What does a sonographer do?
Sonographers (ultrasound technologists) use complex equipment to direct high frequency sound waves into specific body areas to produce images that show the shape and position of fetuses, internal organs, fluid accumulation, or masses. These images are used by physicians to make diagnoses. Many sonographers, especially those who work in large institutions, specialize in examining specific areas of the body. Examples include neurosonology (brain), echocardiography (heart), obstetrics/gynecology (female pelvis), and vascular (arteries and veins). Sonographers work under the supervision of a physician or senior sonographer.
What might a sonographer do in a workday?
- check patients’ medical histories and prior test results.
- select and set up appropriate test equipment.
- plan procedures and explain them to patients.
- determine the proper patient position and transducer selection to achieve accurate test results.
- complete the scan while observing the screen to make sure that the image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
- operate equipment that produces photographs or printout (ultra-sonograms) images.
Sonographers may work in a laboratory, an examination room, at bedside, or in surgery.
How much does a sonographer make?
- $38,000 - $72,000
How do I become a sonographer?
Students intending to pursue a career as a sonographer should prepare by taking the most challenging high school courses available in science, math and English.
Students must be graduates of a two-year accredited health care program.
The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, incorporated in June 1975, is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, vascular interpretation, and vascular technology. ARDMS offers these credentials: Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS), Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS), Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT), and Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI). In many cases, these credentials are required for employment.
Where else can I learn about becoming a sonographer?
American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography Inc.
51 Monroe Street, Plaza East One / Rockville, MD 20850-2400
tel: (800) 541-9754 or (301) 738-8401 / web: www.ardms.org
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
2745 Dallas Parkway, Suite 350 / Plano, TX 75093-8730
tel: (214) 473-8057 or (800) 229-9506 / web: www.sdms.org
Educational Institutions in Virginia for Sonographers:
What does a biomedical engineer do?
Biomedical engineers use engineering and life science principles to design and develop medical and clinical equipment. They research human and animal biology to develop theories and facts or to test, prove, or modify known theories of life systems.
What might a biomedical engineer do in a workday?
- design and develop instruments and devices (such as artificial organs, limbs, pacemakers or ultrasound imaging equipment) to help health care personnel observe, diagnose, repair, or treat physical ailments or deformities.
- study the engineering aspects of human systems.
- plan and conduct research on medical, biological, biochemical, or other life systems.
- develop mathematical models and computer simulations of human biomedical systems.
- ensure that critical life-support and analysis equipment is designed properly.
- teach, write, and consult; also, some manage laboratories.
- oversee biomedical equipment maintenance and investigate accidents of equipment failure.
- advise hospital personnel on purchase and installation of new equipment.
- Install, adjust, maintain, sell, or repair equipment for biomedical equipment manufacturers.
- train and supervise biomedical equipment technicians and others.
- maintain and improve environmental quality to protect against toxins and pollutants.
How much does a biomedical engineer earn?
- $50,000 - $100,000
How do I become a biomedical engineer?
Students interested in becoming biomedical engineers need to prepare by taking the most challenging high school courses available in science and math, including advanced placement courses.
Generally, those seeking positions in biomedical engineering have college degrees in engineering (four or more years) and may have four or more years of related work experience and/or a master’s or doctoral degree in biomedical engineering. For some, certification also is required.
Where else can I learn about becoming a biomedical engineer?
Biomedical Engineering Society
8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 1125 / Landover, MD 20785-2224
tel: (301) 459-1999 / web: www.bmes.org
Virginia Biomedical Association
P.O. Box 1958 / Yorktown, VA 23692-9998
web: www.vabiomed.org
Educational Institutions in Virginia for Biomedical Engineers:
What does an occupational health and safety specialist do?
Occupational health and safety specialists help prevent harm to workers, property, the environment, and the general public. They analyze work environments and design programs to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury.
What might an occupational health and safety specialist do in a workday?
Occupational health and safety specialists:
- look for chemical, physical, radiological, and biological hazards.
- design safe work spaces, inspect machines, or test air quality.
- aim to increase worker productivity by reducing absenteeism and equipment downtime.
- conduct safety inspections and impose fines.
- develop methods to predict hazards.
- evaluate current equipment, products, facilities, or processes and those planned for future use.
- evaluate the probability and severity of accidents and identify where controls need to be implemented to reduce or eliminate risk.
- help investigate accidents, studying causes, and recommending remedial action.
Occupational health and safety technicians:
- might help design safe work spaces, inspect machines, or test air quality.
- focus on testing air, water, machines, and other elements of the work environment.
- measure hazards, such as noise or radiation.
- prepare and calibrate scientific equipment.
- examine and test machinery and equipment, such as lifting devices, machine guards, or scaffolding.
- check that personal protective equipment, such as masks, respirators, hard hats, or protective eyewear, is being used according to regulations.
- check that hazardous materials are stored correctly.
- test and identify work areas for potential accident and health hazards, such as toxic vapors, mold, mildew, and explosive gas-air mixtures.
How much does an occupational health and safety specialist earn?
- $40,000 - $80,000
How do I become an occupational health and safety specialist?
Students interested in becoming occupational health and safety specialists should take the most challenging high school courses available in English, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and physics.
An individual who wants to become an occupational health and safety specialist should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in occupational health, safety or a related field, such as engineering, biology or chemistry. For some positions, a master's degree in industrial hygiene, health physics or a related subject is required.
Occupational health and safety specialists may be certified by the American Board of Health Physicists, the American Indoor Air Quality Council, the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Requirements for credentials vary; most require specific education and experience in order to be eligible to sit for the certification exam. Once certified, specialists are usually required to complete periodic continuing education for recertification.
Where else can I learn about becoming an occupational health and safety specialist?
American Society of Safety Engineers
Colonial Virginia Chapter / P.O. Box 3001 / Richmond, VA 23228
web: http://colonialva.asse.org
American Industrial Hygiene Association
2700 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 250 / Fairfax, VA 22031
tel: (703) 849-8888 / web: www.aiha.org
American Society for Safety Engineers
1800 E. Oakton Street / Des Plaines, IL 60018
tel: (847) 699-2929 / web: www.asse.org
Educational Institutions in Virginia for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists:
What does an electrocardiograph technician do?
Electrocardiograph (EKG or ECG) technicians operate equipment that measures, monitors, and graphically traces the electrical activity of the heart. Physicians use the graph (electrocardiogram/EKG/ECG) to diagnose and monitor patients’ heart problems.
What might an electrocardiograph technician do in a workday?
- obtain information for EKG records.
- connect electrodes to leads from the EKG machine.
- conduct the electrocardiogram.
- instruct patients to perform physical exercise as specified by the physician.
- identify abnormal heart rhythms.
- recognize emergencies and assist the responding physician.
With additional on-the-job training and experience, EKG technicians may move to positions that perform some or all of the following:
- monitor special EKGs that record heart action over 12- to 24-hour periods.
- insert a catheter (tube) into a blood vessel leading to the heart to examine.
- its condition with the aid of a television monitor.
- use procedures to test the lungs and heart.
- record heart murmurs and other abnormal sounds.
- use ultrasound equipment.
- record heart activity during physical exercise.
- monitor special, three-dimensional tracings of the heart's electrical activity.
- schedule appointments, maintain patients’ files and send bills.
How much does an electrocardiograph technician earn?
- $16,000 - $23,000
How do I become an electrocardiograph technician?
Students intending to pursue a career as an electrocardiograph technician should take challenging high school courses in science, math, and computer technology.
The minimum educational requirement for electrocardiograph technicians is high school graduation or its equivalent, along with supervised on-the-job training, usually lasting eight to 16 weeks. Specialized training requires 12 to 24 months.
Where else can I learn about becoming an electrocardiograph technician?
The American Society of Echocardiography
2100 Gateway Centre Boulevard, Suite 310 / Morrisville, NC 27560
tel: (919) 861-5574 / web: www.asecho.org
Educational Institutions in Virginia for Electrocardiograph Technicians:
What does a research scientist do?
Research scientists improve and prolong life by helping to prevent and cure illnesses, protect our environment, and sustain our food, water, and natural resources. They work to learn everything possible about a particular field of interest and training. They work to gain new knowledge and understanding about the unknown world and identify solutions to major problems to improve our health, environment and economic well-being.
What might a research scientist do in a workday?
Research scientists:
- study disease processes to find the causes of illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.
- research actions of foods, drugs, hormones, nutrients, and other substances.
- isolate and identify bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
- study how the immune system works to prevent illness.
- discover ways in which humans/animals lived, worked, and died in ancient times.
- develop better ways to process, store, and use foods, drugs, and chemical compounds.
- use and develop tests to detect diseases, genetic disorders, or other abnormalities.
- design and build special laboratory instruments, space vehicles, and underwater equipment.
- develop methods to transfer characteristics of one type of organism to another.
- analyze and apply mathematical and scientific theories.
- write reports and scientific papers based on research.
Research scientists may specialize in many different areas.
- Biochemists study chemical processes of living organisms and changes that take place during their development.
- Geneticists study the biology of heredity.
- Immunologists study the ways in which humans and other organisms resist illnesses.
- Marine biologists study life in the seas and oceans.
- Microbiologists study bacteria and other organisms.
- Molecular biologists study living organisms’ basic structures and functions.
- Pathologists study the causes and characteristics of diseases.
- Physicists study interactions of matter and energy.
How much does a research scientist earn?
- $55,000 - $200,000
How do I become a research scientist?
Students interested in becoming research scientists should take the most challenging high school courses available in science, math, and English, including advanced placement courses.
The minimum educational requirement is a bachelor’s degree. A master’s or doctoral degree may be required for those who conduct advanced research or hold management and administrative jobs.
Where else can I learn about becoming a research scientist?
Association of Clinical Research Professionals
500 Montgomery Street, Suite 800 / Alexandria, VA 22314
tel: (703) 254-8100 / web: www.acrpnet.org
American Society for Microbiology
1752 N St. N.W. / Washington, DC 20036
tel: (202) 737-3600 / web: www.asm.org
National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council
500 Fifth Street, N.W. / Washington, DC 20001
tel: (202) 334-2000 / web: www.national-academies.org
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
9650 Rockville Pike / Bethesda, MD 20814
tel: (301) 634-7000 / web: www.faseb.org
American Institute of Biological Sciences
1900 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 200 / Reston, VA 20191
tel: (703) 674-2500 / web: www.aibs.org
