In honor of Member Appreciation Month, we interviewed Eliza Fridlin, RDMS, FE, and Eran Bornstein, MD, to discover why they are members of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM).

Why did you choose to join the AIUM?

Eliza: I hold the AIUM community in high regard and take great pride in being an active member. The collective pursuit of excellence within the AIUM community further underscores the significance of my association with this esteemed organization. As a member of the AIUM, I have access to a wealth of resources and pivotal networking avenues at the forefront of advancements within the discipline; also, the membership enables opportunities to attend conferences and engage in structured professional development initiatives in the latest research and technological breakthroughs in medical ultrasound. 

Eran: I joined the AIUM early in my imaging career and have remained a member for almost 2 decades. As the leading organization responsible for education, accreditation, and guidelines of ultrasound standards in the U.S., it is important that clinicians who use ultrasound maintain their membership to maintain their clinical standards, obtain updates, and maintain certification to allow for the standards to advance as technology and evidence amounts of improvements in Ultrasound utilization.

What is your favorite AIUM benefit? 

Eliza: My favorite AIUM benefits are having the ability to earn free CME credits, learn with case challenges, and stay current with monthly webinars in the dynamic field of medical ultrasound.

Eran: Access to the JUM articles and discounted annual conference.

What does the AIUM mean to you? 

Eliza: The AIUM embodies a standard of excellence in the realm of ultrasound, and it is an organization that unites the ultrasound community and champions a vision characterized by unparalleled expertise. The AIUM cultivates a collective commitment to the highest standards of proficiency.

Eran: The AIUM, for me, is the highest American authority on the utilization of ultrasound in medicine, assuring appropriate quality, safety, education, accreditation, and research. As such, I hold it with the highest respect and responsibility to assure our field advances and is not stagnant, that the technological advances in ultrasound machines can be appropriately utilized to improve the diagnostic capacity. It is the body responsible for determining minimal criteria to meet the standard of care but also to push forward for higher standards, as well as reinforce safety measures in clinical practice, provide educational opportunities such as conferences and online materials, CME, etc, so that providers are up to date despite busy clinical schedules. Another important aspect is their accreditation, which is a crucial quality measure to ensure that centers and providers meet minimum standards set by the AIUM for specific tests.

Has being a member of the AIUM helped you in your career? If so, how? 

Eliza: The AIUM serves as an invaluable resource for enhancing standards of patient care and elevating education within the healthcare sector. This commitment to excellence empowers me as a healthcare professional to stay abreast of industry advancements and ultimately contribute to the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Eran: Being an AIUM member for almost two decades has helped me network with like-minded dedicated experts in Ultrasound and prenatal diagnosis. Having our ultrasound unit accredited was always important as a basic measure of quality. Recently, we were one of the first few units in the U.S. to be accredited in performing and interpreting first-trimester anatomical survey, which we have been performing for many years already. The fact that the AIUM recently developed this accreditation brings this clinical tool new merit and supervised quality.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Eran: I would recommend providers who use ultrasound as a tool in their clinical practice to become active AIUM members. This is an important step in assuring quality of care for their patients.

Eliza Fridlin, RDMS, FE, is Lead Sonographer at Lenox Hill Hospital Maternal Fetal Medicine.

Eran Bornstein, MD, is the Director of Obstetrics of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.