Salvatore LaRusso M.Ed., RDMS, ARRT
IFSER Board President
He is active in clinical service and as an educator of Radiology residents and Penn State medical students. Sal has been at Penn State for the past 20 years of his 26 years as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
Sal also teaches Sonography students, as a faculty member, at Misericordia University and South Hills School of Business.
Sal is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University with a Bachelors degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, as well as a Bachelors degree in Radiologic Technology. He was awarded an M.Ed. from St. Joseph’s College of Maine
Sal is the author of numerous scientific publications, abstracts, as well as a book chapter and is a frequently invited lecturer and speaker, with past presentations covering a broad range of topics in Diagnostic Sonography.
Sue Benzonelli-Blanchard BS, RDMS, RDCS
IFSER Board Vice President
Sue Benzonelli-Blanchard is an ultrasound consultant specializing in research and development, ultrasound education, and project management. She received her BS degree from Seattle University in Diagnostic Ultrasound, and holds a certificate in Project Management from the University of Washington. Sue is also a registered Diagnostic Sonogragher in both radiology and cardiac applications.
In addition to her career in the clinical field, Sue has also worked in the commercial health care industry. Sue worked at Siemen’s Ultrasound as an research and development Product Specialist for three years before joining Philips Healthcare in 1998. While at Philips, Sue held positions as Senior Product Specialist, Radiology Training Manager, and Program Manager for the Philips Global Training and Education department . As a Global Training and Education Program Manager, Sue managed a team of technical writers to produce international training material for Philips Ultrasound products.
Sue has also authored a chapter for an ultrasound text as well as contributed tutorials to the Philips On-Line Learning Center. Sue is a member of “Imaging the World” and in August 2008, she was part of the Belize Field Test team. Sue became an IFSER board of director in 2010. In addition to her board duties, Sue donates her time on the IFSER international team, the events team, and the SCAN team.
Darla Matthew BS, RT(R)(S), RDMS (AB BR OB)
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IFSER Board Treasurer
Darla’s career in sonography began as an x-ray technologist and over the next many years, she practiced as a radiographer, mammographer, CT technologist and then as a sonographer for 16+ years before becoming an educator and program director at Doña Ana Community College - Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program in 2006.
Darla initiated licensure for sonographers in New Mexico after learning of uncertain practices going on in her community involving sonography. In 2009 the resultant bill (HB498) was passed placing New Mexico first in the United States to adopt licensing requirements for sonographers. She was since appointed by the Governor to serve on the New Mexico Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Advisory Council (MIRTAC) and currently serves as the chair of that council.
Darla has a passion for sonography students and works diligently to convey the high standards of her profession to future sonographers/sonologists. She has developed a passion for addressing the global needs of ultrasound and subsequently participated in two training mission trips to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where she worked with Project Vietnam and IFSER to deliver training and educational support to a group of OB/GYN physicians in Level II OB ultrasound theory and practice. She is happy to be involved with IFSER as a board member to develop new avenues of support of sonographers and educators worldwide.
In addition to her board duties, Darla donates her time on the IFSER international team, and events team
Susan Raatz Stephenson, MA.Ed., BSRT-U, RDMS, RVT, RT(R)(CT)
IFSER Board Secretary
Susan Raatz Stephenson, MA.Ed., BSRT-U, RDMS, RVT, RT(R)(CT) is a sonographer and registered since 1985. Current registries include Abdomen, Vascular, Ob/Gyn, and Breast.She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences center in Oklahoma City.
Publications include editing of the textbook, Diagnostic Medical Sonography: A Guide to Clinical Practice Obstetrics & Gynecology, Philips Online Learning Center tutorial author, Gulfcoast registry review materials, JDMS case studies and literature review, Health Sciences Consortium test bank questions covering high-risk Obstetric case studies, and test development of embryology and obstetric questions for USMLE review material.
Susan is currently a full time graduate student at the University of Utah pursuing a doctorate in Educational Psychology. She also is adjunct faculty at George Washington University in Washington D.C. In the past, she has been adjunct faculty at Bellevue Community College in Bellevue Washington, Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruses, New Mexico, and Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs Colorado.
In addition to her board duties, Susan is team lead for the SCAN team as well as a team member for the International team and Events team.
Marveen Craig AA, RDMS, FSDMS
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IFSER Advisory Board Chairperson
Marveen Craig began her ultrasound career 40 years ago as an assistant in the pioneering ultrasound laboratory of Dr. Joseph Holmes, in Denver, Colorado. Her early training there was the springboard to involvement in many facets of diagnostic ultrasound: clinical sonographer, commercial applications specialist, educator, international lecturer, consultant and author. In addition she was the founder of the International Ultrasound Institute in Dallas, Texas (1979 to 1986)where she developed and implemented didactic and clinical introductory ultrasound training courses for approximately 2000 physicians, allied health professionals and corporate personnel. She is a registered sonographer who has served her national professional society in many capacities: president, executive director, keynote speaker, etc. and was among the first sonographers to achieve Fellow Status (1984). Marveen received the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine’s Pioneer Award (1988) and was the first recipient of the Joan Baker Pioneer Award (1995). She was the first recipient of the Don Milburn Service Award (2004) in recognition of her many contributions to the field of ultrasound.
In the field of writing she has served as feature writer and editor to numerous journals. Marveen is a published author of six books, and though retired from active practice since 2000, she continues to serve on the board of several universities, distance learning centers and ultrasound web sites.
Jeanette Burlbaw BS, RDMS
Julia Dmitrieva MPA, RDMS (AB BR OB), RVT, RDCS
IFSER Board Director
Julia is a sonographer with General, OB/GYN, Breast, cardiac and vascular imaging experience in diverse clinical settings. Julia has been an educator of clinical studies and author published in peer-reviewed journals. Julia has managed ultrasound and vascular laboratories in large teaching hospitals and outpatient settings. She is experienced in ACR and ICAVL accreditation, operations management, and research. Julia has assisted with composing the SDMS proposals for the AAA bill, DRA impact on ultrasound services; monitored Congressional literature pertaining to professional issues such as overtime, Medicare reimbursement for vascular and general ultrasound, AMIC coalition.
Julia's professional affiliations are: Member of AIUM, Member of SDMS (Advanced Practice Sonographer 1998-2006), Member of SDMS Government Relations Committee 2004 – 2007 (She assisted with composing the SDMS proposals for AAA Bill, DRA impact on ultrasound services; monitored Congress literature pertaining to professional issues such as overtime, Medicare reimbursement for vascular and general ultrasound, AMIC coalition). She has also been a board of director member for the Society for Vascular Ultrasound since 2009.
In addition to her other talents, Julia holds three patents in ultrasound technology.
Steve Trawick RT(R), RDMS (AB, OB, NE), RVT, CNE, MCSE, MBA, MAOM
IFSER Board Director
Steve started his career in medical imaging in 1975 as a student in a radiography program. He became an RDMS in 1978 after graduating from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program in Mobile, Alabama under the direction of Marveen Craig. After completing his MBA and Masters in Organizational Management he accepted a position as a Radiology Manager. While evaluating various systems and planning the installation of their first PAC system he became interested in technology and its application in medical imaging. This motivated him to further his education eventually becoming recognized as an MCSE and CNE. His background includes educating radiology, obstetrics, and internal medicine residents. He has been an invited guest speaker at several conferences. Currently he is the Program Chair of a DMS program in Temple, Texas.
In addition to his other board duties, Steve is on the SCAN team and the Events team.
Catheeja Ismail RDMS, EdD.
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IFSER Board Director
Catheeja Ismail is the director of the undergraduate sonography program of The George Washington University. Located in the cosmopolitan city of Washington D.C., her program attracts students from across the world. Over the past 20 years, her program graduated students who hailed from a range of countries, including Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cameron, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, United States, Vietnam, and Zaire. While many of her graduates remain in the United States, she hopes to use her position on the IFSER Board to encourage and support those who return to their homelands to practice or teach sonography. She has served in a variety of ways to enhance sonography education. As president of the Washington D.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, she arranged monthly continuing education meetings for physicians and sonographers. She served on the Item Writing Task Force of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. An active member of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, she served on its Education Committee, SCAN Development Task Force, and Advanced Practice Committee. She has traveled wide and far for her own studies. Her schooling began in Sri Lanka, and continued in Zambia and England. She earned her Baccalaureate degree at the University of Virginia, and her Master’s and Doctoral degrees at The George Washington University. Her doctoral dissertation was entitled Role transition through layered generative learning: The lived experience of advanced sonographers.
Don Milburn RDCS, RVT, AACT, FSDMS
IFSER Board Director (on temporary leave from the board)
Mr. Milburn is currently retired from the position of Director of Radiology and Vascular ultrasound customer education programs at the General Electric Healthcare Technologies, Ultrasound Division of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received his initial electronic, engineering and medical training courtesy of the US Navy in the field of Electro/hydraulics and as a helicopter search and rescue aircrewman/paramedic. Mr. Milburn has been active in the field of ultrasound since 1976, his first credentials in Echocardiography granted in 1981 by the American Association of Cardiographic Technologists, (AACT). He is also registered through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers,(ARDMS) in the specialties of cardiac, (RDCS) and vascular, (RVT) ultrasound. He has worked as a staff sonographer, research sonographer, clinical applications specialist, marketing product manager and professional educator. He is an internationally noted lecturer and published author on ultrasound and Doppler physics, advanced technologies, Cardiac and Vascular clinical ultrasound and professional speaking skills. Mr. Milburn has delivered more than 2000 clinical and technical lectures in Latin America, North America, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and throughout Asia. He was awarded SDMS Fellowship status in 2004. He has served on the AIUM committee for color Doppler Standards and is an advisor to college based ultrasound programs. He is a guest ultrasound physics lecturer at the Arizona Heart Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, Loma Linda university medical center, Loma Linda Calif, Grossmont college, San Diego, Calif, Grand Valley university, Grand Rapids Michigan, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak Michigan, GulfCoast Ultrasound Institute, St. Pete Beach, Fla, and Embry Riddle Aeronautic university, Prescott, Arizona. Mr. Milburn has taught professional presentation and speaking skills at GE ultrasound university, an internal education component of GE Healthcare. Upon completion of a rigorous training program in 2007 he was awarded the designation of master trainer through General Electric Healthcare. He currently resides in the mountains of Prescott Arizona with his incredibly, tolerant wife of 40years, Carrol Ann.
