CHCS Perspectives Winter 2014

PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2014 – Page 24 MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY — FORT LAUDERDALE In adhering to NSU Vision 2020 and the mission of excellence and innovation, the Medical Sonography Program in Fort Laud- erdale has designed a new Cardiac Sonography Hybrid Certifi- cate Program (CSHCP) for practicing sonographers and other health care professionals that will commence in May 2014. The program was developed under the directorship of Dr. Jorge Han with the decisive support of Sandrine Gaillard-Kenney, Ed.D., M.A., who serves as chair of the Health Sciences Department, and Richard Davis, Ed.D., the college’s former dean. The NSU Cardiac Sonography Hybrid Certificate Program will be initially oriented to practicing sonographers in the state of Florida who need to obtain an additional credential while working. This certificate program offers an exceptional educa- tional experience by providing lectures in a hybrid format, in- cluding hands-on-practice during lab sessions at nights and weekends, online courses, and clinical externships. It also is open to national and international practicing professionals, including physicians and physician assistants currently residing in Florida. Upon completion of this 12-month program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Med- ical Sonographers and/or CCI registry exams. These examina- tions are recognized as the leading choices for credentialing in the field of cardiac ultrasound. The CSHCP is part of the plan of growth for NSU’s Medical Sonography Program in the en- suing years as it adheres to NSU Vision 2020 as well as the uni- versity’s mission and core values. Cardiac Sonography Hybrid Certificate Program By Jorge Han, M.D., RDMS, RDCS, RVT Program Director, Medical Sonography – Fort Lauderdale Jorge Han, M.D., RDMS, RDCS, RVT, joined NSU as an as- sistant professor in 2010 and is currently the program director of the Medical Sonography Program – Fort Lauderdale. He re- ceived his medical degree from the Peruvian School of Medicine “Cayetano Heredia” in 1981 and completed a residency in ob- stetrics and gynecology at the School of Second Medical Spe- cialization “Alberto Hurtado” in Peru. After relocating to the United States, he worked in cardiovas- cular surgery and conducted medical research at the Miami Heart Institute and Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach. In addition, he has worked in medical sonography at medical enti- ties such as Broward Health, Holy Cross Hospital, Westside Re- gional Medical Center, and Florida Medical Center. Dr. Han is an active member of the Peruvian Board of Medi- cine, the Peruvian Registry of Specialists, the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and is a Fellow of the Amer- ican Society of Echocardiography (ASE), serving on its education committee since 2012. He also is a member of the ASE – Task Force for the Development of Echocardiography worldwide. Faculty Spotlight Over the past year, under the direction of NSU College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-COM) faculty member Yasmin Qureshi, D.P.T., M.H.S., a study took place to assess the relia- bility of special tests used to diagnose thoracic outlet syndrome by comparing them with Doppler ultrasound. This was very much a team effort calling on the skills and knowledge of all the participants, including Wendy Song, D.O., NSU-COM students Matt Denson and Tara Nowakhtar, Lindsay LaCorte, D.O., Heather McCarthy, D.O., Nathalie Garbani, Ed.D., and myself. The various maneuvers used to evoke patients’ symptoms such as Addison’s Wrights and Halstead were employed in 31 participants. The peak systolic velocities of the subclavian artery were recorded using vascular ultrasound to correlate whether or not the arterial blood flow was being compromised to the limb while the maneuvers were performed. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is a grouping of symptoms that involves the artery, vein, and nerves that supply the arm. In some individuals it may be bilateral. The syndrome usually re- sults either because of some form of trauma to the area or be- cause of a career that requires repetitive motion. On rare occasions, it may be the result of a cervical rib that compresses the surrounding tissues, resulting in numbness, tingling, and pain in the arm. Research such as this provides a powerful model of interdis- ciplinary collaboration and engagement. The NSU disciplines of physical therapy, osteopathic medicine, and medical ultra- sound were effectively engaged and focused. The feeling of working in isolation, as we are often accustomed, was re- moved, providing an opportunity to interact freely, ask ques- tions, and build new friendships. It was a wonderful experience that provided the researchers with education, insight, and ex- pertise across the various fields. While the study results were inconclusive, the opportunity for collaboration across disci- plines was priceless. By Ron McInnis, M.Ed., Assistant Director/Assistant Professor, Medical Sonography Program – Fort Lauderdale Faculty Research DR. JORGE HAN