THE NEXT WAVE: FRESH INSIGHTS, EMERGING PRACTICES ISSUE
NEW VOICES What do you hope delegates take away from your session? I hope my peers walk away with a deeper understanding of the fundamentals and feel more confident in assessing these findings. My goal is not to introduce complex or unattainable ideas, but rather to fine-tune the basics in a way that any sonographer can understand and utilise.
Looking ahead, what changes or trends do you think will most influence how hepatobiliary ultrasound is practised over the next few years? Hepatobiliary imaging will likely be shaped by a push towards efficiency and precision with clearer, more standardised guidelines to optimise surveillance rather than general routine or reflex imaging. Technological advances will continue to improve image quality, and the wider use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound may enhance diagnostic confidence. However, these gains will need to be balanced against increasing clinical complexity, including higher patient body habitus, multiple comorbidities and evolving disease concepts such as MASLD, which will influence how examinations are performed and interpreted. SESSION
PRESENTATION
SATURDAY 3:50 pm – 4:30 pm
Polyp to peril: Ultrasound insights in hepatobiliary imaging
Lisa Peng, VIC Ultrasound of the paediatric vocal cords isn’t something many sonographers encounter every day. What made you curious enough about this area to explore it in depth? During my paediatric fellowship at Monash Health, I was fortunate to be exposed to a wide range of paediatric imaging and to develop specialised scanning skills in a tertiary setting. Vocal cord ultrasound stood out as a particularly niche and underutilised application, which sparked my curiosity and interest in learning something new. What intrigued me most was how closely the ultrasound appearance of the vocal cords resembles the views seen on the gold standard flexible nasolaryngoscopy. The ability to assess vocal cord structure and movement using ultrasound in a non-invasive, well-tolerated way makes it a valuable tool in paediatric imaging and motivates me to explore this area further.
Preparing for your first conference presentation is a big milestone. What part of the process has challenged you the most, and what’s helped you push through that?
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The biggest challenge would be stepping into a presenter role for the first time while performing a live demonstration on the spot. What has helped me embrace this challenge is preparation and mentorship. Having attended a previous ASA conference gave me a better sense of the format and expectations, which made it feel more manageable. I am also very grateful for the ongoing support from Monash Health and the encouragement and guidance from the ASA Committee, which has helped me to feel more prepared.
Working with paediatric patients brings its own challenges and rewards. How has that shaped the way you approach your practice? Working with paediatric patients has really shaped me to be more adaptable, patient, and empathetic in my practice. Different age groups require different ways of interacting, so communication becomes just as important as technical skill. I’ve learned to simplify explanations, use distraction techniques, and adjust my scanning approach to suit each child’s age and comfort level. It has also made me more mindful of creating a calm and reassuring environment – not just for the child, but for their families as well. While paediatric imaging can be challenging, it’s incredibly rewarding. Building trust in a short amount of time and knowing that a positive experience can make a difference in a child’s healthcare journey is something I find very meaningful.
If delegates leave your session thinking differently about paediatric ultrasound, what would you hope that shift might be? I would hope they see paediatric ultrasound as more achievable than they might expect, even in areas that may seem niche. In particular, I’d love for delegates to recognise that scans like paediatric vocal cord are not as daunting as they might initially appear and can be incorporated into practice with the right techniques and confidence. More broadly, I hope it encourages a mindset of curiosity – to explore beyond routine scans, stay open to learning, and consider how ultrasound can continue to evolve within paediatric imaging. Even small shifts in perspective can open the door to new skills and better patient experiences.
As an early career sonographer, how important has it been for you to say yes to opportunities like this and step outside your comfort zone? What would you say to others at a similar stage in their career? As an early career sonographer, saying yes to opportunities like this has been incredibly important for both my personal and professional growth. Stepping outside my comfort zone might be daunting at first, but it has pushed me to learn different skills, gain new experiences, and discover interests I might not have explored otherwise. I’m especially grateful to have been part of the Emerging Presenters Showcase, which led to being invited to run a live scanning workshop at the ASA conference.