PROF TOPICS | Empowering peer support through open communication
Tracks
212 | Table Talks
| Friday, June 13, 2025 |
| 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM |
| 212 | GE Healthcare |
Overview
Multiple Presenters
Speaker
Dr Kate Russo
O+G Specialist Sonographer and Senior Lecturer
CQ University/ Adelaide Woman's and Children's Hospital
Enhancing sonographer-patient interactions in LGBTQIA healthcare
Abstract
This presentation focuses on understanding LGBTQIA identities, implementing effective communication strategies, and overcoming common barriers. It emphasises creating a safe, inclusive environment and building trust to improve patient outcomes. The presentation includes practical steps, scenario reviews, and a Q&A session for further discussion.
Biography
Dr Kate Russo |
CQ University/ Adelaide Woman's and Children's Hospital
Kate enjoys working as a senior lecturer in the master’s ultrasound program at Central Queensland University and as a specialist sonographer in obstetrics and gynaecology for SA Medical Imaging at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide. Her ultrasound career started in Brisbane in 1998, where she spent five years before moving to the United Kingdom. While in London, Kate developed her passion in fetal medicine before returning to Adelaide in 2008. She has a special interest in fetal echocardiography and research, completing her PhD titled ‘Maternal cardiac function in women high-risk for pre-eclampsia’ in 2020. Kate continues to be involved with research and regularly gives presentations locally and nationally, aiming to improve obstetric ultrasound services for women through education. She is a passionate advocate for the advancement of sonographers and strives for continuous improvement in the quality of sonographer practice, communication and person-centred care.
Dannielle Ghezzi
Adelaide Woman's and Children's Hospital
Communicating with First Nations peoples
4:00 PM - 4:20 PMBiography
Mrs Alison White
Senior Lecturer
Griffith University
Considerations of communication challenges facing sonographers in Australia beyond 2024
4:40 PM - 4:50 PMAbstract
In the coming decades, the number of people in the Australian population over the age
of 65 is predicted to increase to 23% by the year 2066. The increasing percentage of older Australians presents challenges for the sonography profession, including mobility, sensory and cognitive decline in patients, increasing complexities of ultrasounds due to multiple co-morbidities associated with physiological aging, as well as the increasing age gap between sonographers and their patients. Despite aging being a biological process, societal influences can portray aging as a negative process and promote incorrect stereotyping which fuels ageism. Sonographers can increase their own level of self-awareness of the elements of ageism and in doing so, can actively avoid ageist language, actions and beliefs. This in turn, promotes a person-centered approach in sonography with the outcome of improved patient care.
This presentation will provide practical strategies that sonographers can draw upon to ensure that respectful and effective communication occurs with older patients, promoting age-positive communication and increasing patient satisfaction and diffusing communication challenges in the sonography workplace.
of 65 is predicted to increase to 23% by the year 2066. The increasing percentage of older Australians presents challenges for the sonography profession, including mobility, sensory and cognitive decline in patients, increasing complexities of ultrasounds due to multiple co-morbidities associated with physiological aging, as well as the increasing age gap between sonographers and their patients. Despite aging being a biological process, societal influences can portray aging as a negative process and promote incorrect stereotyping which fuels ageism. Sonographers can increase their own level of self-awareness of the elements of ageism and in doing so, can actively avoid ageist language, actions and beliefs. This in turn, promotes a person-centered approach in sonography with the outcome of improved patient care.
This presentation will provide practical strategies that sonographers can draw upon to ensure that respectful and effective communication occurs with older patients, promoting age-positive communication and increasing patient satisfaction and diffusing communication challenges in the sonography workplace.
Biography
Mrs Alison White AFASA |
Griffith University
Alison White BSc MSc DMU (cardiac) AMS AFASA FASE SFHEA. Alison White is an accredited medical sonographer (cardiac) with over 25 years of clinical experience. She is an Associate Fellow of the ASA, a Fellow of the ASE and a Senior Lecturer and Program Director at Griffith University. Alison has been involved in the education of cardiac scientists since 2010 with both ASUM and the ASA. Since 2012, Alison has been the Program Director of the Graduate Diploma of Clinical Physiology at Griffith University, teaching the next generations of physiologists specialising in cardiac, respiratory, sleep and clinical neurophysiology. Alison has published textbook chapters and journal articles in both cardiac ultrasound and university learning and teaching and was awarded a National Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning in 2017, and a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2018.
