ASA Arena | Broad skills vs focused expertise: A sonography career debate
Tracks
Exhibitor Hall
| Saturday, June 14, 2025 |
| 8:45 AM - 9:25 AM |
| Exhibitor Hall |
Speaker
ASA Arena
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Broad skills vs focused expertise: A sonography career debate
8:45 AM - 9:25 AMAbstract
Which is a better path to career success in sonography: broad skills that offer versatility or a focused expertise in a specific field? This age-old debate raises important questions about the direction of professional growth. In this session we will compare the benefits, challenges, and career implications of each path, providing a comprehensive understanding of how each role contributes to the field of sonography. Our discussion will highlight the unique skills and expertise required for specialised sonography, as well as the versatility and adaptability of generalist sonographers. We will delve into the training and certification requirements, job opportunities, and potential for career advancement in both paths. Whether you are considering specialising in a particular area or prefer to maintain a broad skill set, this session will offer valuable insights to help you make informed career decisions.
Biography
In today's world, patients are knowledgeable about their health, proficient in using technology, and expect comprehensive service delivered quickly. With easy access to health-related information, both reliable and unreliable, at their fingertips, patients demand more from healthcare professionals.
Sonographers are working in a challenging environment, where their role in the healthcare field is becoming increasingly important due to high patient demand, shortages in the workplace, and expanding protocols. They are concerned about workplace injuries, training and education standards, regulation, consent, communication needs, Artificial Intelligence, and the corporatisation of primary healthcare.
Join the discussion at the ASA Arena as we explore the challenges faced by modern sonographers and tackle the critical issues they encounter in their profession.
Mr Peter Coombs
Sonographer Manager
Northern Territory Health
Panelist | Broad skills vs focused expertise: A sonography career debate
8:45 AM - 9:25 AMAbstract
Please see full outline of the arena sessions in the ASA Arena section.
Biography
Mr Peter Coombs, FASA |
Monash Health
Peter Coombs is the Sonographer In Charge for Monash Health and a Senior Lecturer in Ultrasound at Monash University. For many years he has been an active contributor to local and national ultrasound education in Australia and has co-authored a large number of ultrasound publications. His current interests include quality management within clinical ultrasound and supporting sonography in the developing world.
Ms Carolynne Cormack
Adj Senior Lecturer I Phd Candidate
Monash University
Panelist | Broad skills vs focused expertise: A sonography career debate
8:45 AM - 9:25 PMAbstract
Please see full outline of the arena sessions in the ASA Arena section.
Biography
Ms Carolynne Cormack FASA |
Monash University
Carolynne is a sonographer with over 30 years experience. She is a passionate educator and is currently undertaking a PhD at Monash University. She is actively engaged in the ASA and wider ultrasound community. Carolynne was awarded ASA Victorian Sonographer of the Year 2022, ASA Fellowship 2018 and ASA Educator of the Year 2016. She is a peer reviewer for several journals and a regularly invited presenter. Her interests include ultrasound in critical care, education development, interdisciplinary collaboration and research.
Mr Chris Gilmore
Prince Charles Hospital
Panelist | Broad skills vs focused expertise: A sonography career debate
8:45 AM - 9:25 AMAbstract
Please see full outline of the arena sessions in the ASA Arena section.
Biography
Mr Chris Gilmore FASA |
Prince Charles Hospital
Chris is a general sonographer who works in Brisbane at the teaching facility The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH). In addition to servicing a busy metropolitan emergency and critical care service, TPCH provides quaternary referral service for cardiothoracic medicine including heart / lung transplantation, with the facility also providing many other specialist medical services such as gastroenterology, vascular, orthopaedic, geriatric, mental health, endocrine and palliative care.
Chris has a broad interest in general ultrasound including its use in assisting procedures. Chris has been credentialed in PICC insertion procedures and holds a general approval licence to administer local anaesthetic issued by the Queensland Medicine Regulation Unit.
Mr Luke Kipping
Director
Regional Ultrasound Solutions
Panelist | Broad skills vs focused expertise: A sonography career debate
8:45 AM - 9:25 AMAbstract
Please see full outline of the arena sessions in the ASA Arena section.
Biography
Mr Luke Kipping |
Regional Ultrasound Solutions
Luke is a clinical and interventional sonographer with Regional Ultrasound Solutions Pty Ltd in Maryborough, Qld.
Luke undertook dedicated study in Ultrasound guided procedures as part of a Masters in Medical Sonography in 2014 as well as a Post Graduate certificate in MSK Interventions in 2017.
He has over a decade of experience in a range of ultrasound-guided procedures including MSK injections, FNAs and venous access.
Luke is passionate about striving to improve patient-centred models of service delivery in diagnostic ultrasound and related ultrasound-guided procedures, to improve patient care and the healthcare system more broadly.
Mr Ian Schroen
Senior Sonographer & Site Supervisor
I-Med Network
Panelist | Broad skills vs focused expertise: A sonography career debate
Abstract
See ASA Arena outline for presentation synopsis
Biography
Mr Ian Schroen AFASA |
I-Med Network
Ian has built a diverse and accomplished career in diagnostic imaging. Starting as a radiographer, he specialized in vascular ultrasound before progressing to all aspects of diagnostic ultrasound. His career evolved further with a successful role in corporate healthcare, where he gained extensive experience in sales and marketing.
Holding a Master’s of Medical Ultrasound, Ian is passionate about all facets of clinical ultrasound, including imaging technology, teaching, and research. He previously served as President of the Australasian Sonographers Association and currently as an associate lecturer at Monash University, where he teaches the vascular ultrasound subject in the Post-Graduate Ultrasound program.
