Dear Colleagues:

It has been a little over a year since I first took office as the 29th president of the AIUM. This privilege has allowed me to contribute to the significant growth of medical ultrasound and help implement initiatives for its future.

New Resources Available on the Redesigned AIUM Website

In keeping with our goal of ensuring that the AIUM website is the premier site for ultrasound education, the AIUM staff have worked diligently to enhance the functionality and aesthetics of the site. It is a pleasure to announce the release of the AIUM's newly redesigned website. With a fresh, accessible layout, www.aium.org presents an inviting experience for users to navigate through our website with ease. There are many new features and enhancements to the site, but I specifically want to call attention to the Communities tab located on the top menu bar. Within this section are more than 15 Communities and Interest Groups, each providing links and information for corresponding online lectures, DVD programs, educational events, webinars, and a link to each online community. The online lectures, taped from select sessions during the Annual Convention, are a new members-only benefit initiated by the Web Education Committee. We hope you will benefit from the additional resources and updated design.

AMA Resolution on Diagnostic Ultrasound Utilization and Education

I am very pleased to announce that our American Medical Association (AMA) ultrasound resolution, cosponsored by 15 national and state societies, was adopted by the AMA House of Delegates (HOD):

DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND UTILIZATION AND EDUCATION

RESOLVED, That our AMA affirms that ultrasound imaging is a safe, effective, and efficient tool when utilized by, or under the direction of, appropriately trained physicians.

RESOLVED, That our AMA support the educational efforts and widespread integration of ultrasound throughout the continuum of medical education.

I would especially like to thank and commend Marilyn Laughead, MD, AIUM delegate, and Mike Blaivas, MD, AIUM alternate delegate. Both Marilyn and Mike provided the essential legwork on-site during the meeting of the AMA to ensure the adoption of the resolution. I would also like to thank Richard Hoppmann, MD, and our partners at the Society of Ultrasound in Medical Education for all of their assistance in supporting the resolution, and to Carmine Valente, PhD, CAE, for his effort in lining up support for many of the medical societies who cosponsored the resolution.

Congratulations to Jenny Clark for Her 25 Years of Service With the AIUM

Jenny Clark, CMP, director of professional development, was honored on June 30, 2012, for her 25 years of service with the AIUM. Jenny became a member of the AIUM staff in 1987 and has since been an essential part of the association.

Jenny is responsible for all the logistical and educational aspects associated with the Annual Convention and Postgraduate Courses, as well as overseeing the production of CME video programs taped during the convention. In addition, she oversees the staffing of the Clinical Standards Committee work, which promotes the writing and review of standards and guidelines for sonographic examinations. She also works closely with the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Committee and the CME manager to ensure that the AIUM follows the rigorous policies set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and is thus able to offer continuing medical education. Most recently, Jenny has embraced the new role of managing the administrative aspects of the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound.

Her commitment and dedication to the growth of the AIUM and medical ultrasound are a source of inspiration to all of us. Please join me in congratulating Jenny for 25 years of remarkable service to the AIUM.

New Interactive Guideline Available: Neurosonography in Neonates and Infants

Recently, it was announced that the current AIUM Practice Guidelines are all being formulated into an interactive experience to include links to examples of all images referenced in the guidelines, hyperlinks to other guidelines referenced, and an online CME test allowing individuals to earn up to 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ (free for AIUM members.) I am pleased to state that the interactive AIUM Practice Guideline for the Performance of Neurosonography in Neonates and Infants is now available. I would like to thank the Web Education Committee for making it a priority to develop valuable educational resources on the AIUM website.

Submit Your Abstracts for the 2013 Annual Convention

Preparations are already under way for the 2013 AIUM Annual Convention to be held April 6-10 in New York. Now is the time to submit your abstracts and encourage the new investigators you have contact with to do the same. There are 2 New-Investigator Awards totaling up to $1000. Abstracts previously submitted at other meetings may be submitted. Abstract submission deadline is September 27, 2012.

Best wishes for a comfortable and relaxing summer.

Best Regards,

Alfred Z. Abuhamad, MD
AIUM President

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