Student Research and Accomplishments
Explore research and accomplishments from ultrasound students and alumni.
ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Recent Diagnostic Ultrasound Graduate Published in the Journal for Vascular Ultrasound
Kacey Jaenicke is a recent graduate from the post-baccalaureate Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound program at Seattle University. She and her classmate Riley Davis, ’23, had their senior capstone papers published in the September issue of the Journal for Vascular Ultrasound. In her capstone paper, "Deep Venous Thrombosis in the Setting of Fever," Jaenicke discusses the correlation between the incidence of fever and diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). While working on her manuscript, Jaenicke conducted her clinical rotation at Harborview Medical Center.
"I am immensely proud of Kacey and Riley’s publications to the Journal of Vascular Ultrasound," said Mirette Aziz, Director, Diagnostic Ultrasound program. "The many hours spent in preparation, research, writing, revision, submitting the manuscript and navigating the peer review process, reflects their rigor and dedication to contributing to the literature of Ultrasound."
Tell us a little about yourself, your passions, experience, or other things you’d like to share.
"I was born and raised in Federal Way, WA. Prior to attending SU, I graduated from Washington State University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (Go Cougs!). After graduation, I worked as a certified nursing assistant at Seattle Children's Hospital for six years, where I got the opportunity to do some on-the-job shadowing in their ultrasound department. I became absolutely fascinated by ultrasound and knew that I wanted to pursue a career as a sonographer. I got accepted into the Diagnostic Ultrasound program at Seattle University and graduated this past August."
What drew you to pursue your degree at Seattle U?
"Seattle University had everything I was looking for in a post-baccalaureate program. I strongly resonate with their mission of educating the whole person. Each professor I had was dedicated to my learning and invested in my development from student to sonographer. An extra bonus was the location—attending school right in the heart of Seattle was a perfect fit for me."
What are your plans as a new graduate of the program?
"After an amazing yearlong internship at Harborview Medical Center and passing my certification exam, I am officially a Registered Vascular Technologist! I am currently working at Lake Washington Vascular in Bellevue and am learning so much. I feel incredibly lucky to be doing what I know I was meant to do and am excited to see where my journey leads!"
Seattle University’s Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Program was founded in 1978 and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). The program has since evolved to offer post-baccalaureate degree and post-baccalaureate certificate pathways to students who already hold an undergraduate degree. The program offers 3 distinctive specialty ultrasound tracks: cardiac, general, and vascular.
Past Student Accomplishments
SU Ultrasound Student Presented at Pacific NW Vascular Conference
Daniela Curto, '17, gave a case presentation at the Pacific Northwest Endovascular Conference (PNEC) on May 25, 2017. Her presentation was entitled, DVT vs. Rouleaux Flow. Her clinical instructor, Sara Skjonsberg BS, RVT, RPhS from University of Washington Medical Center, was a co-presenter. She was a student intern at the University of Washington Medical Center Vascular Lab as part of her course of study.
Seattle University Students Win First and Second place 2016 W. Fred Sample Awards
SU students won both first and second place in the 2016 W. Fred Sample paper sponsored by the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
Seattle U students placed first and second in the 2016 competition
- First place went to Karl Fincken who submitted a Literature Review entitled, “Hemodialysis- Improving Arteriovenous Fistula Access through Drug-Eluting Devices and Role of Vascular Ultrasound Imaging”
- Second place went to Abigail Cone who submitted a Literature Review entitled, "The Role of Echocardiography in Determining Radiofrequency Ablation versus Cryoablation for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation”
The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) is a professional membership organization founded in 1970 to promote, advance, and educate its members and the medical community in the science of diagnostic medical sonography. The SDMS, with over 2 8,000 members, is the largest association of sonographers and sonography students in the world.
The SDMS Annual Conference is designed for sonographers, students, and other health care providers who use sonography. The educational program provides knowledge and skills in new sonographic techniques, diagnostic accuracy, enhancements of sonographic instrumentation, and practice management strategies.
Once a year at the annual SDMS conference students have the opportunity to participate in the W. Fred Sample Competition. Each student who chooses to participate submits an article focused on either original research or a literature review.
W. Frederick Sample Student Excellence Award acknowledges outstanding achievement in writing in the field of diagnostic medical sonography. The award is named in memory of W. Frederick Sample, MD, whose tremendous contributions to the growth and development of the field of sonography have influenced sonographers and physicians. Because of Dr. Sample's dedication to teaching and research, this award is given to outstanding students in diagnostic medical sonography.
W. Frederick Sample Student Excellence Award-Literature Review
View full list of award winners.
Year | Place | Name | Poster Title |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | 1st | Lea M. Guerra | Postoperative Hepatic Transplants: A Review of Ultrasound Applications in Detecting Hepatic Artery Thrombosis |
1999 | 2nd | Kelly Phipps Grove | The Use of Three-Dimensional Ultrasound in Gynecological Examinations |
2001 | 2nd | Megan Emily Lim | The Role of Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Literature Review |
2002 | 1st | Amelia Madsen | Sonographic Methods of Evaluating Cervical Length: A Literature Review |
2004 | 1st | Amber Reas | The Role of Ultrasound in Selective Laser Photocoagulation Therapy for the Treatment of Severe Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome |
2006 | 1st | Britta Fehst | Sonography for Visualization of the Appendix, Normal or With Acute Appendicitis: A Literature Review |
2006 | Tied | Nicole Tuning | Does Spatiotemporal Image Correlation Enhance the Diagnostic Usefulness of 3D Fetal Cardiac Imaging? A Literature Review |
2007 | 1st | Abby Rubin | Real-Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiography: Its Role in the Measurement of Mitral Valve Area in Mitral Stenosis - A Literature Review |
2008 | 1st | Joannalyn Sangco | Sonographic Characteristics of Recanalization of the Greater Saphenous Vein Post-Endovenous Ablation for the Treatment of Superficial Venous Insufficiency |
2009 | 1st | Bailey Nelson | Fetal Intra-abdominal Umbilical Vein Varix: A Review of the Literature |
2010 | 1st | Tara Zwink | Takosubo Cardiomyopathy, Clinical Characteristics, Echocardiographic Findings, and a Comparison to Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Review of Literature |
2010 | 2nd | Mirette Aziz | Type A Aortic Dissection in Marfan Syndrome and the Role of Echocardiography in Determining the Need for Surgical Intervention |
2011 | 2nd | Michelle LeVeque | A Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound Guided Hyperthermic Ablative Technologies for Malignant Lesions of the Liver |
2012 | 2nd | Michael Naiman | Post Orthotopic Liver Transplant Evaluation by Duplex Ultrasound: A Review of the Literature |
2014 | 2nd | Lisa Cordell | Comparison of Current Echocardiographic Modalities Used to Assess Left Ventricle Diastolic Function in Pediatric Patients |
2016 | 1st | Karl Fincken | Hemodialysis - Improving Arteriovenous Fistula Access through Drug-Eluting Devices and the Role of Vascular Ultrasound Imaging: A Literature Review |
2016 | 2nd | Abigail Cone | The Role of Echocardiography in Determining Radiofrequency Ablation versus Cryoablation for the Treatment of Arterial Fibrillation: A Literature Review |
W. Frederick Sample Student Excellence Award-Original Research
View full list of award winners.
Year | Place | Name | Poster Title |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | 2nd | Nicole Damato | |
1994 | 2nd | Michelle Rhodes, AS | A.I.D.S. Cholangiopathy: A Comparison of Ultrasound vs. Computed Tomography Imaging |
1995 | 1st | Contessa L. A. Menefee, BS | Inferior Vena Caval Syndrome and the Sniff Test for Elevated CVP and Its Contributing Factors |
1995 | 2nd | Leigh C. Otting, BA | Echocardiographic Assessment of Hepatic Vein Flow Reversal in Patients in Atrial Fibrillation |
1996 | 1st | Kimberly A. Connors | Does the Use of Atropine Provide Additional Ischemic Stimulus to Myocardium During Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography? |
1996 | 2nd | Shaun Bornemeier | Sonographic Evaluation of the Two Vessel Umbilical Cord: A Comparison Between Umbilical Arteries Adjacent to the Bladder and Cross Sections of the Umbilical Cord |
1997 | 1st | Rebecca Elijah | Doppler Echocardiographic Correlation of Pulmonary Venous Flow patterns to Mitral Valve Regurgitant Severity in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation |
1998 | 1st | Amy Moon, BS | Using Systolic/Diastolic Ratios to Predict Fetal Outcomes |
1998 | 2nd | Jeff L. Gerig | Transient Recurrent Venous Anomalies: A Variant of Marginal Placental Abruption? |
1999 | 1st | David Stolte | Echocardiographic Evaluation of the Dilation of the Main Coronary Arteries Feeding Hypertrophic Cardiac Muscle |
1999 | 2nd | Lisa Christine LeVan, AA | Standard Versus Simplified Proximal Isovelocity Surface Area: An Echocardiographic Approach |
2000 | 1st | Jana Johnson | Transvaginal Versus Transabdominal Scanning of patients with Postmenopausal Bleeding |
2001 | 1st | Nicole E. White | Ultrasonic Detection of Organ Displacement in Microgravity |
2001 | 2nd | Laura Thomas, BA, BS | Two-dimensional versus Three-dimensional Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Endometrial Pathology: Does It Aid in Visualization? |
2002 | 1st | April Valentine | Evaluation of Left Atrial Size and Pressure ad it Relates to Left Ventricle Diastolic Measurements in Patients with Left Ventricle Hypertrophy |
2002 | 2nd | Danielle Thorsen | Stenosis of the Accessory Renal Artery-An Increased Color Doppler Detection Rate, Including the Significance of Detection |
2003 | 1st | Joana Powell | The Use of Color M-mode in the Study of Diastology |
2005 | 1st | Joleen Rodriguez | Comparative Analysis Using the 80-Lead Body Surface Map and 12-Lead ECG with Exercise Stress Echocardiograms |
2005 | 2nd | Melissa Okonek | The Tei Indes: Diagnostic Usefulness for Predicting Global Cardiac Function in Patients with a Known Ventricular Septal Defect |
2006 | 1st | Pauline Suon | Assessment of Left Atrial Size and Left Atrial Appendage Peak Velocity in Patients With Atrial Flutter |
2006 | 2nd | Kristine Barnhart | Evaluation of Large Residual Right-to-Left Shunt Detected by Transcranial Doppler and Transesophageal Echocardiogram Post Transcatheter Patent Foramen Ovale Closure |
2007 | 1st | Sarah Curtis | Quantification of Right Ventricular Volume and Function in Patients with Previously Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: A Comparison of Echocardiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
2007 | 2nd | Kilee Owens | Velocity Vector Imaging as a Tool for Diagnosing Mild Diastolic Dysfunction as Compared to Traditional Methods |
2009 | 1st | Alison Freeberg | False Positive Outcomes of Standard Morphological Imaging Predictors of Fetal Aortic Coarctation |
2009 | 2nd | Erika Hutson | An Examination as to the Usefulness of Tourniquet Application When Mapping Upper Extremity Veins for Hemodialysis Assess |
2010 | 2nd | Brandon Smith | Investigating Correlation of Fetal Heart Rate and Gender During Second Trimester Fetal Survey Exams |
2011 | 2nd | Michelle Vo | Diastolic Dysfunction in Vortex Ring Formation During Left Ventricular Filling |
Student Sonographer Poster Competition and Exhibit
View full list of winners
Year | Place | Poster Title |
---|---|---|
1985 | 3rd | Andrea Skelly, Program Director |
1990 | 1st | Be Color Minded-Not Color Blinded |
2002 | 3rd | Nuchal Translucency |