Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

 Marissa Cervantes

A career in a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is about the use of imaging by medical

ultrasound for medical diagnosis. Some of the tasks and activities performed by a person in this

career include ultrasounds, and high frequency sound waves. In this career, a professional also

uses an ultrasound transducer. An ultrasound transducer scans parts of the patient's body that are

being examined. For example, The transducer shows pulses of sounds that bounce back causing

echos.Overall, a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer uses ultrasounds to help doctors diagnose and

treat many medical conditions.

A Diagnostic Medical Sonographer must have several skills and abilities to do the job

well. According to Onetonline.org, skills required include reading comprehension, critical

thinking, and active listening. Reading comprehension is used in this career by being able to

understand what you're reading. Critical thinking is asking “why” questions during the job.

Active listening will help you understand what the doctor is telling you as well as the patients. 

Overall, a person in this career must be comfortable with reading comprehension, critical

thinking, and active listening.

The education required to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a 2 year

associate degree in health with a valid license. People interested should have all the necessary

skills and responsibilities for this job. In addition, according to Achieve 3000, professionals in

this career should be able to read material at a Lexile of 1,200. Regarding salary, the career

explorer states that the median annual wage for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer was $73,774. 

In the state of California, the mean wage is $53,382. So, professionals in this career make about

$52,382 to $103,902.
  There are many careers related to Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. One related career is

radiation therapist. This is similar to Diagnostic Medical Sonographer because they have the

same job under a different name; they both use technology to get images to diagnose.  However,

this career is different in that a radiation therapist usually deals with radiation to create images.

Another related career is MRI technologists. It is similar in that they both scan internal body

parts.  However, it is different because MRI technologists rely on magnets for 3D images while a

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer uses high frequency sound waves. In the future, I would be

interested in being an MRI technologist because they specialize in magnetic resonance imaging

scanners.

I think I would be a successful Diagnostic Medical Sonographer because I feel like I

could have all the skills and responsibilities for this job.The results from my strengths, interests,

values surveys stated that I have patience and active listening.This will help me in this career

because it will help me become successful. Another aspect that is going to help me is

communication because communication is key.

 Works Cited

Achieve 3000. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://www.achieve3000.com/

Build your future with O*NET OnLine. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2021, from
https://www.onetonline.org/

Career Explorer. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://www.careerexplorer.com/