Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Talisha M. Hunt, BSRT, RDMS, RVT, RDCS, FSDMS, is a lead sonographer and assistant professor of radiology at Mayo Clinic/Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. She joined the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) in 2004 and is a dedicated contributor: elected three times to the SDMS and SDMS Foundation Board of Directors, a member of the editorial board and a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS), and extensive service on SDMS task forces, committees, and volunteer/micro-volunteer assignments. Talisha is a Fellow of the SDMS, a bronze and silver Mayo Clinic Quality Fellow, and frequent award recipient. She has been in clinical practice since 2005 and maintains certifications/registration with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) in abdomen, OB/GYN, vascular, adult echocardiography, and pediatric sonography. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in radiologic technology-sonography. A published author, Talisha is a lecturer for the SDMS Annual Conference and has twice won the SDMS Sonographer Poster Competition.  

There’s career value in SDMS membership and a best friend.
When Talisha joined Mayo Clinic’s Department of Radiology as staff sonographer in 2005, she took to her work happily and thrived on patient interaction. Then, a friend suggested she run for the SDMS Board of Directors, so she did. She lost. But did she really? Her “big win” was that the outcome sparked her interest in doing more, maybe moving up the career ladder at work and getting more involved within the SDMS. Inspired by her friend, Talisha gave “doing more” a try. Ultimately, in 2022, Talisha began her third term as an SDMS director. She also served a year for a director who departed early. Her record of SDMS voluntarism shines brightly: Eight committees, task forces, and other activities account for over 18 years of service with opportunities to find new friends, lifelong and cherished. Talisha now recognizes that SDMS involvement was instrumental in evolving how she perceived herself and her skills. It enabled her to blossom fully into the accomplished sonography professional she is and was meant to be – the one her encouraging friend believed in all along.   

Earn and maintain many certifications for more future opportunities.
Talisha is grateful her University of Oklahoma education was highly diverse because that helped her pursue certifications in abdomen, pediatric, OB/GYN, adult echocardiography, and vascular technology. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota requires sonographers to be registered in the main specialties they practice but states and facilities differ. Being able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in multiple areas is strategically sound and affords more options for employment over a career, she says.

Be comfortable with yourself. Be exceptional at being you.
Talisha is on the board of the JDMS and has been a manuscript reviewer for many years. Her name has appeared many times in its pages, too, almost always in association with a case study. “I wouldn’t call myself a researcher,” she says, at least not like colleagues who continually “pull data” as automatically as breathing. Talisha has found her sweet spot in case studies, a perfect outlet for her strengths in critical thinking and analysis. These attributes are beneficial for a lead sonographer at Mayo Clinic because the ability to mentally turn over different problems and solutions in advance of a crisis results in a calm response, rather than race to put out fires. 

Best icebreaker
All Peloton^® bike and treadmill enthusiasts, go to the head of the class. Talisha will gladly talk Peloton^® anytime. And she’ll be your friend for life if you MMM Bop-ped to the 90s pop group Hanson. For her and Hanson, the 90s live on.

Work is done, what are you doing?
Hanging with friends, dinners, movies, and traveling to new places when able. 2025 will bring a river cruise journey to the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary along the Danube River for a birthday celebration.

Inspiration
Talisha is inspired by sonography friends who light her path and show her what’s possible by always accomplishing bigger and better things in life and work.