1. In Memory of Stephen McLaughlin
   
2. SDMS Salary and Benefits Survey Available Soon
   
3. SDMS Testifies at ARDMS Public Hearing on Prerequisite No. 2 Issue
   
4. CME Article Available: Professional Risk Management for Sonographers
   
5. Sign Up Online for SDMS Volunteer Positions
   
6. Medicare Proposals Aim to Curb Rising Imaging Costs
   
7. Dallas DAZZLES!
   
8. News & Notes
   
9. Important Dates
   

On January 8, 2005 Stephen McLaughlin, a Past President of the SDMS, died after a 19 month battle with brain cancer. Steve served on the SDMS Board of Directors for over ten years as a Regional Director, President-Elect, President (2000-2002), and Past President. Steve was a Fellow of the SDMS, and in addition to his Society Board service he served the association and ultrasound community in a multitude of roles; committee chair, Board liaison, national certification exam proctor, local ultrasound society President, and counselor. Steve was the President of Suburban Diagnostic Lab, a mobile ultrasound company serving patients throughout the greater Boston area.

This confidential employee-based survey will provide the most comprehensive, in-depth, accurate compensation and benefits data for the field of diagnostic medical sonography available. SDMS will provide practice/specialty salary and benefits reports which could assist you in your next salary review or when seeking a new job. The FREE SDMS Salary and Benefits Survey reports will be produced as an exclusive benefit, only for SDMS members.

• integration of clinical and didactic education
• a peer review process of educational standards
• accountability through program evaluation and outcomes assessment

You don't have to cause severe injury to a patient to face a serious lawsuit as a consequence of your actions. Something as "little" as indifference (as in failing to recognize a need for help), or abandonment (as in failing to return a phone call) can be reason enough to be held liable in a malpractice suit.

SDMS and Professional Risk Advisors, Inc., the SDMS' official professional liability insurance agency, is pleased to present you with the "facts" about sonographer malpractice insurance. "Professional Risk Management for Sonographers" will give you information on how to avoid common pitfalls associated with professional liability. Gary McCammon, President of Professional Risk Advisors, will walk you through the "Anatomy of a Lawsuit" and highlight the measures you can take to make sure your practice is "covered."

• Committees:
  SDMS Committees serve as the foundation for much of the Society's efforts on behalf of its members. Committee members are volunteers who have agreed to contribute time and energy to the committees' activities. Volunteer positions on each committee are filled at the beginning of each new SDMS President's term with members who have expressed an interest in serving the Society in this way.

• Discussion Forums Facilitator:
  Facilitators monitor one or more of the SDMS Discussion Forums and answer questions or ensures someone is identified to answer the questions. A few minutes a day is all it takes to help!

SDMS Brands Dallas, Texas as the 2005 Annual Conference Host City
It takes a BIG city to hold all that the SDMS 2005 Annual Conference offers – and Dallas is just the place. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the largest gathering of sonographers in the world! We’re still growing strong because:

• Whether you need continuing education in Ob/Gyn, Abdomen, Cardiac, Vascular or all of the above – we’ve got it!
• Whether you want physician or sonographer expert faculty – we’ve got it!
• Whether you need SDMS CME or AMA Category 1 credit – we’ve got it!
• Whether you want to quietly network with your colleagues or party the night away – we’ve got it!
• Everything you want in a conference but can’t find anywhere else – we’ve got it!

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