Sonographers Teaching Sonographers.

David has authored over 140 publications, including the Adult Echo Digital Loops and Echo Quiz Cards. Most importantly, David is known for his ability to teach echocardiography in a practical, informative manner – a technique that pays dividends for his students as they seek the RDCS or RCS credential.

Alicia Armour is the Health Center Administrator at Duke Triangle Heart Associates. She oversees the cardiology clinic including diagnostic staff (echocardiology, stress testing, ambulatory monitoring, device clinic, and nuclear testing), nursing, medical assistants, and Advanced Practice Providers (NP, PA). With a master’s degree in Exercise Science and extensive experience in adult echocardiography, she is the perfect person to answer all your questions. Alicia is also active in the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), where she has served as faculty for the Annual Scientific Sessions, various committees, and writing groups, and is the representative to the IAC-Echocardiography Board of Directors.

Steve has been a Medical Sonographer since 1982. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma Ultrasound Program, registered in abdominal, OB/GYN, vascular, and phlebology ultrasound. Steve has instructed the Abdominal Sonography course since 1993 and is currently practicing sonography in Oklahoma City, OK.

Steve’s students report he successfully prepares them to meet the challenge of the ARDMS abdominal examination. His focus on specifics leaves no stone unturned in your ultrasound registry review.

Joyce has a multidisciplinary background as a radiographer, mammographer and sonographer with twenty years of experience as a sonography educator. She holds ARDMS registrations in Breast, Abdominal and Ob/Gyn sonography. Joyce has been an item writer for the ARDMS, served on numerous committees with the SDMS, and is a past board member of the SDMS. Joyce’s clinical and academic experience makes her a leader in ultrasound education in the emerging field of Breast Ultrasound. Her students, past, current and future, benefit from her devotion to and expertise in ultrasound education. Joyce is the author of the Breast Sonography Quiz Cards.

Lisa Schuler is an esteemed sonographer and educator with over 30 years of experience in ultrasound. She holds ARDMS registrations in Pediatric, Abdominal, and OB/GYN Sonography, as well as Vascular Technology. She has a passion for teaching, and it shows! Her registry-bound students rave about her educational style and their superb preparation.

Robert W. McDonald is an expert in pediatric and congenital cardiac sonography. He is registered in Pediatric, Adult, and Fetal Echocardiography and Congenital Cardiac Sonography. He spent many years as a senior cardiac sonographer at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at Oregon Health Science University in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from the Spokane Community College Noninvasive Cardiovascular Program and has been in the field since 1983.

Jeannie is a warm, accessible, passionate instructor that loves teaching vascular technology. She is a premier expert in venous disease and vascular testing and the author of several book chapters and scientific articles in multiple vascular publications. She has served as an application reviewer and site visitor for the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) and on the Board of Directors of multiple vascular societies and foundations. She was honored as a Fellow of the SVU in 2014.

Bill is a distinguished educator at the national and international levels and an authority in all aspects of vascular testing. Bill spent many years on the Society of Vascular Ultrasound Board of Directors, served as SVU Vice President, was honored as a Fellow in 1998, and was awarded the SVU Distinguished Service Award in 1995 and 2006. With dozens of publications, Bill was awarded the DE Strandness Award for Scientific Research in 2010, 2012, and 2013 for original vascular research. Bill loves vascular ultrasound (he has even scanned patients on vacation) and teaches with the same passion.

Dr. Tollefson holds RMSK and RDMS credentials and is exceptionally qualified to teach courses on point of care and musculoskeletal ultrasound. His teaching style is incredibly concise and highly motivating for those seeking advanced education and certification in Point of Care and Musculoskeletal Ultrasound.

Christopher Marcella specializes in the clinical application of echocardiography for fetal, pediatric, and adult patients with complex congenital heart disease.  He was the primary technical instructor of pediatric echocardiography at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital/Oregon Health Science University for over 30 years.  Chris has been in the field since 1989, practicing exclusively in fetal and pediatric echocardiography over the last two decades.

With story and interactive techniques, Chris uses his deep knowledge and experiential background to give students the ability to break down complex congenital heart subjects to their core foundation, enabling learners to understand congenital heart disease and foster deep knowledge retention. Chris was honored as a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography in 2019.

Richard “Richie” Palma is a distinguished educator in physics and cardiac ultrasound. He is passionate about ultrasound and brings his enthusiasm to each of his lectures. He is the director and clinical coordinator of the Duke Cardiac Ultrasound Certificate Program. Previously, he was the Associate Clinical Professor of medicine at the University of Connecticut and the director of the Hoffman Heart Institute School of Cardiovascular Technology. He has worked in the profession since 1990. He was the first in the country to become a fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography and was inducted as a fellow in the SDMS in 2016. He was among the first to earn the credential of Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS).He is the only man to have received the Distinguished Educator Award from both the SDMS (2011) and the American Society of Echocardiography (2023). Richie is a co-author of numerous papers and cardiac materials. He has served on the board of directors for the ASE and currently for the SDMS and CAAHEP. He lectures extensively both nationally and internationally on adult echocardiography and contrast.

Molly is committed to advancing the field of ultrasound through her work as Program Director and Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Medical Sonography at St. Catherine University. With a passion for both clinical practice and education, she brings a unique blend of experience, expertise, and dedication to preparing the next generation of sonographers.

With more than 14 years of clinical ultrasound experience and 10 years of teaching in classroom, online, and hands-on settings, Molly is dedicated to creating meaningful and accessible learning experiences for students and professionals. Her approach to education incorporates technology, evidence-based teaching practices, and a strong connection between classroom learning and clinical practice.

Molly also contributes to the profession through her work as a Peer Reviewer for the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS) and through professional service and ultrasound education initiatives. She has provided hands-on ultrasound training in underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad and continues to advocate for high-quality, accessible ultrasound education.

Mishella Perez, BS, RDMS, RDCS, FAIUM, is a nationally and internationally recognized Clinical Ultrasound Educator at Scripps Clinic, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in San Diego, California, specializing in high-risk obstetrics and fetal echocardiography. With nearly two decades of experience, she has educated and mentored ultrasound students, sonographers, residents, fellows, and physicians across radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, and maternal-fetal medicine.

Mishella is the recipient of the 2026 AIUM Distinguished Sonographer Award and a Fellow of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. She holds leadership roles within AIUM, actively participates on committees within the Fetal Heart Society, and contributes to national initiatives advancing maternal-fetal medicine sonography education and advanced practice sonography. Her expertise includes fetal cardiac screening, congenital heart disease, image optimization, and systematic approaches to fetal echocardiography. Known for her engaging, case-based teaching style, Mishella makes complex cardiac anatomy and hemodynamics practical and approachable, helping learners strengthen their clinical reasoning, recognize key imaging findings, and build confidence for the ARDMS Fetal Echocardiography examination and clinical practice.