Wednesday, 1 October 2025
Why I am proud to be a Sonographer | Reflections from the ASA 2025 award recipients
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month is a time to spotlight the vital role sonographers play in healthcare. To celebrate, the ASA invited our 2025 Award recipients to share why they are proud to be a sonographer. Their stories highlight the passion, commitment, and impact of sonographers, offering unique insights into the role they play in patient care every day. We will continue adding and updating stories throughout the month, so check back to read more inspiring reflections.
Donna Napier, FASA
I am proud to be a sonographer because I love working in a multifaceted profession that combines technical skill, diagnostic prowess and patient care. Above all, it is a privilege to make a significant impact on a patient’s healthcare journey, not just in detecting their disease but by providing support and compassion in what can be the hardest time of their life.
Caterina Watson, AFASA
I am proud to be trusted with patient confidence. Many patients find it easier to talk to the sonographer. The whole human condition is laid bare while lying for 20 minutes on the scanning couch. I have been deeply moved and humbled by the stories I’ve been told. I believe being a compassionate listening ear has been appreciated by patients (who didn’t really care about the gallstones I imaged). Gratitude is often expressed for doing a thorough job, but it is a pleasure for the sonographer to be the human in the loop.
Matthew Le
I am proud to be a Sonographer because I am making a real difference to people’s lives. We are at the forefront of healthcare and often are the people to see the pathologies first and our skills and input have direct impact on patient’s healthcare journey. I am also proud to be a Sonographer because every day is so unique and different. There is so much diversity and scope for ultrasound, in one day we could be scanning an eye in the morning, then a kidney transplant in the afternoon, an AVF just after lunch and then just before we go home - injecting contrast for a liver lesion that we have only just picked up.
Jacqui Robinson, FASA
I’m proud to be a Sonographer because I get to be part of a team that helps find answers, ease fears, and support patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. Every scan is a small but meaningful step in their journey; and I’m honored to play a role in that.
Kathryn Fenton
I’m proud to be a sonographer because I make a difference to a patient's health diagnosis while having one to one contact with that person.
Sandy Maranna, FASA
Proud to be a sonographer for advancing healthcare with precision, compassion, and a commitment to excellence in patient care.
Danielle Bowles, AFASA
I'm proud to belong to a profession that promotes clinical excellence, that values quality and knowledge and promotes skill development for the professional with the priority of putting patients first. It is so rewarding to be able to add to the diagnostic puzzle for the patient to help give them answers, and with this knowledge, guide treatment and management to improve patient outcomes. I love that our profession is deeply rooted in science but that we are also artists with each patient representing a diagnostic challenge. I love talking to the patient and giving them an insight into what we do all day, whether that is to teach them that we are not stenographers and that my shorthand skills are terrible, to show them their finger tendons sliding on the screen, which always is met with wonder, or to be part of the patient's journey to parenthood. It is a privilege every day to be given the trust by the patient to be able to partner with them to get them answers.
Carol Bagnall
Ultrasound is an amazing field of medicine to work in and through it I have had many opportunities that I would never have dreamed I could have achieved. Technology is ever changing making it an exciting challenge to get the best images out of the machine. I am honored to work in a profession where I have the privilege of being part of the pregnancy journey for parents when I perform an obstetric examination. I enjoy meeting all my patients and knowing that I can make a positive difference to their experience by doing my work well gives me great job satisfaction. I am lucky enough to be in a position to train future sonographers. There is nothing that makes me prouder than seeing my students graduate and then having the pleasure of working alongside them as colleagues. The ultrasound community is filled with incredible people, and I am proud to be part of it.
Robyn Boman, FASA
I am immensely proud to be a sonographer as I have had a remarkable career which has evolved in many directions over its duration. The investigations we conduct provide a valuable insight into a patient’s medical history, delivering crucial information in medical care management. The diverse avenues within the profession, encompassing various specialities and research opportunities, consistently contribute to the advancement of knowledge and the investigation of previously unexplored areas. It has been an honour to have a career as a sonographer.
Michael Foster-Greenwood, FASA
In an age where aircraft can fly themselves, where artificial intelligence seems all concurring, it is refreshing to know that pilots still hold relevance. It is the human brain that is capable of original thought, finding the answers to unseen problems. Medical imaging has its pilots, capable of original thought and combining humanity and empathy in a way no system could ever replace. We call some of these skilled individuals sonographers.
Ilona Lavender, FASA
I'm proud to be a sonographer because this profession gives me the privilege of working in healthcare, being part of a supportive team, and helping patients directly. Every day is unique, the learning never stops, every patient is different, and the range of pathologies continue to amaze me, which means the work is never boring. Although we work in dark rooms, we are often the first to identify serious pathology and understand the profound impact this has on a patient’s life. Conversely, we are also the first to share the joy of showing parents their baby’s profile or letting them hear that very first heartbeat. That balance of responsibility, purpose, and the opportunity to make such a meaningful impact is what makes me proud every day to be a sonographer.
Natalie Clements, FASA
I am proud to be a Sonographer because I get to play a vital role in patient care, helping to diagnose and monitor a wide range of medical conditions. I have the opportunity to combine advanced technology with compassionate care, providing clarity and comfort to a patient during some of their most vulnerable moments. It is fulfilling to know that my skill set contributes directly to better outcomes and informed medical decisions. The profession is more than just scanning it is about compassion, precision and purpose.