Name: Eileen Spengler
Profession: Executive Director / Program Director / Cardiovascular Sonographer at the Arizona Heart Foundation
Age: 53
What do you do for a living?
Currently, I am the executive director and cardiac program director at the Arizona Heart Foundation, School of Cardiac & Vascular Ultrasound. We have a tremendous team of instructors that provide didactic and hands-on training to students pursuing a career of sonography.
What type of training do you need to do your job?
To be a sonographer, training requires a 12-month program to learn essential skills for successful employment. These include a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, physics, and pathology, as well as learning how to perform ultrasounds on patients following specific protocols.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
As an instructor, I would have to say that the best part of the job is seeing the success of the student and all that they accomplish in a short period of time. As a sonographer, the best part of the job is detecting pathology in a patient for the physician to provide proper treatment. At the end of the day, it’s all about the patient. Being a good listener and always placing the needs of the patient first and foremost.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
From the time I was a little girl I thought about nothing other than being on television, whether it be as a weather person, or a news reporter. As I got older, QVC and HSN came on the television, and I thought this was the perfect job for me! Unfortunately, they never responded to my inquiries.
What advice would you give to a kid who wants to have a similar career?
My suggestion would be to stay focused on their studies prior to applying to a program specific for ultrasound. Learn as much as possible about the human body and if the interest is cardiac, to understand the basics of the muscle and how blood travels through the heart and the body.
One fun fact NOT about your job?
A fun fact would be that I delivered my youngest daughter on my birthday. We were both born on Friday and throughout the years our ages (the numbers) lined up. When she was 14, I was 41. When she was 25, I was 52. We have similar personalities and love that we can get one cake with each half decorated the way we want!
