Echocardiographic Laboratory

echocardiographic lab johns hopkins - group picture of The Johns Hopkins Echoardiograph lab team

The Johns Hopkins Echocardiography Laboratory is a state-of-the-art center with a strong tradition of clinical excellence, research, education and innovation. It is staffed by board-certified cardiologists, sonographers and nurses and performs ultrasound examinations of the heart.

Facilities include an outpatient and inpatient center at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as satellite labs at all Johns Hopkins community sites including White Marsh, Green Spring Station, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Odenton, Columbia, two Washington DC locations and at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Combined, Johns Hopkins performs over 30,000 echocardiograms annually with a focus on providing the highest quality care for our patients and the communities we serve. Our lab is nationally accredited through the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL).

What is an Echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram uses sound waves (ultrasound) to produce images of the heart. These images show the inside of your heart and we are able to visualize the valves, the performance of your heart, and blood flow by this technology. The transducer the sonographer holds, sends out the signal of sound waves.

Conditions we diagnose include:

Services

Tests performed in the Echocardiography Laboratory include 2-D and 3-D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), stress echocardiogram, intraprocedural transesophageal echo (TEE), and 3D TEE. Staff also provides echocardiographic guidance during complex interventions in the catheterization laboratory (interventional echocardiography). The Echocardiography Laboratory also offers strain imaging (for the improved detection of systolic dysfunction), contrast studies, optimization for left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and specialized studies for the evaluation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Research

The Johns Hopkins Hospital Echocardiography Lab is a state-of-the-art center with a strong tradition of research excellence. The echocardiography lab (echo lab) is actively involved with several projects to improve diagnostic capabilities of non-invasive imaging with current research interests including; strain imaging, myocardial works, cardiotoxicity, transcatheter aortic valve replacements, tricuspid and mitral valve interventions, blood speckle imaging, 3D imaging technology, and so much more. We assist with all imaging aspects of the clinical research process, including protocol development, onsite training and interpretation of transthoracic echocardiograms, stress testing, and transesophageal echocardiograms. Expertly staffed by board certified Cardiologists and specialized cardiac sonographers, the echo core lab provides strict quality assurance, exceptional turnaround times, and high-quality image storage. 

Please reference our services offered

Email us at [email protected] for more information.

Allison Hays, MD, FASE, FACC, FSCMR

JHH Medical Director, Echocardiography Lab, Associate Professor of Medicine
Allison Hays

Monica Mukherjee, MD, MPH, FACC, FASE

JH Associate Director, Echocardiographic Lab, Associate Professor of Medicine
Monica Mukherjee

Ronald I. Okorie, MPH, BS, RDCS, RVT

Administrative Director of Echocardiography
Ronald I Okorie

Nicole Bavaro, RDCS, FASE

Lead Research Cardiac Sonographer
Nicole Bavaro

Morgan Bachmann, RDCS

Cardiac Sonographer
Morgan Bachmann

Sofia Koutsoumbis, RDCS

Cardiac Sonographer
Sofia Koutsoumbis

Marissa Findish, RDCS

Cardiac Sonographer
Marissa Findish

Fellowship

There is a strong commitment to education in the echo lab, with general cardiology fellows meeting American College of Cardiology requirements for Level I or II training in transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and stress testing. Fellows are an asset in the echo lab and are actively engaged in scanning, interpretation and reporting. Several educational conferences are available including weekly didactics, grand rounds, and case conferences.

Interested fellows are invited to apply for the Advanced Echocardiography Fellowship, a one year non-ACGME training program to achieve Level III proficiency in adult echo, and become intimately familiar with current technologies, research, and fulfil certification requirements for the position of laboratory director.

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Our Faculty

Members of the Echocardiography section are actively involved in imaging and patient oriented research, have active roles in many national organizations and committees, including the American Society of Echocardiography, the American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology, and routinely present at national and international meetings.

Cardiac Sonography Training Program

The Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Cardiac Sonography provides a comprehensive hands-on experience in a clinical setting for echocardiographic sonography.