Diagnostic Ultrasound

Using sound to diagnose diseases

Impact
  • Early disease detection
  • Non-invasive monitoring
  • Real-time imaging
  • Cost-effective
  • Chronic disease and musculoskeletal monitoring
  • Guided procedures
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Image and signal processing
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Clinical trials
  • Research and development
  • Developing and testing equipment
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Computational modeling
  • Ultrasound safety compliance and exposure control
  • Protocol development for region-specific diagnostic imaging
SKILLS DEVELOPED
  • Ultrasound physics
  • Image and signal processing
  • Medical data analysis
  • Programming
  • Real-time imaging
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Quality control and calibration
  • Patient care and safety
WORK ENVIRONMENT
  • Patient-focused
  • Collaborative
  • Translational research
  • Clinical and research-integrated
OCCUPATIONS
  • Research Scientist
  • Ultrasound Technologist
  • Medical Imaging Specialist – Ultrasound/ Ultrasound Imaging Specialist
  • Clinical Sonographer/ Sonography Technician
  • Research Fellow
  • R&D Engineer/Acoustic Engineer
EMPLOYERS
  • Hospitals and medical clinics, sonographer
  • Medical imaging centers
  • Medical equipment manufacturers
  • Academic and research institutions, medical device regulatory bodies
  • Healthcare consulting firms
PATHWAYS

In college: 

  • Select a major that will provide a strong background: physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied math, and biology
  • Internship at research labs, hospitals, medical device manufacturers

Switching careers:

  • Medical doctors, healthcare provider, Academia, and consultancy
EXPLORE
  • Focus on key subjects: physics, biology, electrical engineering, computer science, and physiology
  • Start learning signal and image processing techniques
  • Explore online resources to learn about ultrasound physics and diagnostic imaging
  • Try out medical imaging internships, clinical shadowing, or sonography training programs