DVM Sonographer

Role Description Overview

At a high level, the VICSD DVM sonographer job requires someone passionate about ultrasound, improving their ultrasound skills and interacting with DVMs on their cases on-site at local clinics. This is a much-needed service in San Diego which highlights the DVM sonographer as a key part of the RDVM’s team.

To ensure success for VICSD’s DVM sonographers, it is important to begin with several months of in‑house ultrasound training followed by ongoing mobile support between the DVM sonographer and the VICSD in‑house team. It is also crucial that the DVM sonographers work together to ensure coverage and growth of the mobile service. Success of the mobile ultrasound service is heavily dependent on the front‑line & customer‑facing VICSD team providing best‑in‑class service, with our team leader being the DVM sonographer.

The DVM sonographer position is split into two phases. Phase 1 is training, lasting approximately six months. Phase 2 is working as a DVM sonographer, lasting approximately eighteen months.

During the training period you will undergo several months of training in‑house rasound training will be a self‑driven process with support from the VICSD team. You will be required to take initiative on reading about cases, doing preliminary scanning, writing ultrasound reports and following up on cases. During the training period you will be paid a base salary only.

• Four consecutive workdays weekly in‑house for training periods 1 and 2.
• Training period 3 will be spent both in‑house and on the road performing mobile ultrasounds with a VICSD DVM Sonographer.
• During the training period, the DVM sonographer will be required to read and understand the contents of the Mattoon/Nyland and/or Pennick/d’Anjou small animal ultrasound textbooks.
• Reading published papers on articles pertaining to cases coming in‑house or after a scan.

Phase 1 / First training period – Watching ultrasounds being performed and assisting with holding the animals, learning & understanding client communication both in‑house at VICSD and on mobile cases.

Phase 1 / Second training period – Performing preliminary ultrasound scans with an over‑scan by a VICSD radiologist:

• Responsible for monitoring the ultrasound schedule and alerting the in‑house radiologist as to schedule changes, proactively anticipating the day to make it go smoothly.
• Writing preliminary ultrasound reports for the scans performed which the radiologist will review and correct.

Phase 1 / Third training period – Performing real‑time scans under the supervision of a DVM sonographer and remote consultant.

At the end of the Phase 1 training period the DVM sonographer is expected to have a minimum acceptable knowledge base in the following:

• Dog, Cat, Physiology, Pathophysiology, Systemic, Clinical, Hematology, Clinical chemistry, Histology, Small Animal Medicine, Radiology, Ultrasound knowledge, Ultrasound physics, Ultrasound anatomy, Ultrasound pathology, Abdominal, Hands‑on ultrasound practical

As a full‑time VICSD DVM sonographer, your work is crucial to helping the San Diego clinics by providing mobile ultrasounds in the county and occasionally providing in‑house ultrasound coverage  will be paid a base salary plus production for scans performed and additional diagnostic tests such as coags or sampling.

As a DVM sonographer completing Phase 2 training, you will:

• Work closely with your support tech, VICSD remote scheduling support and DVM clinic staff to optimize your day.
• Be responsible for the “pre‑scanning” of patients prior to transmitting and discussing each case with the remote radiologist.
• Be responsible for discussing the results of the ultrasound examination and case with the overseeing DVM.
• Perform ultrasound‑guided diagnostic procedures at overseeing veterinarian clinics.

• Completion of a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery or three years of small animal private practice.
• Passion for ultrasound and diagnostic imaging.
• Interest and initiative in learning and improving your ultrasound skills.
• Excellent skills with people and time…