ultrasonographer

An ultrasonographer, also called a diagnostic medical sonographer, is a healthcare professional who uses ultrasound equipment to generate images of internal body structures for diagnostic and treatment planning. Ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging modality that uses high-frequency sound waves and does not involve ionizing radiation. Ultrasonographers may perform scans as standalone technicians or as part of a radiology or maternal–fetal medicine team, and in some roles they assist with ultrasound-guided procedures.

Responsibilities include selecting appropriate transducers, operating the ultrasound machine, adjusting settings, positioning patients, and acquiring and optimizing images. They document patient information, ensure image quality, and often prepare preliminary findings for review by a physician. Final interpretation is typically provided by a radiologist, cardiologist, obstetrician, or other physician. In many specialties, ultrasonographers also perform ultrasound-guided biopsies, injections, or cannulations.

Common specialties include obstetric/gynecologic, abdominal, cardiac (echocardiography), vascular, musculoskeletal, and small-parts imaging. Training generally requires postsecondary education in diagnostic medical sonography, with programs leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree. Most regions also require certification from credentialing bodies (for example, ARDMS in the United States) in one or more specialty areas; licensure requirements vary by jurisdiction.

Work settings include hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, clinics, and private practices, with schedules that can include evenings, weekends, or on-call shifts. Safety considerations emphasize patient comfort, infection control, and adherence to equipment-level exposure guidelines and reporting standards.