October 2005 | Vol. 23, No. 10

Industry News

Diane M. Kawamura Becomes ARDMS Chair

The year 2005 marks the 30th anniversary of the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). According to the ARDMS website, the organization has set many goals to revolutionize itself in this new and exciting era, and to help lead the way, a new chair of the board of directors was welcomed.

Diane M. Kawamura, PH.D., RT(R), RDMS, FAIUM, FSDMS took over as the new ARDMS Chair on September 10, 2005. Kawamura replaces Paul A. Cardullo, MS, BSN, RVT in this position, who is now the immediate past chair.

Kawamura comes into the position with an extensive background in the ultrasound profession. She graduated from the University of Utah with a doctorate in philosophy, and is certified by both ARDMS and ARRT. Kawamura currently works for Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. She works in the Dumke College of Health Professions, and is also a professor of radiological sciences, and educational director of the diagnostic medical sonography program.

As well as extensive service to the University of Utah and to the ultrasound profession, Kawamura has also provided ARDMS with many years of hard work and dedication. Amongst many other positions, she has previously served as the most recent board of directors chair-elect, the exam development committee chair and the sonography principles and instrumentation (SPI) exam task force chair.

Kawamura has set many ongoing goals for herself and ARDMS during her time as chair. Some initiatives that she finds important to concentrate on are continuing efforts to simplify the prerequisites process, while maintaining current standards, working on the expansion of practice examinations, and exploring new and meaningful ways to assess continuing competencies for our registrants. She also feels that setting standards and developing policies to recognize CME providers will be an important ongoing task.

AIUM Releases New Statement on Keepsake Imaging

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) has strengthened and detailed its stance on ultrasound that is done for nonmedical purposes, especially fetal imaging that is done by freestanding commercial fetal imaging sites. The new statement can be found on the AIUM’s website (www.aium.org ) by clicking on the “Official Statements” link under Publications on the home page, then selecting “Keepsake Fetal Imaging” on the drop-down menu and clicking the arrow.

JRC-DMS Seeks Candidates for Research and Special Projects

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) seeks a candidate, or multiple candidates, to conduct research and assist with special projects. Candidate may be employed in the sonography profession or actively pursuing a higher educational degree and desires an internship or special project. All projects will be conducted via a telecommuting relationship.

JRC-DMS, which conducts sonography academic programmatic accreditation reviews, desires candidate/intern to design and develop special projects such as site visitor training; conduct research on program statistics; design a self-study tutorial tool; and for grant research.

Position may be volunteer or small stipend depending on the project. Send letter of interest and resume to Amanda Glassing at aglassing@jchapo.org by November 1, 2005.

Information on the various opportunities will be provided to interested candidates.