Soundeffects News | New Voice Allison Mander, QLD

Allison Mander, QLD

You’re bringing ‘Endometriosis KISS’ (Keep It Simple Sonographers) to ASA2026. What prompted you to put your hand up to present this topic now, and why does it feel timely for the profession?

We’re at a real inflection point in how endometriosis is understood, imaged and managed and sonographers are central to that shift. Sonographers are no longer on the periphery of endometriosis care; we are at the centre of a clinically relevant, evidence-based and publicly recognised change. There’s now consensus guidance, national funding support, and a motivated community demanding better imaging, which makes this the right time to elevate our skills, standardise our practice, and ensure we deliver care when patients need it most.

Endometriosis imaging can feel complex and intimidating for many sonographers. What’s one misconception you’re hoping to challenge through your session?

One big misconception I’m really hoping to challenge is the mentality that endometriosis imaging must be highly complex or ‘all or nothing’. Our role isn’t to be perfect. Stick to the four Cs –be Curious, Consistent in your scanning approach, Clear in your reporting and ask yourself if it’s Clinically useful or relevant. Recognising red flags or documenting a ‘negative’ but well-performed examination can genuinely change a patient’s diagnostic pathway and validate the patient’s experience.

As a New Voice at ASA2026, what perspective do you think you bring that’s different from how this topic has traditionally been discussed?

Conferences are fantastic for bringing together experts delivering novel research and sharing their experience through an expert lens. As a New Voice, I would like to bring a ground-level sonographer-centric perspective, focused less on mastery and more on accessibility. What I bring is the perspective of someone working within the real constraints of routine practice – time pressure, mixed referral quality, variable patient preparation, and differing levels of experience across departments.

I’m also approaching this topic at a moment when our profession is being asked to ‘step up’ with new consensus guidance, new funding structures, and greater public scrutiny. As a New Voice, I see my role as helping bridge that gap between emerging evidence and everyday scanning, translating complex concepts into practical habits that build confidence rather than fear.

What’s one practical insight you hope delegates walk away with after your session?

You don’t need to change everything about how you scan – you just need to scan with more intention. That might look like slowing down for 60 extra seconds to assess organ mobility, consciously correlating what you see with where the patient reports pain, or being more deliberate in how you document normal findings. Small, repeatable actions like these don’t add complexity, but they can dramatically improve the clinical value of a pelvic ultrasound. Meaningful change in endometriosis imaging doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from consistency.

Looking ahead, how do you see sonographers playing a stronger role in improving outcomes for patients with suspected endometriosis?

There is no doubt that referrer awareness is growing, and patient expectations are changing around endometriosis. Sonographers are increasingly the first clinicians to spend meaningful time with patients who have suspected endometriosis, which puts us in a

unique position to improve outcomes. The release of the IDEA consensus for superficial endometriosis helps us to provide evidence-based and clear communication to patients about relevant positive and negative ultrasound findings. When sonographers can clearly articulate to patients the advantages and limitations of ultrasound diagnosis, we can reduce diagnostic delay and validate the patient experience. It builds confidence in our profession within the community and confidence within ourselves that we are making a difference in the lives of the patients we scan.

SESSION

FRIDAY 1:00 pm – 1:20 pm

PRESENTATION

Superficial endometriosis on ultrasound: A new IDEA for sonographers to navigate

SESSION

SATURDAY 9:30 am – 10:15 am

PRESENTATION

Endometriosis KISS (Keep It Simple Sonographers)