(New Brunswick, NJ) - Alicia Wright, RCS, FASE, Clinical Lead Sonographer for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s (RWJUH) Division of Cardiology, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE).
Wright, a long-time Linden resident who now resides in Willingboro, achieved the prestigious designation through her commitment to education, service and research in the cardiovascular ultrasound field.
Echo practitioners of all specialty types who demonstrate proficiency and dedication to the field of cardiovascular ultrasound are eligible to apply for FASE. The FASE credential recognizes dedicated American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) members with an extraordinary commitment to the field of cardiovascular ultrasound. The designation is a peer-review process.
In her role at RWJUH, Wright leads staff education for all fellows and new hires. She also works closely with Partho Sengupta, MD, FACC, FASE, Henry Rutgers Professor of Cardiology and Chief of the Division of Cardiology at RWJUH and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; and Grace Casaclang-Verzosa, MD, MBA, FASE, Administrative Director, Cardiology; Assistant Professor – Research Cardiovascular Disease & Hypertension, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and RWJUH; to address the needs of the Echo Lab and make the necessary changes to improve the quality of imaging. Alicia also works with RWJUH Cardiologist Daniel Shindler, MD, to offer monthly education sessions for the Central New Jersey Echocardiography Society. She has also partnered with Anthony Altobelli, MD, clinical chief of Cardiology at RWJUH, to provide cardiac screenings for Princeton University student athletes.
“Alicia has a passion for educating aspiring professionals in her field to ensure that patients receive the highest quality care,” said Dr. Sengupta. “She also is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and best practices with others beyond our campus to advance the technique and quality of cardiac imaging. We are extremely proud of her achievement and we are fortunate to have her on our team.”
A member of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) since 2017, Wright began to seriously consider applying for the FASE designation after she co-authored a book with Dr. Shindler - Practical Echocardiography for Cardiac Sonographers.
“It was during the first wave of COVID and my department was going through a lot of transition,” Wright recalled. “I was thinking about my direction professionally when Dr. Shindler approached me. He said, ‘I’m going to write a book and I need help.”
After co-authoring the book and reflecting on her past professional educational activities, Wright felt she could achieve FASE status. She is proud of this accomplishment and her role educating echocardiography professionals in her field.
“I have seen so much during my 17 years here, and I am loyal to RWJUH,” Wright said. “This hospital has so much potential and I saw myself as a person who can help us get where we need to be. It’s a great place to work and with the leadership we have now, I am excited about the future here.”
Wright is thrilled to give back to her profession and is looking forward to lecturing at the Indian Academy of Echocardiography in November and taking part in future humanitarian health care missions abroad.
During 2022, ASE has welcomed 62 new FASE. These members have exemplified excellence through education, research, leadership, and volunteerism. They are ambassadors for ASE and recognized experts in their field.
ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. Since 1975, the Society has been committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. The Society and the field of echocardiography are featured in a set of videos capturing the recollections of ASE’s founders and past presidents.
About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), an RWJBarnabas Health Facility, is a 614-bed academic medical center that serves as the principal teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the flagship Cancer Hospital of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, stroke care, neuroscience, orthopedics, bariatric surgery and women’s and children’s care including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.bmsch.org). A Level 1 Trauma Center and the first designated Pediatric Trauma Center in the state, RWJUH’s New Brunswick campus serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness.
RWJUH has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety, including the prestigious Magnet® Recognition for Nursing Excellence and being named to Newsweek’s 2022 list of Best Maternity Care Hospitals. The RWJUH Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center has been recognized by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association as meeting The Joint Commission's standards for Disease-Specific Care Comprehensive Stroke Center Advanced Certification. RWJUH has also earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification for Spine Surgery; The Joint Commission Gold Seal Certification for Bariatric Services; and The Joint Commission Gold Seal Certification for Hip and Knee Replacement services. The Joint Commission also awarded RWJUH a Gold Seal Certification as well as an Advanced Certification in Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Implantation.
For more Information visit us online at www.rwjbh.org/newbrunswick
Contact: Peter Haigney
RWJUH Public Relations
(732) 937-8568