Ultrasound Advisory Group
This Ultrasound Advisory Group of the Society and College of Radiographers is an advisory group.
This Ultrasound Advisory Group of the Society and College of Radiographers is an advisory group.
The Ultrasound Advisory Group (UAG) provides The Society and College of Radiographers with advice regarding strategic direction for the profession and the appropriate support to deliver service improvements within the interprofessional environment of ultrasound.
The remit of the group includes:Promoting SoR | CoR’s policies, strategies and publications within the context of ultrasound to the benefit of services, practitioners and patients.
Promoting membership of the SoR by ultrasound practitioners enabling practitioners and services to benefit from SoR | CoR’s established leadership in medical imaging, radiation therapy and oncology.
Providing information and advice to support SoR | CoR policy and strategy development.
To read more about the purpose and remit of UAG, please see the Terms of Reference document.
Contacts | |
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Administrative Support | Professional Officer |
Katie Thompson Council Member | |
Key Documents
Gillian trained as a Diagnostic Radiographer at the University of Derby, qualifying in 2002 and working at Nottingham University Hospitals as a plain film Radiographer. After several years gaining experience Gillian undertook training in Ultrasound and completed the Postgraduate Diploma in 2009 and then subsequently the MSc in Advanced Practice in 2015. Gillian continued to work at Nottingham University Hospitals until 2021, during which time she worked in the role of Clinical Specialist in Obstetric Ultrasound (2015-2020). Gillian joined the University of Derby as a lecturer in 2015, working in the academic role alongside her clinical duties and became Senior Lecturer and MSc Medical Ultrasound programme lead in 2018.
Gillian has extensive knowledge across a range of ultrasound specialities and also within the education sector supporting development and provision of ultrasound modules at the University of Derby. She is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy having gained her PGCE in HE in 2017.
With a keen interest in Sonographer wellbeing, Obstetric ultrasound and Sonographer education, she has presented at various conferences both locally and nationally and has authored publications. Gillian is currently a mentee on the College of Radiographers FoRRM3 programme.
Alongside the Ultrasound Advisory Group, she is also an accreditor for the Consortium of Accreditation of Sonographic Education which enables her to be involved in accreditation of educational courses in sonographic education.
Jamie trained as a Radiographer in Bangor University, qualifying in 2009. Post qualification he moved to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH) where he was given the opportunity to study medical ultrasound at both Leeds and Sheffield Hallam University, achieving an MSc in medical ultrasound in 2017.
He then went onto develop a specialist role, helping to introduce new services at STH relating to elastography of the liver and the use of contrast enhanced ultrasound in the assessment of indeterminate renal lesions, as well as performing various ultrasound guided interventional procedures and providing input at MDT and clinical education meetings.
He achieved Consultant accreditation with the College of Radiographers in 2021 and continues to work across the four pillars of consultant practice.
Jamie has performed specialist guest lecturing at higher education institutions, as well as performing peer reviews of journals and providing input in educational ultrasound texts. Jamie hopes to expand his role further to have a strong research component, with the view of commencing a PhD in the near future.
Lead Sonographer
Nicki qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer in 2003 and worked as a rotational radiographer at Worcester Royal Hospital until starting ultrasound training in 2005. Nicki has a wide range of ultrasound experience scanning abdominal, gynae, DVT, obstetric and early pregnancy examinations.
In 2012, Nicki relocated to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch (also part of Worcestershire Acute Trust) and a year later took on the role of lead sonographer. This role has been varied and often challenging but has allowed insight into the ultrasound service which has developed and grown over the last few years. Nicki has a particular interest in clinical governance and has applied this to the ultrasound service,
Clinically, Nicki started to train in Head and Neck Ultrasound, with a natural progression into undertaking FNA examinations. This has developed and now she runs a weekly onestop neck lump clinic to support the ENT cancer services. The development of this clinic formed part of her MSc in Medical Ultrasound qualification in 2016.
Over the last few years, Nicki has been a regular guest lecturer at Birmingham City University and also spent a short period working as Senior Lecturer leading the PG Abdominal US module and developing a new PG Cert in Preceptorship for the newly qualified BSc Medical Ultrasound students.
In 2021, she is going to take on her biggest challenge to date enrolling onto a Professional Doctorate in Health Practice, she has been inspired by other sonographers and seen how this can promote our profession.
Superintendent Sonographer
Originally trained as a Diagnostic Radiographer at the South West Wales school of Radiography practising in Bridgend, Neath/Port Talbot and Swansea. Subsequently obtained the pgDMU in 1999 at Cardiff university and gained extensive experience in obstetric, general, vascular and gynaecological ultrasound.
In 2014, she became the Superintendent sonographer at Morriston Hospital Swansea which involves managing a team of 15 staff and contributing her knowledge and insight to the safe and timely delivery of the ultrasound services at a strategic level.
She extended her role into head and neck ultrasound, and from 2019 independently performed fine needle aspirations of lesions in the head and neck.
She maintains a keen interest in current professional issues through her membership of BMUS. She is a registered accreditor for CASE and is involved in the accreditation and approval of educational courses.
She contributed to the 2018 Skills for Health, National Occupational Standards and was a member of the reference group which involved amending the standards, and bringing them up to date with current practice.
Lead Research Sonographer
Ellen Dyer has worked as a Sonographer at the Rosie Hospital, Cambridge since qualifying in 2006 and has specialised in obstetric ultrasound since 2014. She completed her MSc on Cervical length assessment at City University in 2011 and continues to have a keen interest in preterm birth prevention. Ellen is currently the Lead Research Sonographer for the POPS2 study, affiliated to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Cambridge. She has been a member of the Ultrasound journal editorial board since 2016 and is keen to promote sonography through her membership of the Society of Radiographers’ Ultrasound Advisory Group.
Advanced Practitioner Interventional Sonographer and Acting Lead Superintendent Sonographer
After discovering Radiography during her work as a porter, Cat obtained her BSc in Diagnostic Radiography at Cardiff University, formally the University of Wales College of Medicine in 2005.
She gained experience as a newly qualified Radiographer in Exeter and Yeovil with general and modality work before deploying with the Territorial Army (TA) to Afghanistan in a field hospital in Camp Bastion. On return from her tour she completed her PG Dip in Ultrasound at Exeter with the University of the West of England (UWE).
Her ultrasound qualification has taken her around the country as a Sonographer, Superintendent and Applications Specialist and now she has her dream job as an Advanced Practitioner Interventional Sonographer back in Exeter.
She is soon to finish her dissertation which will explore sonographer led discharge as part of her MSc with UWE and is about to embark on an MSc Apprenticeship in Advanced Clinical Practice at the University of Exeter. She has hopes of obtaining consultant level accreditation and completing her PhD in the future.
She maintains a keen interest in current professional issues through her membership of BMUS and now her involvement with the Ultrasound Advisory Group. She is a peer reviewer for Radiography and soon to be an assessor for Quality Standard for Imaging (QSI).
Her hobbies include negotiating with her young children, knitting and Morris dancing.
Clinical Specialist Sonographer (Royal Free)
Lecturer (CCCU)
Trained as a Diagnostic Radiographer at Canterbury Christ Church University and at East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust qualifying in 2013. Shortly after qualifying, Anna completed the PgDip in Medical Ultrasound at Canterbury Christ Church University and EKHUFT.
Anna has also worked at two other large trusts, Portsmouth Hospitals Trust and now the Royal Free where she is a clinical specialist sonographer.
In 2016 Anna joined CCCU as a lecturer in Medical Ultrasound and currently leads the Principles of Science and Technology in Medical Ultrasound module for all Ultrasound courses at CCCU. She recently converted her PgDip to MSc for which she obtained a distinction and is hoping to publish her dissertation as a literature review. Anna has also been vocal in giving sonographers a voice about their work and experiences during Covid and the challenging environment of the last 18 months and helped to facilitate an interview on radio 4’s woman’s hours with SoR ultrasound representative Gill Harrison.
Lead Sonographer
Melanie is the Lead Sonographer in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, N. Ireland where she has worked for 21 years. She currently manages 13 Sonographers across 2 sites.
Melanie qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer from University of Ulster in 2000 and worked as a General Radiographer before completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound in 2004. She continued to work in both General Radiography and Ultrasound before taking up her role as Lead Sonographer in 2016.
Melanie practices in both General and Obstetric Ultrasound and has recently undertaken Advanced Practice training in Head and Neck Ultrasound (Teesside University) and has become the first Sonographer in Northern Ireland to undertake independent Head and Neck Ultrasound scanning & reporting with FNA/Core Biopsy/Drainage.
Melanie was an active Industrial Relation Representative for the Society of Radiographers for many years and has completed a Post Graduate course in AHP Leadership. She had been an Ultrasound Mentor and Assessor for a number of years and looks forward to opportunity to lecture on the newly CASE accredited Ultrasound Post Graduate course in University of Ulster.
Melanie is passionate about role extension, training and advanced practice for Sonographers and about Quality Improvement.
Clinical Specialist GI Sonographer
Originally trained as a Diagnostic Radiographer at the University of the West of England in Bristol, Ruth later went on to train as an advanced practitioner sonographer at King’s College London. Subsequently Ruth gained extensive clinical experience within gastrointestinal ultrasound working in a specialist role alongside leading experts in GI ultrasound. She maintains a keen interest in current professional issues through her involvement the professional and education standards group with the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS).
Following her MSc in medical ultrasound, Ruth went on to undertake clinical academic doctoral research with an interest in pancreatic cystic lesions, contributing her clinical knowledge and insight to identify patient experiences and areas for improvement.
Ruth is the Engagement Editor for the Radiography Journal, promoting research and educational engagement between the journal and radiography profession. She has authored various publications, undertaken conference presentations at local and national level, and peer reviews journals.
Research Sonographer / Lecturer / CoR Doctoral Fellow
Emily graduated as a Diagnostic Radiographer in 2009, and completed her MSc in Medical Ultrasound in 2013. She was awarded her Pg Certificate in Clinical Education in 2020, and is a recognised Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She joined City, University of London as a Lecturer in 2021.
In addition to her clinical practice, Emily also has gained research experience working on the large-scale Intelligent Fetal Imaging and Diagnosis (iFIND) project at King’s College London. She began her Doctoral research in 2020 after being awarded funding by the College of Radiographers and City, University of London. Her study explores expectant parents’ experiences of antenatal imaging and their effect on the developing parent-fetal bond. She has presented her research at several conferences and authored various publications.
She is an active member of the Society of Radiographers, and in addition to the UAG, she sits on the editorial board for Insight,and is a peer-reviewer for Radiography. She has recently been involved in the development of guidance produced by the SoR’s AI working group, as well as obstetric guidance for the British Medical Ultrasound Society. She has also been supporting the transition of the PVRS to the RCT in her role as a peer-assessor.
Her professional and research interests include clinical education and training, advancing imaging technologies, person and parent-centred care, and strengthening patient, public and practitioner partnerships to improve healthcare experiences for everyone
Clinical Specialist Sonographer
Originally began training as a Diagnostic Radiographer at Birmingham School of Radiography in 1995, practising at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham initially, Joanna subsequently gained extensive experience within the profession at the Midland’s leading trauma centre before moving to Walsall. Following her Ultrasound training she spent several years consolidating her practise before developing the Screening service through the role of Screening Support Sonographer, eventually moving to Wolverhampton to focus more on women’s and children’s services.
As an industrial relations representative and an active member of both the Midlands region and the Equalise group she has been involved in the work around checking pregnancy status and the SIGE form to ensure Trans people do not fall through the net, has spoken at conference for both the Midlands region and Equalise and given presentations at local and regional level.