1. Call for Clinical Affiliate Sites
2. SDMS CME Guideline Revisions Adopted by SDMS Board of Directors
3. BIG Time in BIG D - Conference Registration is Around the Corner
4. Important Change in SDMS Professional Liability Insurance
5. SDMS Educational Foundation Awards Scholarships
6. SDMS Briefcase Close-out!
7. Call for Judges for the SDMS 2003 Awards Program - Deadline Extended
8. ARDMS Makes Changes That Affect Future Applicants
9. News & Notes
10. Important Dates

There is a severe shortage of sonographers throughout the United States. This critical shortage can be addressed in two ways:

1. increase student enrollment in sonography and cardiovascular technology educational programs
2. increase the number of sonography and cardiovascular technology educational programs

Both of these require an increase in the number of clinical affiliate sites. Sonography and cardiovascular technology educational programs need the guidance, expertise, and involvement of the healthcare community in addressing the tremendous need for clinical affiliate sites.

As the educational level of sonographers rises in response to an evolving profession and the technology that supports it, formal educational programs with clinical education components are a critical element in the education of our future sonographers. However, many programs have a very difficult time obtaining adequate clinical sites for their students to acquire clinical skills.

When asked to mentor students, many potential affiliate sites had misconceptions about their role. The SDMS Educators Committee has prepared a resource document to help disspell the myths about being a clinical affiliate site.

For more information, visit:

At its March 2003 meeting, the SDMS Board of Directors approved revisions proposed by the SDMS Continuing Education Committee to the "Author/Editor" category of the SDMS CME Guidelines. The category revisions appear on page 6 of the SDMS CME Guidelines at: http://www.sdms.org/pdf/cmeguidelines.pdf

Attention approved SDMS CME Providers: The CME application forms can now be completed using your computer. Because supporting documentation is required, the forms must be printed and submitted via mail. To fill out the forms, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.01 or later installed on your computer. The forms are available at:

Confirm your place at THE educational destination for all sonographers - the SDMS Annual Conference!

SDMS 2003 Annual Conference
October 16-19
Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion
Dallas, Texas

Over 60 courses in five tracks, Ob/Gyn, Abdomen, Vascular, Cardiac, and Practice Strategies. Earn up to 17.5 SDMS CME credits in the 2 ½ day program. An additional 10.0 credits are available through Pre-Conference Tutorials and Lunch and Learn sessions.

Complete conference details are outlined in the Annual Conference brochure arriving in your mailbox in the next few weeks. Online registration will begin in mid-May so you can be among the first to reserve your place at the SDMS Annual Conference.

Three reasons that you should attend the SDMS 2003 Annual Conference:

1. Powerful presentations… by cutting-edge speakers
2. Accessibility… Dallas is within 3 hours of all major cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
3. Opportunity to learn and refuel… "This was the first time that I had attended a national conference and boy did I have a good time. I liked the way the conference was set up to have several specialty tracks at one time so that I could choose a bit of everything during the meeting. I was able to meet people from all over the USA and found that we had similar work environments which enabled us to problem solve particular situations. "

For more information, please visit:

A new insurance carrier for professional liability insurance for SDMS members has been selected. The new program will be underwritten by Granite State Insurance Company, which is rated A++ (Superior) by A.M. Best. As an SDMS member you will still enjoy substantial discounts on this important coverage and you may even choose to elevate your coverage at no increase in cost!

This change in insurance carriers results from the TIG's decision to cease providing this type of insurance to sonographers effective July 1, 2003. Please be advised that as of the expiration date of your existing TIG policy, the professional liability insurance coverage provided by TIG Insurance Company will not be renewed.

SDMS Insurance Services will send enrollment information for the new plan to each existing policyholder. If you have any questions about your existing coverage or the new plan, or would like to receive an enrollment application, please call SDMS Insurance Services at 800-565-8794.

The SDMS Educational Foundation was established to help attract and assist bright, committed students to the field of diagnostic medical sonography while also supporting research endeavors of practicing sonographers. One of the cornerstone programs of the Foundation is the Student Scholarship Program, which is funded entirely through your donations. Three times each year students attending CAAHEP accredited sonography programs have the opportunity to apply for scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500. The following students were selected to receive scholarships for the March 2003 deadline.

Student	School
Shannon Henke	Cox Health Systems
Sharhonda Lewis	Keiser College, Daytona Beach Campus
Joel Ogbonna	University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus
Judy Roberts	Thomas Jefferson University
Megan Tremper	Hudson Valley Community College
Connie Willis	Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences

Please join us in congratulating the recipients of these scholarships and in wishing them good luck in their careers in sonography!

The next scholarship deadline is July 31. Available during this application period are the Trudy Dubinsky Memorial Scholarship and the SDMS Presidential Scholarship, as well as general scholarships. Complete scholarship information and an application is available on the SDMS website at:

 * * * GET 'EM WHILE THEY LAST - ONLY 20 LEFT!! * * *

SDMS Briefcase

This month's featured sale item is this functional, attractive durable canvas briefcase/saddle bag featuring the 4-color "Image is Everything" logo embroidered on the front flap. This product makes a wonderful gift or personal business accessory. Quantities are limited.

To print an order form, visit:

The Awards Committee is looking for qualified individuals to serve as judges for this year's Awards Program. SDMS Awards and Competitions consist of the Scientific Presentation Competition, the Sonographer and Student Poster Exhibit Competition, and the W. Frederick Sample Award.

Answer the call to serve and preserve the integrity of this important program! If you are interested in serving as a judge, please submit your letter of interest, indicating which competition you are interested in judging, along with your resume to Sandra Riggins via email at sriggins@sdms.org or mail to the SDMS Headquarters, 2745 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 350, Plano, TX 75093-8730. Your expression of interest must be postmarked no later than May 9, 2003.

For more information on the awards program, visit:

ARDMS has made important changes to Prerequisite 1 of the five educational prerequisites listed in its "Application Booklet." This change, effective March 1, 2003, will affect future applicants for certification.

For more information, visit:

The News & Notes column includes links to web-based news articles of interest to sonographers. To submit articles, send the URL to webmaster@sdms.org

• National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
  Sign Up for Breast Exam Reminder
  http://www.nabco.org/hersource/emr.phtml



• Rising Demand for Sonographers
  http://www.latimes.com/classified/jobs/silver/la-silver030903,0,5936318.htmlstory?coll=la-class-employ-silver



• Ultrasound Scans Identify High-risk Fetuses in a Low-risk Population
  http://www.ardms.org/newswire/04212003/04212003.html#scans



• Toronto SARS outbreak throws routine imaging into turmoil
  http://www.auntminnie.com/default.asp?Sec=nws&sub=rad&pag=dis&ItemId=57936&d=1



• Strict Attention to Detail Enhances Sensitivity of Breast Ultrasound
  http://www.ardms.org/newswire/04282003/04282003.html#detail



• Medical equipment fund enhances availability of publicly-funded diagnostic care and treatment services (Canada)
  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2003/2003_16.htm



• Ultrasound-guided Laser Offers Effective Treatment for Varicose Veins
  http://www.ardms.org/newswire/04282003/04282003.html#veins