Cyndi Peterson is the Program Director of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Kent State University, Salem Campus. She holds a Master of Public Health from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science from Youngstown State. Cyndi has a multidisciplinary background. She holds ARDMS registries in Ob/Gyn, Abdominal, Breast, Pediatric Sonography and Vascular Technology as well as an ARRT registration in Radiography. Cyndi has over 30 years of sonography experience and maintains an active clinical role as a sonographer at Southwoods Imaging. She has taught the OB/GYN review course for ESP since 2009. Her students appreciate her teaching style and approachability.
David Adams is a renowned innovator in echocardiography practice, research and education. He is a cardiac sonographer emeritus who has worked for more than 38 years at Duke University Medical Center and has over 32 years of experience in registry reviews. He is the recipient of the first ASE Sonographer Lifetime Achievement Award and a past recipient of the ASE’s Distinguish Sonographer Teaching Award. He is dedicated to helping students master the keys to passing their registry exams. As a leader in the field, David combines humor with clinical expertise in providing a practical approach to cardiac ultrasound.
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 Bernhardt is the Abdominal Sonography course instructor. He has been a Medical Sonographer since 1982. Educated at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma with specialties in abdominal, obstetrical, vascular, and phlebology ultrasound. His experience includes 21 years at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana supervising both the general and vascular ultrasound departments. Steve is the owner of Vascular Health Imaging in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and an ESP faculty member since 1993.
Joyce Grube holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Radiologic Technology and a Master of Science in Allied Health Education from The Ohio State University. Joyce is a private ultrasound educational consultant and an application specialist for a major ultrasound manufacturer.
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 a Professor and Clinical Director for the CAAHEP accredited Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. Lisa has over 30 years experience in ultrasound and holds ARDMS registrations in Pediatric Sonography, Abdominal Sonography, OB/GYN Sonography, and 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 a senior cardiac sonographer at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital – Oregon Health Science University in Portland, Oregon. Rob is registered in Pediatric, Adult and Fetal Echocardiography as well as Congenital Cardiac Sonography. He is a graduate from the Spokane Community College Noninvasive Cardiovascular Program in Spokane, Washington. He has been in the field since 1983.
Jean is nationally recognized as a premier expert in venous disease and vascular testing, and is a frequent lecturer throughout the USA. She has served as an application reviewer and site visitor for the Inter-societal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). Jean has served on the Board of Directors of multiple vascular societies and foundations. She was honored as a Fellow of the SVU in 2014.
ESP’s Vascular program is recognized as the largest, most effective and efficient method for technologists and physicians preparing for RVT and RVS credentials. William Schroedter is a distinguished educator at the national and international level. He is recognized as an authority in all aspects of vascular testing in both clinical practice and education. Bill spent 7 years on the Society of Vascular Ultrasound Board of Directors, served as SVU Vice President, was honored as a Fellow in 1998 and 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 been known to scan patients on vacation) and teaches with a great passion for the field and especially for new sonographers.
Julia Drose is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Julia managed the Departments of Ultrasound and Prenatal Diagnosis at the University of Colorado Hospital for 35 years before retiring in 2017. Julia served as chairperson of the ARDMS exam development task force on fetal echo. She holds registries in fetal echo, adult echo, OB/GYN, abdominal and vascular technology. She is a recipient of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)’s Distinguished Sonographer Award. Julia is the editor of the widely respected textbook Fetal Echocardiography, which released its second edition in 2010. Julia is a renowned sonographer with a career-long commitment to excellence in ultrasound education. Julia is a strong addition to the ESP faculty
Dr. Brian Tollefson has a rare clinical expertise in both emergency and sports medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he has practiced for a number of years. As an attending physician and professor of emergency medicine, Dr. Tollefson lectures regularly on emergency, point of care, and musculoskeletal ultrasound. He is the Director of the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Program, Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, and serves as the Vice Chair for Education in Emergency Medicine. Dr. Tollefson has an exceptional knowledge of ultrasound for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. His area of ultrasound expertise encompasses emergency, point of care, and musculoskeletal medicine.
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.
Michelle Patterson is an OB/GYN sonographer with nearly 15 years of dedicated women’s health experience including Maternal Fetal Medicine and Clinical Applications specialties. She holds ARDMS registries in OB/GYN, Fetal Echocardiography, and Abdomen as well as a Bachelor’s of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from Kent State University. Michelle is passionate about education and helping sonographers earn and maintain their specialty credentials.
Christopher Marcella is an expert cardiac sonographer. He specializes in the clinical application of echocardiography for fetal, pediatric, and adult patients with complex congenital heart disease. He has been in the field since 1989, practicing exclusively in fetal and pediatric echocardiography for the last two decades.
With story and interactive techniques, Chris uses his extensive experience 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 and Ultrasound. 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 one of the first to earn the credential of Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS). In 2011 he received the Distinguished Educator Award from the SDMS and was inducted as a Fellow in 2016. Richie is a co-author of numerous papers and cardiac materials. He lectures extensively both nationally and internationally on adult echocardiography and contrast.
Dr. Mackay is a board-certified vascular surgeon and internationally recognized expert in the treatment of venous diseases. He received his medical degree from the University of Florida, residency training at Georgia Baptist Medical Center and a fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Dr. Mackay is considered to be one of the country’s leading vein specialists and continuously offers the latest in vein therapies that will best benefit his patients. In 1999, Dr. Mackay was the first in the state of Florida to offer VNUS Closure™ and in 2001, he was the first in the bay area to offer Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT).
