Excellence in Sonography Award Winners 2023
Christina Werth BS, MHA, RDMS, RDCS
Leader in Sonography
Christina is an accomplished sonographer, mentor, and educator with more than a decade of clinical experience. Her love of ultrasound is contagious, an attribute she can trace back to her program director, Hamad Ghazle. Her career has covered the breadth of sonography, with highlights that include co-chairing the Sonographer Education Committee at University of Rochester, receiving the URMC Strong Star award (twice), establishing a sonographer education program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, standardizing the Penn OB/GYN residency ultrasound curriculum, receiving the Collaborative Award for Residence Teaching Excellence in 2021, and lecturing alongside Dr. Matthew Janssen and her mentor, Dr. Nadav Schwartz, in an AIUM webinar in 2022. Today, you can find Christina on-staff at the world-renowned Fetal Heart Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where she cares for CHOP's tiniest hearts.
Onesty Q. Culpepper BS, RDMS (AB, OBGYN), RVT
Rising Star
Onesty holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Louisiana State University and a certification in medical sonography from Houston Community College. She was the president of her graduating sonography class and a mentor to many in the class after hers. After graduating in December of 2022, she hit the ground running, bolstered by her passion for healthcare and a keen eye for detail. She quickly gained registries in a variety of ultrasound specialties including obstetrics and gynecology, abdominal, and vascular. In-clinic, she’s a true team player, collaborating seamlessly with colleagues and continuing to share her wealth of knowledge with junior staff members. She’s also known for her problem-solving abilities, demonstrating a rare combination of technical expertise and clinical acumen, she consistently delivers accurate images that have positively impacted patient outcomes.
Quiomara Melendez RDCS (AE, PE, FE), RVT
Industry Influencer
Quiomara (everyone calls her Q!) found her passion for pediatric echo early, achieving her registry in 2012 and going on to obtain her fetal echo registry in 2017—becoming the first cardiovascular sonographer to do so in the hospital system where she worked. After time in an outpatient setting, Q discovered her love for education and training, and upon returning to the hospital, began creating pediatric echo study resources and educational programming for her peers. A dozen trainees have successfully completed the training, with almost all going on to pass the registry exam. Her content has been shared with affiliated hospitals, multiple schools, and a few healthcare facilities. This year, Q coordinated the All Florida Pediatric Echo Society Symposium, showcasing the latest in ultrasound technology and leveraging social media to expand the conference’s reach.
Megan Platfoot, BS, RDMS (AB, OBGYN), RDCS, RVT
Distinguished Educator
Megan developed the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Clark State College in Springfield, OH, and continues to serve as its program director. Before the first class graduated, she had successfully earned CAAHEP accreditation in AB, OB/GYN, and vascular sonography. Her most recent focus has been on growing the program to provide as many resources as possible, including machines, simulators, and registry study material. Megan handles student and clinical recruitment and curriculum development, but her favorite part of the job is seeing how eager and excited her students are as they embark on the beginning of their sonography careers.
Dominique Tate
Student Sonographer
Dominique is a sonography student at Temple College. Born in the Dominican Republic, she came to the U.S. at the age of nine and joined the military to become a combat medic right out of high school. After completing her time in the military, Dominique was looking for her next career. She stumbled on the DMS program at Temple, and has never considered herself more blessed. She loves sonography and finds it very challenging and rewarding. In fact, she can’t see herself doing anything else! Dominique brings an exciting and goal-driven energy to her clinical site. She is known for striving to obtain the very best images and being highly personable with her patients. A hard worker and excellent student, she’s always ready to help and never shies away from learning new things.