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Jefferson's Division of Diagnostic Ultrasound

In 1978, the department of radiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital created a new diagnostic ultrasound service under the direction of Barry B. Goldberg, MD. As one of the early pioneers in this rapidly developing and exciting field, Dr. Goldberg brought extensive clinical, research and educational experience to his new post.

From the beginning, and still true today, the goals of the department of radiology and the division were threefold and paralleled the University's long-standing missions. Foremost was quality and excellence in patient care, followed closely by distinction in medical education and research.

The division's start-up staff consisted of one staff physician, one fellow, two ultrasound technologists and one secretary. The physical facility occupied 4,000 square feet and included two examination rooms, clinical support facilities and a research and education area. In its first year of operation, the division of ultrasound quickly outgrew its initial space and expanded to five examination rooms and two rooms dedicated to research.

Today, the division occupies 30,000 square feet distributed over two floors in the Thompson and Main Buildings and one floor in the Clinical Office Building. This space houses 21 examination rooms with support services, a teaching facility and research laboratories.

The division performs more than 45,000 ultrasound studies each year, and the staff has pioneered many of the diagnostic procedures commonly used today.

Jefferson is proud to provide a full range of ultrasound procedures through six separate units:

• general studies/inpatients
  
• special procedures/interventional
  
• antenatal evaluation center (high-risk obstetrics)
  
• echocardiography
  
• noninvasive vascular testing
  
• outpatient services

Dr. Goldberg, who is also a professor of radiology at Jefferson Medical College, continues his leadership position as director of the division, assisted by associate division director and associate professor of radiology Laurence Needleman, MD, and Alfred B. Kurtz, MD, associate director of the Institute and professor of radiology and obstetrics and gynecology. Each of the six operating units is headed by a staff physician with special expertise in that area.

Many medical specialties now depend on ultrasound to help diagnose and treat patients. Recognizing this, the division has adopted an interdepartmental approach with physicians from other specialties in regard to ultrasound use. These specialists have been integrated into the management function in several of the ultrasound operating units. For example, a cardiologist is co-director of the echocardiography unit, a vascular surgeon is co-director of the noninvasive vascular unit, and a perinatologist is co-director of the antenatal evaluation center. This centralized and cooperative approach has contributed to the rapid growth and success of a comprehensive ultrasound service under a single administrative structure.