Chair

Steffen Sammet, MD, PhD, DABR, DABMRS, FAMP

Dr. Sammet is an Associate Professor of Radiology and Medical Physics at the University of Chicago. He is the Director of Clinical Magnetic Resonance Physics and the Associate Program Director of the Clinical Imaging Medical Physics Residency Program at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Dr. Sammet completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, in physics, mathematics, and chemistry. He continued his graduate studies in physics at the University of Heidelberg completing his M.S. and achieving magna cum laude distinction in his Ph.D. degree. Following his doctoral work in physics, Dr. Sammet completed his medical degree magna cum laude at the University of Heidelberg Medical School. He has a business administration certificate in total quality management (TQM) from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, and a certificate of achievement of the Academy of Radiology Leadership and Management (ARLM), where he is also listed on the honor roll. Dr. Sammet is board certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) in diagnostic radiological physics and by the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS). He also holds a medical physics board certificate and a medical license in Germany. Dr. Sammet has extensive experience in translational research and serves as principle investigator for several extramural and intramural grants that focus on the development of novel MRI and Ultrasound techniques. He is a research mentor to graduate students in his research lab at the University of Chicago and he has won multiple research and teaching awards. Dr. Sammet is also a member of the faculty at the University of Chicago Center for Global Health and has established an educational neuroradiological imaging program in Ibadan, Nigeria through an NIH/NINDS funded R25 training grant where he served as principal investigator. He also developed a summer school program for Medical Imaging Physics in China during a visiting professorship at Xidian University in Xi’an, China.

Vice Chair

R. Eugene Zierler, MD, RPVI

R. Eugene Zierler, MD, RPVI, is Professor of Surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Medical Director of the D. E. Strandness, Jr. Vascular Laboratory at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. He received both his undergraduate and medical education at the Johns Hopkins University, receiving an A.B. degree in 1973 and the M.D. degree in 1976. Dr. Zierler’s research interests have focused on the clinical applications of noninvasive diagnostic techniques for vascular disease. Over the last 30 years, he has been involved in a series of projects based on the use of ultrasonic duplex scanning for screening and follow-up of vascular problems, including carotid artery disease, lower extremity arterial disease, surveillance of vein bypass grafts, deep vein thrombosis, and renal artery disease. Dr. Zierler is the author or co-author of over 100 journal articles and 50 book chapters, and he is the editor of 6 textbooks. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and Inteleos. He is also a Past President of the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL).

Member and Education Committee Chair

Nena Mason, Ph.D.

Nena Lundgreen Mason is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education, Longitudinal Physiology Curriculum Leader, ultrasound educator, and gross anatomist at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Hanover New Hampshire. She earned her Ph.D. in Physiology and Developmental Biology from Brigham Young University. Dr. Mason spent 8 years prior to her appointment at Geisel developing and directing clinical gross anatomy and ultrasound education programs at two newly opened medical schools. A celebrated educator, Dr. Mason has been honored with the “Faculty Member of the Year” award for excellence in teaching several times along with other teaching-related accolades throughout her career. She is also engaged in teaching ultrasound courses at many levels including courses for prehospital providers, emergency medicine clinicians, and medical students. Dr. Mason also directs an innovative research program in medical education centered around the development of pedagogy in teaching clinical ultrasound skills to medical students using human cadaveric materials.

Member and Assessment Committee Chair

Ian Thomas, MD, MSc, RMSK, RSCC, CSCS

Ian Thomas, MD, RMSK, RSCC, CSCS is a Sports Medicine Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital and Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Thomas counts writing a $50,000 grant to develop a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum at his residency as one of his top professional accomplishments. He was awarded the American Academy of Physicians (AAFP) Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education, an honor given to only 12 Family Medicine residents in the country. Additionally, he was selected by the AAFP Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) as one of thirty in the country and has dedicated his ELI project to building a sustainable ultrasound workshop for the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians in 2023 as well as raising funding for the ultrasound curriculum for the only Family Medicine Residency in Malawi, Africa. Later he was awarded the Best Leadership Project and Best Overall Leadship Project awards from the AAFP Emerging Leaders Institute. Dr. Thomas has a passion for using ultrasonography to promote health equity by overcoming barriers to quality care, expanding existing frontiers in ultrasonography and developing novel sonosurgical techniques.

Member and Engagement Committee Chair

Ahmed Sami Abuzaid, MD, EMHL

Dr. Abuzaid is a clinical imaging cardiologist at Alaska Heart and Vascular Institute. Sami is a multimodality imager in Echocardiography, Vascular Ultrasound, Nuclear Cardiology, Cardiac Computed Tomography, and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance. Dr. Abuzaid is passionate about making high quality cardiac imaging to answer the clinical questions that we encounter on daily basis. He enjoys teaching POCUS to many of his students and trainees. Sami enjoys fishing, scuba diving and hiking.

Member

Dean Vlahaki, MBBS, RDMS, FRCP

Dean Vlahaki, MBBS, RDMS, FRCP, graduated from the University of Queensland Medical school in Brisbane, Australia in 2011. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency training and POCUS specialty training at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada in 2017. Vlahaki now practices at multiple sites in a network of academic tertiary care hospitals in Hamilton, Canada. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor with McMaster University and a major contributor to the Emergency Medicine Point-of-Care Ultrasound Fellowship program at McMaster University.

Member

David Hyatt, PA-C, MPAS

David has been a PA for over 7 years, working in interventional radiology for the past 6 years and performing a wide range of image guided procedures. He enjoys using imaging to assist with and help guide the care he provides to his patients. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, getting outdoors and staying active.

Member

Ashley Hannani, BS, RDCS (AE), RVT

Ashley Hannani is a dual board-certified cardiovascular sonographer, Point of Care Ultrasound coordinator, and health care activist. Throughout her career, she has been at the forefront of educational talks, organization-wide procedural developments, and the implementation of innovative imaging software. She currently works in Los Angeles at one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, where she guides the cardiovascular imaging department and mentors staff throughout the organization.

When she is not working on projects she has likely underestimated, Ashley enjoys traveling, attempting to make patients laugh during their procedures, baking, and watching U.S. figure skating.

Member

Roger Shen, MD

Dr. Shen has 10 years of work experience as an emergency medicine physician. He is a certified physician of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, currently working in Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital as section head of emergency physicians. He is also an international member of American College of Emergency Physicians. He is enthusiastic in integrating POCUS into clinical practice and currently is leading the department POCUS training program.

Member

Karen Avgush, MD

Dr. Karen Avgush is a Saint James School of Medicine graduate and completed her Internal Medicine residency at Wellspan York Hospital. She is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at several medical schools including Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and SUNY Upstate Medical University. Dr. Avgush currently serves as the Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at United Health Services in Binghamton, NY. Her professional interests include resident education and mentorship, research and case report publication, and, of course, Point of Care Ultrasound. Her passion for Point of Care Ultrasound drove her to become certified in numerous areas. She has created and implemented several POCUS curricula during her career to bring a structured approach to ultrasound education to her learners. In her free time, she enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including hiking and snowboarding, travel, and spending quality time with friends and family.