May 2006 | Vol. 24, No. 5

2006 SVU Board Election - Candidate Profiles

SVU Technologist Directors (vote for three)

(Three-year terms: 2007-2009)

Clifford T. Araki, PhD RVT

Program Director, Vascular Technology Program
Associate Professor, Medical Imaging Sciences
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School Health Related Professions
Schotch Plains, NJ

Faculty Practice Consultant, Saint Clare’s Hospital Vascular Laboratories
Denville, NJ (Contracted services through UMDNJ-SHRP)

SVU Member since 1989; RVT since 1991

SVU Participation:

• SVU Representative to JRC-CVT (5/04- present)
• SVU Educator’s Committee: 2000-2002;
• North Jersey Vascular Association (1994-present)
  NJVA Chapter Vice President (4/99-5/01 and 8/03-4/05)

Other Professional Activities:

• American Venous Forum (1994-2002)
• New Jersey Vascular Society (1999-2001)

Professional Background:

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences – Physiology
• Educator in a bachelor degree program in Vascular Technology at a health science university
• Managed vascular laboratories at Boston University Medical Center 1987-1990, Saint Michael’s Medical Center 1991 – 1993, University Hospital 1993-2000, Saint Clare’s Hospital 2000-2004
• Published first author of 3 journal articles and 3 book chapters; coauthor of 13 journal articles in Vascular Technology/Vascular Surgery

Candidate Statement: “I believe the Society should consider some alternative program activities to increase the participation of its membership at its annual meeting. The Board should also involve its membership in addressing the fragmentation of noninvasive vascular testing among specialties – a continual and increasing problem, possibly presenting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis and a 5-year plan to members.”

Claudia A. Benge, RVT RDMS RDCS RVS

Owner/President of Benge & Associates
Carmel, IN

SVU Member since 1979; RVT since 1978

SVU Participation:

• Government Relations Committee, since 1995
• Awards Committee, 2005-present
• SVU Board Director, end of 2003-2005

Other Professional Activities:

• Cardiovascular Credentialing International
• Benge & Associates provides diagnostic ultrasound accreditation, diagnostic ultrasound onsite training, quality assurance and peer review services for all ultrasound specialties and department sizes.

Professional Background:

• 25+ years of clinical experience (including test performance, clinical teaching, supervisory, coding, Technical Director, QA/QC management, peer review) with both large hospitals 300+besds and smaller hospitals.
• Technical and Operational Director of a Mobile Ultrasound operation (9 yrs);
  Local and national presentations on Vascular Coding and Quality Assurance.
• Adjunct instructor at Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, Allied Health Dept, Diagnostic Ultrasound AS degree program 1980-1985.
• Federal and local government lobbying regarding non-invasive vascular reimbursement.

Candidate Statement: “I believe SVU should represent the interest of its members and provide continuing medical education access. SVU cannot get away from government relations, because lobbying and educating our state and federal leaders is the only way to assist in keeping our profession alive. I want to represent the small single sonographer departments and the larger departments by working with the feedback that these members provide to me in my chosen field of work. We must keep focused on all the small things that effect us all.”

Shelly Burns, RVT

Manager, Vascular Services
Summa Health System
Akron, OH

SVU Member since 2002; RVT since 1992

SVU Participation:

• Local Chapter: Northern Ohio Vascular Association (NOVA) held the following positions:
  Secretary 1993; President Elect 2000; President 2001; Board Member 2004-present
• SVU Regional Chapter Advisor for the Midwest 2001-2003
• SVU Chapters Chair 2004-present

Other Professional Activities:

• Advisory Board Member for the Cuyahoga Community College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, 2003-present
• 2002 Advisory Board Member for Sanford Brown Institute for Diagnostic Ultrasound
• Professional Background:
• LPN – Little Forest Nursing Home, 1983-1986
• LPN – Summa Health System, 1986-1990
• Vascular Technologist Summa Health System, 1990-1995
• Technical Director/Coordinator Summa Health System, 1995-2005
• Manager, Vascular Services Summa Health System 2005-present
• University of Akron, 2000-present (Business Finance Major)

Candidate Statement: “I believe SVU should continue to support the field of vascular technology by:

• Maintaining a voice in government relations issues that can affect any SVU member in any state,
• Maintaining a voice in the other professional societies to keep the membership abreast of changes,
• Maintaining a functional, technologically advanced, easy to use website to encourage communication between members and chapters,
• Being involved in the education of vascular students and developing liaisons with the schools that produce these new professionals,
• Promoting credentialing of vascular sonographers.”

Gene Doverspike, RVT

Research Sonographer
General Clinical Research Center
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

SVU Member since 1997; RVT since 1997

SVU Participation:

• SVU Board Director, 2006
• SVU CME Committee Chair, 2006
• SVU RPVI Simulation CD Arterial section editor, 2005/2006
• Northern Ohio Vascular Association (NOVA) Board Member – SVU affiliate chapter
• NOVA President, 2006, 2007
• SVU Membership Committee;
• SVU Academic Committee, 2001–present. Active on several projects including: “Comment to ARDMS concerning pre-requisite 2”, SVU statements “Considerations for Prospective Vascular Ultrasound Students”, “Recommendations for Vascular Ultrasound Clinical Sites” and “Evaluation of CCI for Recognition of the RVS credential”.
• Programs Committee, 2004–present
• Poster: SVU 2000 – Direct B-Mode Imaging of blood flow to complement spectral Doppler velocities for the evaluation of carotid atherosclerotic disease
• JVU Publication and oral presentation SVU 2002 – “Evaluating the Lower Extremities for Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease Utilizing the Transfer Function Index”

Other Professional Activities:

• AIUM Member Cardiovascular Section Committee, 2003–present
• Adjunct Faculty, Cuyahoga Community College, 2005-present
• Guest Faculty, Baker College, 2002
• Invited Speaker, SVU 2005 Vascular Annual Meeting
• AIUM Invited Faculty: 2004, 2006 “Venous Duplex Hands-on Workshop”

Professional Background:

• Case Western Reserve University; Research Sonographer, 2004-present
• University Hospitals of Cleveland, Education and Research Sonographer, 2002–2005
• William Beaumont Hospital, Staff Vascular Sonographer, 1998-2002
• St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Technical Director Outpatient Vascular Lab, 1997–1998
• St. Claire Vascular, Staff Vascular Sonographer, 1996–1997
• Lawnwood Regional Medical Center, Staff Vascular Sonographer, 1994–1996
• Lawnwood Regional Medical Center, Vascular Technology Internship, 1992–1994

Candidate Statement: “I believe SVU should be an advocate for members. To achieve that objective, I see 3 major priorities:

1. An emphasis on recruitment of good, high quality students and educational programs is essential.
2. Advancement of Vascular Sonography as a Profession, and Department of Labor recognition.
3. Continue Government Relations work with other societies to ensure reasonable reimbursement for the work we as a profession perform.”
   

Patricia (Tish) A. Poe, BA RDCS RVT

Senior Vascular Technologist
Vascular and Transplant Specialists
Hampton, VA

SVU Member since 1987; RVT since 1989

SVU Participation:

• SVU Board Director, Jan 2004 – present
• Chair, Meetings Committee, Jan 2004-present
• Program Committee Member, 2002-present
• Abstracts Committee Member, 2002 - present

Other Professional Activities:

• Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS) Chapter SWVUS: Southwest Virginia Ultrasound Society
  Founding member, 1995
• Active in development of local educational programs
• Multispecialty Ultrasound Conference Program Director 1996-1999
• Board Member, 2000-2002
• President, SWVUS 1999-2000
• President-Elect, SWVUS 1997-1999
• Vice-President 1995-1997.

Professional Background:

• November 3, 2003 – present, Senior Vascular Technologist - site leader for the Peripheral Vascular Laboratory at Vascular & Transplant Specialists’ Hampton office
• 2003, Manager, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center Vascular Laboratory
• 1996 -2003, Manager, Carilion Vascular Laboratory
• 1994 - 1996, Vascular Sonographer, Vascular Laboratory Technical Director, Radford Community Hospital
• 1993, Senior Vascular Technologist, Hershey Medical Center, Penn State School of Medicine, Dept of Surgery, Vascular Studies Section
• 1992, Manager, Cardiovascular Ultrasound, Radford Community Hospital
• 1988-1992, Technical Director, Vascular Services, Radford Community Hospital
• 1989, ARDMS: Registered Vascular Technologist
• 1988, ARDMS: Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer
• 1984, ACTA: Registered Cardiovascular Technologist

Candidate Statement: “SVU represents an amazing group of people with talents, knowledge and experience of critical importance to patients and healthcare organizations. I believe SVU should work diligently to identify the resources, tools and information needed by our members, and all professionals involved in the care of the vascular patient, to excel in their endeavors. The challenge to assist those working to enter the field, those expanding their existing skill base and those interested in expanding our career potential for the future is a broad mission for our organization and presents a need for focus and flexibility from our leadership. We also should make every effort to find ways to help coordinate efforts to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease.”

SVU Physician Director
(vote for one)

(Three-year term: 2007-2009)

Richard J. DeMasi, MD FACS RVT

Vascular Surgeon
Vascular & Transplant Specialists
Norfolk, VA

SVU Member since 1995; RVT since 1994

SVU Participation:

• Speaker at multiple SVU National Conference Meetings:
• Atlanta 1998, Pittsburgh 2001, Anaheim 2004
• Faculty, SVU Interpretation Course, 2001

Other Professional Activities:

• Over 54 articles published in various journals including some in the Journal for Vascular Ultrasound
• Over 59 presentations around the country.
• Member of the following organizations:
  • American Medical Association
  • American College of Surgeons
  • Southeastern Surgical Congress
  • Medical Society of Virginia
  • Norfolk Academy of Medicine
  • Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society
  • Southern Association of Vascular Surgery

Professional Background:

• Vascular Surgeon, Medical Director Vascular Labs: Vascular & Transplant Specialists and Shore Memorial Hospital
• 1995-present: Norfolk Surgical Group, Ltd.
• 1995-present: Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, Dept of General Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
• 1993-1995: Vascular Research Fellow, Div of Vasc Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School
• 1993-1995: Fellowship, Vasc Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School
• 1992-1992: Instructor East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC
• 1987-1992: Residency, General Surgery, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
• 1986-1987, Internship, General Surgery, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
• Graduated from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, MD, 1986

Candidate Statement: “I believe the Society should try to achieve collaboration from the multiple specialties involved in non-invasive vascular diagnosis, continue collaboration with SVS with joint meetings and sessions at conferences, etc.”

Steven A. Leers, MD RVT

Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery
Medical Director, Vascular Lab
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, PA

SVU Member since 1988; RVT since 1991

SVU Participation:

• Speaker, SVU courses, Annual Meetings
• Over 27 presentations around the country
• 7 publications in various journals including the Journal for Vascular Ultrasound

Other Professional Activities:

• Board of Directors, ARDMS, 2000-present
• Vascular Physics Exam Development Task Force, ARDMS, 1994-2000
• Consumers’ Guide to Top Doctors, Pittsburgh Area Vasc Surgery, 2002
• Money Magazine’s America’s Top Hospitals, Peripheral Bypass, Northeast Area, 2003
• Member of other Professional Organizations:
  • Pittsburgh Surgical Society
  • Pennsylvania Medical Society
  • Allegheny County Medical Society
  • ARDMS
  • Eastern Vascular Society
  • Allegheny Vascular Society:
  • 1992-1994 Treasurer, 1994-1996 Secretary, 1997-1998 President
  • Society for Vascular Surgery
  • Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery

Professional Background:

• 2006: Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery and Medical Director of the Vascular Lab, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• 1987-2006: Chief, Division of Surgery, Director, Peripheral Vascular Lab, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
• 1991: Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• 1991: Educator of the Year, Western Pennsylvania Hospital
• 1999-2000: Visiting Fellowship in Endovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
• 1983-1984: Fellowship in Peripheral Vascular Surgery, University of MA Medical Center
• 1982-1983: Chief Residency, Surgery, St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA
• 1978-1982: Residency, Surgery, University of MA Medical School
• 1974-1978: University of Massachusetts (MA) Medical School, Worcester, MA

Candidate Statement: “I believe the Society should collaborate with other ultrasound societies as well as vascular surgery and vascular medicine societies along with ICAVL, ARDMS to enhance our position in vascular testing.”