November 2005 | Vol. 23, No. 12

SVU Board Director Profile

Robert Sexton

Student Representative
Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR

(Editor's Note: Robert Sexton was selected as the first student representative to the SVU Board of Directors after submitting an application in early 2005 to SVU on why he would like to serve as the student representative on the SVU Board. He was selected out of 5 students who submitted applications to SVU. Robert is serving 1 year on the SVU Board as a non-voting member and will next attend the December 2005 SVU Board meeting with his hotel and travel expenses paid for by SVU. Starting in January 2006 SVU will again begin to accept applications from SVU student members for the next student representative one-year term on the Board of Directors, effective May 1, 2006. See an article elsewhere in this newsletter on the student representative application process)

Where are you going to school, what is your major, when do you expect to graduate, and what is your degree focus?

I am currently a senior at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in Klamath Falls, Oregon. I am in the vascular technology program and I expect to graduate in June 2006 after I finish my year long externship. My degree focus is everything vascular. I am interested in lower extremity venous and arterial, upper extremity venous and arterial, abdominal/renals, and cerebrovascular (carotids and TCD).

If you are on an externship, where is it and what are you doing?

I am on externship in Eugene, OR, at the Oregon Heart and Vascular Institute at Sacred Heart Medical Center. I am learning everything possible about vascular by scanning patients and observing other technologists when they scan patients

What made you decide to go to an ultrasound school? And why OIT

I had graduated from another university with a Bachelors degree in Geography, minoring in Geology Resources, however I was not having any luck finding a job in that field. My father, who is a registered nurse, mentioned to me that I should look into the diagnostic imaging field. I originally thought about going to the two year radiography program at the community college in Portland. Since my father knew the director of the imaging department at the hospital where he worked, I was given the opportunity to observe the different modalities. While talking to the director about the field, he mentioned to me that he had gone to OIT and that it was a great school for learning the imaging field. On my rotation I was able to observe a few general ultrasound and vascular studies and I found it really interesting. Observing the vascular studies convinced me that vascular ultrasound was for me. I chose OIT because it was a Bachelors degree program and it had the recognition of being, at the time, the only Bachelors degree program in vascular ultrasound. Another reason for choosing OIT was that it was only an hour and a half away from my hometown and family.

When did you join SVU as a student member and why?

I first joined the SVU as a student member in September 2003. I joined because I was told that SVU was a society that represented vascular technologists and that it was a good opportunity to get involved in the field that I was pursuing.

Are you a member of an SVU affiliated student chapter? If so, which one?

I am a charter member of the Oregon Tech Vascular Association at OIT, the first affiliated student chapter of SVU.

Have you been an officer for that student chapter? If yes, what office?

I was the first elected President of the OTVA. I was involved in the creation of the chapter and am currently the Immediate Past President, and still involved on the chapter's Board of Directors.

Why did you decide to apply for the first Student Representative position on the SVU Board?

I thought that it would be an even better opportunity to get involved with SVU and a great way to represent the student members of SVU. I never thought that I'd actually be chosen, but am honored that I was.

What value do you feel you can provide to the SVU Board of Directors as its first student representative?

I feel that I can provide the Board with the student's perspective on various issues concerning the field of vascular technology.

How can SVU better serve its student members in the future?

With the development of new vascular technology programs across the country, there are going to be more student chapters becoming affiliated with the SVU. I think that SVU could be a great help to the chapters by helping them to set up "not-for-profit" status. I know that OTVA still has been having problems setting up their tax status, and that any advice or help from SVU would be greatly appreciated.

If you are married, what is your wife's name? What is the name and age of any children?

My wife's name is Heather and we've been married for a year and three months. We have a son -- Andrew James. He was named after my younger brother who is no longer with us. Andrew was born on June 21 this year and will be six months old this month.

What do you do for fun and relaxation when not working or studying?

Fun and relaxation? With a new baby there's not much relaxation to be done. But when I'm not taking care of my son, I like to workout at the gym, watch TV and movies, and sleep! Sleep is a great way to relax.