Enhancing Sonography Through a Clinical Fellowship Model
ABSTRACT This commentary examines the implementation and outcomes of a Sonographer Clinical Fellowship Program (SCFP) within a large tertiary hospital. The SCFP was developed in response to increasing demands for subspecialist expertise, rapid technological advancements, and persistent workforce shortages in sonography. The SCFP offers structured, mentored, and subspecialty‐focused training in areas such as Paediatrics, Obstetrics, Vascular, and Women's Health. Fellows benefit from prioritized rostering, non‐clinical time, and interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting the development of clinical and leadership skills. The SCFP has demonstrated significant benefits, including improved patient outcomes, enhanced clinical excellence, and increased staff retention and well‐being. Challenges are described. This model offers a sustainable framework for advancing sonography practice, supporting recruitment and retention, and developing future leaders.
Authors
- Peter Coombs
- Ilona Lavender (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6586-8453)
- John C. Fang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3274-3979)
- J. Chen
- Frauke Lever
- K. Vanhaltren
- George J. Curry
Institutions
- Monash Medical Centre (AU)
- Monash Health (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Sonography
- Published
- 2025-09-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/sono.70007
- Primary Topic
- Radiology practices and education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00