Radiography
Medical Ultrasound is an area that is growing due to high demand so you can rest assured that there will be plenty of career progression and employability opportunities at the end of the course. There are a range of specialist areas that you can progress to within Medical Ultrasound - here's just a few that could be open to you:
Sonographer/advanced practitioner
With a shortage of sonographers you would be in demand with a degree in Medical Ultrasound. After successfully completing the course, there will be opportunities to develop in your career and take on more responsibility to become an advanced practitioner. At this level, you'll have expert knowledge and skills regarding the delivery of care in diagnostic imaging in a wide range of clinical settings.
Role of an Advanced Practitioner
Radiology/Imaging Departments
As an ultrasound specialist you would undertake abdominal and gynaecological ultrasound examinations. Radiology is another area that you could progress on to after studying a degree in Medical Ultrasound, specialising in diagnosing and treating disease and injury, using medical imaging techniques.
The working life of a clinical radiologist
Maternity wards
In this setting you carry out obstetric ultrasound examinations and provide diagnostic reports. Duties are likely to include first trimester ultrasound screening, early pregnancy ultrasound, obstetric ultrasound dating for family planning, third trimester fetal surveillance and transvaginal ultrasound for infertility.
Vascular labs
Undertaking vascular ultrasound examinations, for which further qualifications required, is a noninvasive ultrasound method (also called a duplex study) used to examine the circulation in the blood vessels of the body. Vascular ultrasound can be used to evaluate arteries or veins in nearly any part of the body, including blood vessels in the neck, abdomen, arms and legs.
Private practice
Undertaking a range of ultrasound examinations for private clinics or hospitals.
Teaching and education
After sufficient experience and a postgraduate qualification at at least master's level, you might consider moving into teaching within higher education passing your skills and knowledge on to medical ultrasound trainees.