After an 18-year absence — including four or five years traveling as a full-time ultrasound technician during which she lived in eight different states and the U.S. Virgin Islands — Columbus native Leigh Allison Phillips Hill, 39, recently moved back to her hometown.
And she didn”t realize how much she missed Columbus until she returned.
Why did you move back to Columbus?
The economy. I was looking for a more stable position after returning from St. Thomas (Virgin Islands). I came home for a small family reunion and reconnected with some friends, one of which contacted me about a week later about a position here with Baptist (Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle). I work there now, as needed, and also have been working in Oxford this month, because they were temporarily short-staffed.
(Missing Columbus) was a very nice surprise. It was nice when I came home to visit my family, running into people; it was so good to see them. Since I”ve been home, I”ve absolutely loved it! I do miss the beach, but it has been so fun to get to reconnect with all my friends and getting to see my family at the same time has been wonderful.
Have you noticed changes in Columbus, since your return in November?
It”s really built up. I”ve been impressed with its growth, since I”ve been gone.
I”m so impressed with downtown! I love that they have restored its charm, with the restaurants, boutiques and apartments. What is even more gratifying is walking in and seeing someone you went to school with or grew up with and finding out they own the business!
I”ve really enjoyed the activities, as well, with Grilling on the River a couple months back and now Sounds of Summer. And the Riverwalk looks fantastic!
Tell me about your job, performing general and vascular ultrasounds. What does an ultrasound technician do?
We try to find the disease or anomaly on a patient to correct their situation and get them the proper treatment they need from their doctors. Ultrasound is different from the other modalities, because our transducer is the camera and we are responsible for finding the disease.
Why did you become an ultrasound technician?
I broke my neck, years ago, in a car accident and I had seven surgeries in two years. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time in the hospital. And I was a very mean patient!
I knew I wanted to get into the medical field, but knew I didn”t want to be a nurse. One of the girls I used to work with was going through (an) ultrasound program (in Pensacola, Fla.) and, after speaking to her about it over a period of time, I expressed my interest to one of my doctors. He let me observe the ultrasounds in his office and I knew that”s what I wanted to do. And I love my job.
(To be an ultrasound technician) you have to have a little bit of a sense of humor. You take it home. It can be very humbling. It can be very sad. Of course, you have your happy moments too. And I just love my patients.
It can be humbling. For example, (one day) a 14-year-old girl came in with cancer. Times like that make me appreciate what I”ve got and not want to just go home and sit on my butt and watch TV.
(As an ultrasound technician), you find the disease. A machine doesn”t do it for you; you hold the camera. You find the disease or abnormality and hope you can help them. If someone is having symptoms of a stroke, it”s rewarding to see you caught it in time, so they can go on from there and have what they need to have to correct it.
What is most challenging about your job?
(Handling patients with) obesity, unfortunately. Ultrasound has its limitations. We can”t see bone or air, which limits our visibility sometimes. Because of this, patients that are on life support or unable to position themselves properly can be very challenging.
What is most rewarding for you about your job?
My patients! I experience all kinds of emotions throughout the day. I am happy when the mass in (a patient”s) breast is simply a benign cyst and sometimes even get a hug, as a result. On the other hand, I have hidden many tears when a patient thinks they have gallstones and I see what they have appears to be cancer throughout certain organs.
What advice do you have for those considering entering your profession?
Have a passion for the medical field and always keep your compassion.
Are there any misconceptions about ultrasound technicians you”d like to address or can you reveal anything unknown about yourself?
Ultrasound is not just for pregnant women. It”s a useful screening and non-invasive test. And I have paid back my dues for being such a mean patient.
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