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SDMS President's Message - September 2026

by Aubrey Rybyinski, SDMS President

Dear SDMS Members,

I’m thrilled to announce the following SDMS award recipients and 2026 SDMS Foundation grants and scholarships. Please join me in congratulating them for their outstanding work and their valuable contributions to our profession. All honorees will be recognized at the 2026 SDMS Annual Conference, held September 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sonographer and Student Poster Competitions
Sonographer and student posters report the results of a research study completed by the authors. Posters are evaluated on presentation, content, and originality and are displayed during the SDMS Annual Conference.

Sonographer Poster

AprilElizabethFrey

1st Place

Breaking Bad News: Management of Unexpected Findings by Obstetric Sonographers

April Elizabeth Frey, MLIS, RDMS, RVT

2nd Place
When the Spleen Steals the Show: Splenic Artery Steal Syndrome After Liver Transplantation
Rachel Tassoni, BS, RDMS, RVT
Atara Korik, BFA, RDMS, RVT
Dana Lagrotteria, RDMS, RVT, RT (R) (ARRT)

Student Poster

1st Place

Ultrasound Characterization of a Rare Periosteal Cartilaginous Tumor of the Humerus: Case Report

Jack Kaiser

University of Missouri

2nd Place

Challenges in Sonographic Diagnosis of Conjoined Twins with a Shared Heart: A Case Report

Gabrielle Peuterbaugh

University of Missouri

Scientific Presentation Competition

The Scientific Presentation Competition evaluates sonographers’ original summary papers on clinical research, educational techniques, patient care, sonography department management, case studies presenting a diagnostic challenge, or other areas related to diagnostic medical sonography.

KateWampler

Chris Smith

Jessica Umbra

Kimberly Michael

1st Place

Do Sonography Students Value Interprofessional Education? Perceptions Following an IPE Activity

Kathryn Wampler, MA, RT(R), RDMS, RVT, FSDMS

Christopher Smith, MD

Jessica Umbra, MHPTT, ACS, RDCS, RVT

Kimberly Michael, EdD, MA, RT(R), RDMS, RVT, FSDMS

W. Frederick Sample Student Excellence Awards

The W. Frederick Sample Student Excellence Awards recognizes outstanding writing in the field of diagnostic medical sonography. Named in memory of W. Frederick Sample, MD, who made tremendous contributions to the growth and development of the field of sonography, the awards encourage students to submit original research and literature review papers to the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS).

Literature Review

Emily Lewis, BS, RDMS

1st Place

Point-of-Care Ultrasound In Acute Athletic Injury: Implications for Sonographers

Emily Lewis, BS, RDMS

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Lillian Ghanem

2nd Place

Diagnostic Performance of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Vs. Computed Tomography
in Ocular Trauma and Posterior Segment Injury

Lillian Ghanem

University of Oklahoma

Kenneth R. Gottesfeld Award

The Kenneth R. Gottesfeld Award recognizes sonographers for the publication of their outstanding research or review articles in the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS).

SandyTakata

ShawnRoll

1st Place
Establishing a Sonography Protocol for Evaluation of the
Flexor Digitorum Profundus Tendon in the Hand
Sandy C. Takata, PhD, OTD, OTR/L
Shawn C. Roll, PhD, OTR/L, RMSKS, FAOTA, FAIUM

MackayWhalen

JenniferBagley

JonathanBaldwin

2nd Place

Comparing Abdominal and Retroperitoneal Organ Sonographic Measurements
to Postdissection Measurements: A Pilot Study

MacKay Whalen, MS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT

Jennifer E. Bagley, MPH, RDMS, RVT, FAIUM, FSDMS

Jonathan D. Baldwin, PhD, CNMT, RT (CT)

SDMS Foundation Scholarship Program
The SDMS Foundation Sonography Student and Advanced Degree Scholarship Programs provide scholarships to deserving sonography students and sonographers who have been accepted or are currently enrolled in a diagnostic medical sonography or cardiovascular technology educational program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Sonography Student Scholarship Program

Kaci Moritz

University of Kansas School of Health Professions

Alishia Jacobs

Dallas College

Sonography Advanced Degree Scholarship Program

Rachael Sullivan, BS, RDMS, RVT

University of Missouri-Columbia

SDMS Foundation Clinical Instructor Grant
The SDMS Foundation Clinical Instructor Grant Program recognizes outstanding volunteer clinical instructors and promotes awareness of the need for clinical instructors.

AngelaRidenour
Angela Ridenour, RDMS
RDMS Sonographer, CHI Lakeside Hospital
Clinical Instructor, University of Nebraska Medical Center Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program

Manuela Coleman, RDMS

Manuela Coleman, RDMS
Acute Diagnostic Sonographer
Lead Clinical Instructor, Banner Boswell Medical Center

SDMS Foundation International Assistance Program
The SDMS Foundation International Assistance program provides support to SDMS members who are working or assisting in the international healthcare arena.

AlexandraAndree

Alexandra Andree
AIC Litein Medical Training College
Litein, Kenya

MeghanBouwman

Meghan Bouwman
AIC Litein Medical Training College
Litein, Kenya

JeremyGauden

Jeremy Gauden
AIC Litein Medical Training College
Litein, Kenya

emerging leaders

The SDMS Foundation Emerging Leaders Program identifies and mentors future leaders in the sonography field. Participants virtually attend a variety of leadership education opportunities and engage in meaningful dialogue and projects related to the future of the profession and leadership volunteerism. At the end of the program, one participant is selected to represent the cohort at the fall SDMS and SDMS Foundation Board of Directors Meetings and the SDMS Annual Conference.

Chesna Gordon, BS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT