Dear Members,
As I write my final message as President of the SRU, I find myself reflecting on the year and looking forward with great anticipation for our annual meeting next month. Serving this society has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career. What makes our organization special is not simply our scientific achievements, educational programs, or annual meetings; it is the people and their passion and dedication to the mission of our society. The phrase “it takes a village” does not seem to capture what this great organization does together; rather, I would argue “it takes a metropolis” to build our organization with members who faithfully come to the meetings and engage in the year-long educational offerings. Then, there are the researchers, both clinical and scientists, who submit scientific abstracts and grant proposals and keep this society at the forefront of science. Our main pillars are our committee chairs and committee members who do the brunt of the behind-the-scenes work of society. Our stellar executive team of ESI, particularly Toni Ebra and Marie Gomez, runs the many daily tasks of our organization. And last, but certainly not least, thanks to the wonderful Executive Board for their wisdom, steady hand, and willingness to assist upon a moment’s notice.
There are many SRU accomplishments I am proud of this year, but what I am most excited about is our upcoming annual meeting. Thanks to the incredibly hard work of Drs. Tara Morgan and David Fetzer, the suspense is building for our unique meeting program and new initiatives. I detailed the many meeting offerings in the last newsletter, but I would like to particularly acknowledge Jon Jacobson and Richard Barr for leading our Hands-On workshops in MSK and quantitative liver ultrasound. I would also like to thank John Eisenbrey and Lindsay Akers for being our chief representatives and liaisons to our scientist and sonographer members. If you haven’t signed up for the meeting yet, please do. Additionally, if you are not able to attend the entire meeting, there are prorated one day and half day (Sunday) registration opportunities.
Here are some things you do NOT want to miss:
- A plenary session which bridges the gap between ultrasound interpretation and clinical perspective in liver tumors and endometriosis, a TI-RADS update and glimpse into upcoming changes, review of the latest SRU consensus statement, and a keynote address by Dr. Flemming Forsberg.
- Nationally renowned clinical specialists leading the presentations who will provide the very important clinical perspective to our ultrasound exams
- Hands-On workshop in MSK ultrasound that is a tour de force covering multiple areas/joints
- Hands-On workshop in quantitative liver ultrasound including elastography and fat quantification
- Numerous cutting-edge scientific abstracts and poster presentations
- Science Power Hour bridging collaboration between scientists and clinicians
- Sonographer spotlight session with talks regarding improving quality and workflow
- Workshop sessions covering pediatrics, MSK, and vascular topics
- Dedicated sessions on OB-GYN, Head and Neck, GI, and GU ultrasound
- The always popular, funny, and slightly embarrassing Sonopardy where our experts take ridiculously difficult cases in a competitive format
- Sunday morning pearls and pitfalls session on improving the daily practice of ultrasound
- Sunday morning rapid fire ultrasound cases head to toe
It’s not going to be all work because we must have some play! Our Friday evening vendor reception is always entertaining, in addition to karaoke, an architectural boat tour, and some dancing. This meeting always provides an opportunity to connect with old friends and make new ones.
Additionally, at the meeting we will be honoring our three main award recipients, Drs. Mary Frates, Sharlene Teefey, and Mark Kliewer. They have given much to our society and it is our pleasure to honor their work. At the business meeting, I will be handing the gavel over to Dr. Anne Kennedy who I know will lead the society to great new heights.
I leave this role with profound gratitude for having the opportunity to serve as a trusted custodian of this exceptional society. I have been continually inspired by the enthusiasm and talent within our community. Thank you for your trust, your partnership, your friendship, and your unwavering commitment to our shared goals. Together, we have accomplished much, and I am excited to see what the future holds.
