M. Robert (Bob) DeJong, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, FAIUM, FSDMS
SDMS & SDMS Foundation ​Director
M. Robert (Bob) DeJong, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, FAIUM, FSDMS, is owner of Bob DeJong, LLC, an ultrasound educational services company in Rosedale, Maryland. He retired as ultrasound technical manager after 28 years at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Bob has authored two sonography textbooks and chapters in various ultrasound textbooks. He enjoys challenging ultrasound studies—the trickier the better! Bob is grateful to his family, wife Linda and sons Alex and Daniel, for their support throughout his career. Even while working long hours, Bob fulfilled his aspiration to teach. He began instructing ultrasound students in physics in 1978. The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) is a touchstone for Bob. “I’m so proud of being an SDMS Fellow, giving the 2022 Stephen McLaughlin Memorial Lecture, and receiving the Joan P. Baker Pioneer Award,” he says, calling SDMS recognition his finest achievement.
Accept continually shifting challenges in sonography
In one respect, Bob believes sonographers today have it tougher than he did. “I experienced ultrasound technology advances as they occurred. Sonographers today have to learn everything at once,” he says. But he also believes today’s culture, often emphasizing personal time first and work second, may hurt them. “This field is constantly changing. You have to continue learning. A good sonographer does not see this as a Monday-to-Friday, 9-to-5 job. You have to study, read your journals, and get registered in all areas you practice. You will see new pathology at work that you may know nothing about. Go home, learn about it – how it affects the body and what kinds of pictures you might need.”
Bob credits three mentors with shaping his career by pushing him forward and out of his comfort zone. They are Marveen Craig, AA, RDMS, FSDMS, Marsha Neumyer, BS, RVT, FSVU, FAIUM, FSDMS, and Ulrike Hamper, MD, MSB, MBA. They also helped instill the mentoring spirit he has today.
Relish sonography career camaraderie and skill variety
“Sonographers are ‘people people,’” he says. “We like to be together. It’s okay to help each other. Sonography is not cutthroat like other professions.” Early on, Bob switched jobs, sometimes even taking a temporary pay cut – to build strong, varied skill sets. This approach remains valuable today, he believes, along with not being too proud to ask others for help.
Be proactive in expressing your interests
Bob entered sonography in 1976, before the internet and other technology made career information easy to obtain. This made individual initiative a necessity. “When I graduated from high school, I went into X-ray school after a conversation I had with a radiologic technologist taking X-rays of me when I was still in high school.” At X-ray school, “we had to spend two weeks in a new modality called ultrasound. It was just amazing – not only the technology but also the respect for the technical people from physicians.” Bob heard a local hospital was looking for someone to learn ultrasound. “I told the hiring administrator ultrasound was my primary interest. He had me out immediately for an interview and offered me the position.”
Best icebreaker
“Just introduce yourself. If there is something you particularly noticed in a talk or a book that gave you an insight or you enjoyed, I’d love to hear about it,” he says. “Also, I love to talk about musical theater and Disney.”
Work is done, what are you doing?
“I’m trying to be there more for family now. Over the years, career often made that difficult, and I would miss dinners with them. I’m also active in church, I enjoy community and professional theater, especially musicals, and reading.”
Inspiration
His mentors and sonographer friends and their constant encouragement for all these many years, his faith, and most important his wife, Linda.
M. Robert (Bob) DeJong, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, FAIUM, FSDMS “At-a-Glance”
Education and Training
- Institutes for Medical Studies – Doppler Ultrasound (Bethesda, Maryland)
- Thomas Jefferson Hospital (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- The Johns Hopkins University Evening College (Baltimore, Maryland)
- The Johns Hopkins School of Radiologic Technology (Baltimore, Maryland)
Certifications
From the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
- Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) (1978)
- Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) (1982)
- Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) (1991)
Research/Publications
- DeJong M. Robert. Sonography Scanning: Principles and Protocols (Saunders, 5th edition, December 2020).
- DeJong M. Robert. Craig’s Essentials of Sonography and Patient Care (Saunders, 4th edition, November 2017).
- DeWeese TL, van der Poel H, Mikhak B, Drew R, Goemann M, Li S, Hamper UM, DeJong MR, Detorie N, van der Poel H, Rodriquez R, Haulk T, DeMarzo AM, Piantadosi S, Carducci MA, Nelson WG, Simons JW. A Phase I Trial of CV706, a Replication-Competent, PSA Selective Oncolytic Adenovirus, for the Treatment of Locally-Recurrent Prostate Cancer Following Radiation Therapy. Cancer Research. 2001;61:7464-747.
- Parsa CF, Silva E, Sundin O, DeJong MR, Goldberg MF, et al. Redefining papillo-renal syndrome: an under-diagnosed cause of ocular and renal morbidity. Ophthalmology. April 2001;108(4):738-749.
- Hamper UM, Trapanotto V, Sheth S, DeJong MR, Caskey CI. Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Imaging: Preliminary Clinical Experience. Radiology. 1994;191:397-401.
- Berg WA, Chang BW, Manson PN, DeJong MR, Hamper UM. Color-flow Doppler mapping of arterial perforators for TRAM flap breast reconstruction: Method and preliminary results. Radiology. 1994;192: 447-450.
- Authored multiple chapters in multiple sonography textbooks
Awards
- Stephen McLaughlin Memorial Lectureship (2022)
- Fellow, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (2010)
- Fellow, Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (2009)
- Senior Member, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (2007)
- Medical Imaging Industry Top 10 (2006 and 2007)
- The Aunt Minnie Award for Radiologic Technologist Educator of the Year (2004)
- SDMS Joan P. Baker Pioneer Award (1996)
Professional Roles
- Independent business owner, Bob DeJong, LLC (2019-Present)
- Radiology technical manager of the ultrasound department, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins Hospital (1990-2018)
- Applications specialist, General Electric Medical Systems (1987-1990)
- Sonographer, North Charles General Hospital (1986-1987)
- Sonographer, Greater Baltimore Medical Center (1979-1985)
- Sonographer, The Johns Hopkins Hospital (1977-1979)
- Radiographer, sonographer, St. Joseph's Hospital (1976-1977)
Voluntarism for the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) and/or SDMS Foundation
Task Forces, Committees, and Work Groups
- Infection Control Task Force (2017-2020)
- SDMS Conference Management Committee (2010-2021)
- Emerging Leaders Program (2007-Current)
- Ethics Committee (2021-2023)
- JDMS Editorial Board (2021-2023)
- Nominating Committee (2007-2008, 2013-2015, 2018-2020)
- Government Relations/Advocacy (2001-2006, 2017-2019)
- Practice Management Committee (2007-2012)
Executive, Director, Board Liaison, and Board Representative Roles
- Director (2021-2023)
- Board of Governors (2021-Present)
- SRU-SRC Liaison (2015-2017)
- Liaison to ICAVL Board of Directors (1999-2006)
Other Voluntarism in the Sonography Community
- The Maryland Ultrasound Society
- President (1984-1986)
- Treasurer (1978-1979)
- American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
- Radiological Society of North America