For Heart Month, we caught up with Mikayla Sparks (📸 left) and Victoria Gerolami (📸 right), Cardiac Sonographers at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, to get an inside look at the work they do and what makes their roles truly special.
Why did you decide to become a Cardiac Sonographer?
We wanted a career where we could have a direct impact on patient care. As a cardiac sonographer, you capture real-time images and measurements that can immediately influence diagnoses and treatment decisions, sometimes in urgent situations.
Tell us about your role.
A cardiac sonographer is a health care professional who specializes in using ultrasound technology to create images of the heart. These images help with early detection and ongoing monitoring. This includes obtaining high quality images, performing accurate measurements, and ensuring the study provides the information needed for effective clinical decision making.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
This job requires the ability to solve problems and adapt based on the complexity of the case. It can be challenging but it is also a very rewarding part of contributing to exceptional care for every patient, every time.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession?
The most rewarding part of being a cardiac sonographer is working directly with patients and knowing our role supports diagnosis, treatment and ultimately patient outcomes.
Any advice for those considering a career in health care?
If you enjoy hands-on patient care, working with technology and problem solving, cardiac sonography is an incredibly rewarding career.