand at cardiac ultrasound and within six months asked me if I would be interested in training to do carotid duplex scanning and working with Dr. Krishan Tayal, the vascular surgeon at our facility. Once I attended my first vascular course in Seattle, I was hooked. In terms of the vascular technology profession as it existed at that time, my pathway was unusual in that I worked backwards from duplex technology to the non-imaging techniques of IPG for venous testing and physiologic arterial testing. The hospital opened a dedicated vascular laboratory in 1986.

What do you like best about your current position?

After working for 21 years in a hospital-based position with the Carilion Health System in Radford, VA, I am now working in a private office setting with a vascular surgery practice that is based in Norfolk, VA. The technologists and the physicians in this practice have a strong involvement in education and research activities, which offers many opportunities for me to continue to learn and grow in my profession. The aspect of this career that I have continuously found both rewarding and challenging over the years is that our knowledge base is constantly expanding. In my new position, I am also enjoying the work of helping to establish a new office in Hampton, VA, for our practice. On the personal side, I have found this part of Virginia to be a great place to live with lots of activities easily available from Virginia Beach to the Williamsburg area.

When did you join SVU?

I joined SNIVT in 1987 and have been a member of this organization through the transition to SVT and now SVU. As our profession has developed over the years, this professional society has been fortunate to be fostered by the kind of leadership that has provided a strong identity for us in the medical community. The SVU has always been an important resource for me, from the time I was working solo at a community hospital to my work with a large group of hospitals and to my current position in this field.

On what SVU Committees have you served or are serving on now?

I serve on the SVU Abstracts and Annual Conference Committees and I am currently the Chair for the Meetings Committee.

What do you like best about serving on the SVU Board of Directors?

My election in 2003 to a position on the SVU Board of Directors starting last January has given me a chance to do some “payback” to my profession. I think that as a member of SVU it is important to find a way and a time in each of our careers to provide service within our group. Working with the SVU Board of Directors has definitely been an educational experience in just how much time and effort goes into our Society’s operation. Especially in this my first year on the Board, I have learned a tremendous amount and want to share with other members the value of this experience. The more seasoned members of the Board offered any assistance and information that has been needed to bring the newer Board members up to speed as we have moved along. It is also a wonderful chance to personally get to know more of my peers from across the country.

How do you stay up to date on changes in vascular technology?

Another benefit from SVU involvement with committees, the Board or local chapters is that these activities can help to keep pace with the changes in vascular technology. I have always used a combination of reading and attending regional and national meetings for education. The JVU, the e-Spectrum online newsletter and the educational offerings on our ultrasound companies’ websites all provide timely information for me. The personal interaction with faculty, other attendees and exhibitors at meetings also is an important opportunity that I hope each SVU member is able to take advantage of frequently throughout their career.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing vascular technologists today?

Our profession has enjoyed great success in terms of acceptance and application in the medical community over the years. With this success has come the burden of trying to manage our work-lives and workloads in order to effectively meet the needs of our patients, while maintaining a healthy balance for ourselves. When we have open discussions with each other at formal meetings or in any conversational setting, the issues of reasonable production volumes, requirements for on-call hours, adequate support staff for the vascular laboratory, and appropriate indicators for the tests we provide are sure to evoke emotional responses from most of us. Combined with a shortage of vascular technologists nationwide, the day-to-day push to get the job done has shortened the time available to devote to research, education and professional development. It is important that technologists and their management groups alike recognize these issues and strive to maintain and improve quality service within the vascular laboratory.

How can SVU better serve its members in the future?

The SVU must maintain and enhance its role as “THE Voice for the Vascular Community” through responsiveness to educational, regulatory and legislative needs of the membership. Effective programs overall also require that the membership provide input into the goals and plans of their national society. We must find effective ways to share ideas and use the talents of this very special group of professionals to keep our organization strong. I also think it is important to continue to develop beneficial relationships with other medical professional groups, when appropriate to meet the needs of our membership.

Any other personal comments you would like to add about SVU?

I am very grateful to the many people who have taken part in developing the SVU over the years and look forward to working and learning with this current Board of Directors to strengthen our profession for the coming years.

What do you do for fun and relaxation when you are not working?

Outside of work, I enjoy a wide variety of music and share this interest with my two children, who are making careers for themselves in the audible range of sound. As I moved this year from the western part of Virginia (yes, I do miss the beautiful mountains there) to eastern Virginia, I have gained access to lots of live music in the Norfolk area that I am sampling on many evenings and weekends. I also have a wonderful dog, Murdoch, who likes to explore the parks and natural areas in this coastal region with me.