Medical Imaging Applications Specialists

A Medical Imaging Application Specialist is someone who educates sonographers and providers of medical imaging about new technologies and equipment.  These professionals are technically savvy and fill key roles working for major manufacturers and distributors of medical imaging equipment.

Job Description

Application specialists train customers and colleagues on how to use the medical imaging equipment they’ve acquired.  They may also supervise or look after equipment installation, and they work with a variety of professionals, from sales to healthcare staff.

While responsibilities will vary by position and employer, some examples of responsibilities of an application specialist within the field of medical imaging might include:

• Provides technical or clinical assistance during marketing and sales processes.
• Trains and ensures that customers (including the “end-users” i.e. the medical imaging techs) are properly and optimally able to operate the medical imaging equipment they have purchased.
• Monitors the installation of medical imaging equipment.
• Provides on-going customer support and re-visits clients to receive feedback on the product(s) and their training needs.
• Keeps up-to-date on all equipment regulations and safety standards and communicates these to clients and colleagues.
• Develops instructional programs.
• Re-trains clients and colleagues when systems or technologies have been upgraded.
• Travels extensively.
• Customizes equipment to a client’s needs.
• Participates in trade shows and other demonstrations and presentations.

There are a variety of medical imaging applications specialist job descriptions, and naturally responsibilities and requirements vary by employer, the modality and other variables. Below is an excerpt from a job advertisement posted by the healthcare segment of a manufacturing company looking for an “ultrasound applications specialist”:

Responsibilities:

Technical and clinical leadership during sales process by demonstrating full range of Ultrasound products including potential uses, product capabilities and benefits to customers. Develop and deliver product training to customers on equipment use.

• Monitor customer installations of ultrasound products within assigned territory/region to improve customer satisfaction and maintain customer relationships.
• Support trade shows and professional conferences by performing product demonstration and customer training.
• Use market and product knowledge to assist sales team in developing sales, marketing and customer service strategies.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma and RDMS certification (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer).
• Minimum of 2 years clinical experience following certification, with demonstrated skill in general imaging, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) including High Risk, and maternal-fetal medicine (MFM).
• Skilled in 2D, Doppler and color flow imaging.
• Willingness to travel up to 75% both within and outside your specified geographic region with overnight stays depending on geography and business need.

Related Job Titles

Medical imaging application specialists are sometimes referred to by other terms as well.  These may include:

• Ultrasound applications specialist
• Clinical education specialist
• Radiology equipment specialist
• Clinical services specialist
• Clinical product specialist
• Product application specialist
• Medical imaging clinical application trainer
• Imaging equipment specialist

Career Paths

The route to becoming an applications specialist within the medical imaging industry is not the same for each professional. Naturally it depends on the particular modality, the employer and the actual person advancing.

But generally speaking, for many of these types of positions, it starts with being an experienced user of that equipment. For example, before becoming an MRI clinical education specialist that person may have first worked for several years as an MRI technologist.

Some very general requirements to becoming a medical imaging applications specialist include:

• Clinical experience in that modality (i.e. as an ultrasound technologist, MRI tech, radiologic technologist, etc.)
• Completion of a relevant education program and necessary continuing education credits; a Bachelor’s degree may be preferred.
• Certifications (i.e. through the ARRT or ARDMS)
• Teaching or leadership experience will be highly preferred
• Clean driver’s record and a willingness to travel extensively

Remember every career path is different. The best way to learn how to pursue a particular career is to speak with potential employers (i.e. medical technology and equipment companies) as well as with professionals currently working in similar positions.