Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Aubrey Rybyinski, BS, RDMS, RVT, FSDMS, ​president-elect of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) and SDMS Foundation, is Strategic Account Clinical and Operations Director at Navix Diagnostix in Taunton, Massachusetts and works out of the department of Vascular Surgery at Cooper University Hospital. He performs vascular ultrasound examinations, provides pre- and post-operative assessments, serves as a technical expert in supervising, evaluating, instructing, counseling, and training staff, and participates in continuous quality improvement affecting over 100 vascular technologists serving over 100 clients in academic and community hospitals, surgical centers, access centers, and private practice offices. Aubrey has been prolific in his contributions as a national speaker and author of textbook chapters since entering the sonography profession in 2007.

Take a chance to achieve your potential
“I earned my associate degree in a small South Jersey diagnostic medical sonography program with no inkling of ever speaking at a national level,” he recalls. But Charlotte Henningsen, an SDMS president and director of the bachelor’s degree diagnostic medical sonography program at (now) Advent Health University Online, would spark a previously unimaginable trajectory for Aubrey. He was graduating from the program Charlotte directed; in fact, that was the reason for his one-time appearance on campus where he encountered Charlotte. She urged him to give a presentation at the SDMS Annual Conference and to respond to the Society’s Call for Volunteers. “Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. I’m not doing that,” he retorted, unable to imagine himself speaking before an audience. In 2014 at the SDMS Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, he would do exactly that, lecturing and giving a live exam. It revealed a bit of pathology someone less skilled might have missed. His impact on the audience made an impact on him, too, as he saw docile faces transform into pure energy, getting their “ah-ha” moments from the talk. Today, Aubrey’s curriculum vitae lists his 89 public lectures and panel presentations. He was open to Charlotte’s suggestion and, by volunteering, made his career more than he had imagined it could be.

Be authentic and give without needing credit
Aubrey is the SDMS liaison to the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) for vascular testing, an assignment that put him with vascular medical luminaries and initially left him feeling a bit intimidated. He overcame that hurdle. He took a leap and offered his perspective. “You should never believe you have nothing to add,” he says. But another hurdle was like a hairpin curve – the idea of doing a lot of work and not getting the credit for it. Jim Baun, BS, RDMS, RVT, FSDMS, an SDMS member since 1986, was happy to do just that with Aubrey, and an unassailable model of professionalism was born. “I have learned how cool it is to authentically help others, to work joyfully for the good of others,” he says.

Best icebreaker
Just say hi. He’s a down-to-earth, happy person and loves to chat.

Work is done, what are you doing?
Aubrey, wife Jeanine, Leila, 9, and Michael, 1​7, “let themselves whoa” at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Season passes make even mid-week, one-day getaways irresistible. He’s also fond of cruises that allow him to disconnect guiltlessly, thanks to no cell coverage in the great oceanic expanse. Jeanine is also a sonographer, which makes for interesting conversation at the dinner table.

Inspiration
Aubrey is grateful to the many people who have mentored, guided, and offered advice over the years. Sonographers Bob DeJong and Ted Whitten generously took him under their wing, and, of course, also highly influential Charlotte and Jim. And one more – his mom, a sonographer for 40 years. Since his childhood, she spoke of the profession by sharing the challenges, as well as the rewards. From her and his own experience he has learned: “When you do things the right way, good things will come.”