For many AIUM members, the organization serves as both a professional anchor and a source of inspiration. Carol B. Benson, MD, FAIUM, is one such member whose career reflects a deep dedication to ultrasound and to the collaborative learning environment the AIUM fosters. Her long-standing engagement highlights why the AIUM values its members, and how members, in turn, help advance the field of medical ultrasound.

Below, Dr. Benson shares her reflections on her AIUM membership and its impact on her career.

---

Why did you choose to join the AIUM?
After finishing training in diagnostic radiology with a fellowship in CT and ultrasound, I decided to focus my academic career on ultrasound in clinical practice, research, and education. The AIUM provided the best opportunities for me to present my research ideas for the advancement of the practice of ultrasound in medicine and to learn from others with a similar passion for ultrasound.

From early in her career, the AIUM supported Dr. Benson’s goals by offering a platform for scholarship, discussion, and shared innovation.

---

What is your favorite AIUM benefit?
I have more than one “favorite” benefit of being part of the AIUM. I continue to learn about new and exciting advances in ultrasound through AIUM.

At annual meetings, I very much enjoy networking with other medical professionals who share my enthusiasm for ultrasound.

I appreciate all the work the AIUM has done to work collaboratively with other societies to publish standards and guidelines for performance and interpretation of ultrasound. I believe these publications have improved the practice of ultrasound across the country.

Dr. Benson’s response reflects the breadth of value the AIUM offers, from lifelong learning and professional connection to national leadership in standards and guidelines.

---

What does the AIUM mean to you?
AIUM has been among my favorite societies for years because it focuses entirely on my interest in the advancement of ultrasound in medical practice.

This clear focus on ultrasound excellence is what continues to draw dedicated clinicians, educators, and researchers to the AIUM.

---

Has being a member of the AIUM helped you in your career? If so, how?
Through my participation and contributions to the AIUM, I have been able to network with and learn from others who share my love of ultrasound, which has helped me expand my research, teaching, and clinical practice. Overall, the AIUM has helped improve my clinical practice to provide better care to my patients undergoing ultrasound examination.

Dr. Benson’s experience underscores the lasting impact of AIUM membership: stronger professional connections, deeper expertise, and better patient care.

The AIUM is grateful to Dr. Carol B. Benson for her dedication to advancing ultrasound through clinical excellence, research, and education. Her story is a testament to the value of an engaged membership and to the shared passion that continues to move the field of ultrasound forward.

Carol B. Benson, MD, FAIUM, is a Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and is affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA.

For decades, AIUM members have driven innovation, education, and collaboration in medical ultrasound. Peter M. Doubilet, MD, PhD, FAIUM, is an example of how sustained engagement with the AIUM can shape both an individual career and the field as a whole. His long history with the AIUM reflects why the organization values its members—and why its members, in turn, value the AIUM.

---

Why did you choose to join the AIUM?
When I joined AIUM in 1985, it was primarily composed of radiologists, obstetrician/gynecologists, and ultrasound physicists. At that time, most academic radiologists with a subspecialty focus in ultrasound were active AIUM members. As an aspiring academic radiologist, joining AIUM was a natural and important step for me, providing opportunities to connect with leaders in the field and to become part of the broader academic ultrasound community.

Dr. Doubilet’s experience reflects a common thread among long-standing members: the AIUM has long served as a gathering place for leaders, mentors, and emerging voices in ultrasound.

---

What is your favorite AIUM benefit?
While I am a member of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound and other Radiology organizations, AIUM is unique in bringing together ultrasound practitioners from a wide range of medical specialties. As the organization has grown and diversified, I have especially valued the opportunity to interact with and learn from OB/Gyn’s, emergency medicine physicians, sonographers, and colleagues from other disciplines. This multidisciplinary environment is one of AIUM’s greatest strengths.

This emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration is central to the AIUM’s mission, and a key reason members continue to find value as the field evolves.

---

What does the AIUM mean to you?
AIUM is the only organization that truly welcomes everyone involved in the practice, teaching, research, and technological advancement of ultrasound. Its diverse membership spans multiple specialties, educational backgrounds, and professional roles. Through its annual convention, journal, educational courses, and practice parameters, AIUM fosters collaboration, shared learning, and high standards that enhance the quality of ultrasound practice and improve patient care.

Dr. Doubilet’s words underscore how the AIUM serves as both a standard-bearer and a connector across the ultrasound community.

---

Has being in the AIUM helped you in your career? If so, how?
AIUM has had a very positive impact on my career. Opportunities to lecture at its annual conventions and courses, as well as to publish in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, have strengthened my professional credentials. These experiences have had a multiplicative effect, leading to additional invitations to lecture at a variety of meetings and courses, collaborate on research, and participate in guideline development. Being named an AIUM Fellow in 1988 and receiving the Joseph H. Holmes Clinical Pioneer Award in 2020 have further enhanced my professional standing within the field.

The AIUM’s commitment to education, scholarship, and recognition helps members amplify their expertise and extend their influence well beyond the organization.

---

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
In addition to the many benefits I have received from AIUM membership, I have greatly valued the opportunity to give back to the organization. I have served on the Board of Governors (1995–1998 and 2013–2016), the Editorial Board of the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, and multiple AIUM committees, including the Education Committee, which I chaired from 1991–1993. I have also contributed by directing or co-directing AIUM courses, moderating film panels at the Annual Convention, and developing educational videotapes. These roles have allowed me to support AIUM’s mission and contribute to the continued advancement of ultrasound education and practice.

Dr. Doubilet’s career illustrates the reciprocal nature of AIUM membership: members gain knowledge, community, and opportunity, and in turn, help advance the field for future generations.

The AIUM is grateful for Dr. Peter M. Doubilet’s decades of leadership, service, and dedication. His story is a reminder that the strength of the AIUM lies in its members and their shared commitment to excellence in ultrasound.

Peter M. Doubilet, MD, PhD, is a Radiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is a Professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.