My name is Tabby Spiegelberg and I am the tenured faculty instructor for the echocardiography program at Cuyahoga Community College. I have been an echocardiographer for over 16 years and have been teaching for over 13 years. I have learned that as an echocardiographer, you make the difference in patient's lives who trust that you will do the best job you can while performing their cardiac ultrasound. I have also learned as an instructor that I can make a difference in those patient's lives by teaching students to have a love for what they do and not be an echocardiographer because of monetary reasons but because they are passionate about cardiac ultrasound and understand that they will save people's lives.
My name is Hannah Ideas and I am a full time adult cardiac sonographer at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA medical center. I have been working since 2008. I had amazing background experience with Southwest Hospital and University hospital. My compassion is to educate and grow every year that I am a sonographer.
My name is Evelina Petrovets and I am a graduate of Cuyahoga Community Colleges Diagnostic Medical Sonography program specializing in adult cardiac imaging. I then went on to Youngstown State University and graduated with a Bachelors of Allied Health degree. After a year of working in the field of echo, I submitted an application to volunteer with the ASE to Bangalore, India, and scanned patients with rheumatic heart disease. My experience there was empowering and so inspiring, I then went on to several other third world countries to do medical missions. In the last two years, I’ve organized a medical team of over 20 medical professionals to go to Oyugis, Kenya where we did medical camps in villages where medical care was unaccessible. I’ve been working in the adult echo lab at main campus Cleveland Clinic for the past 3.5 years and I’m excited and honored to be a part of NOCIA. I think we are going to have an amazing two years ahead of us!
My husband Patrick and I have been married for nearly thirty years. We started our business, Aeorforce Technology Inc., in 2004. We have two sons, Jack and Patrick.
I started my current career at Marymount Hospital as an EKG tech, Stress lab tech and cardiac sonographer. I later became technical director for Dr Vijay Mistry's private practice. During my two years as technical director, I secured ICAEL accreditations for both his Marymount and Hillcrest labs.
I learned so much in my early career at Marymount hospital, but I wanted the experience of working in a large lab and seeing more cardiac pathology. I transferred to the main campus at Cleveland Clinic, and my love of echo grew. I became much more confident in my scanning and diagnostics skills due to my training at CCF.
I currently work at University Hospitals where I enjoy working at a large teaching hospital. I am still amazed at the medical advances I see daily. I am also inspired by the courage of many of my patients.
I started my current career at Marymount Hospital as an EKG tech, Stress lab tech and cardiac sonographer. I later became technical director for Dr Vijay Mistry's private practice. During my two years as technical director, I secured ICAEL accreditations for both his Marymount and Hillcrest labs.
I learned so much in my early career at Marymount hospital, but I wanted the experience of working in a large lab and seeing more cardiac pathology. I transferred to the main campus at Cleveland Clinic, and my love of echo grew. I became much more confident in my scanning and diagnostics skills due to my training at CCF.
I currently work at University Hospitals where I enjoy working at a large teaching hospital. I am still amazed at the medical advances I see daily. I am also inspired by the courage of many of my patients.
Hi my name is Sandy Kluth and I have been in the field since graduating from TRi-C in 2014. I started my career at Elyria and then transferred to University Hospital of Cleveland. I joined NOCIA because my kids are all growing up and I had to find something to fill up my time. Honestly I am always open to learning and teaching and I think NOCIA provides me with that opportunity.
I am married with 3 kids and 2 dogs. I love the park systems, gardening in my flower beds, cooking and just hanging with my family and friends.
I am married with 3 kids and 2 dogs. I love the park systems, gardening in my flower beds, cooking and just hanging with my family and friends.
My name is Julie Beamer and I am a graduate of Cuyahoga Community College where I was elected the student representative while attending. After graduation, I worked at Akron General and Bedford Hospital before settling in at Akron Children’s Hospital where I am still employed, now in my 17th year there. I have had roles in education, as a super user for ours PACS system, and more recently as a primary sonographer on our outreach team. In 2017, I took on the role as adjunct instructor at Stautzenberger College on a temporary basis. After completing that responsibility, finished work on a sonographer registry review product for the American Society of Echocardiography which was completed in January 2018. I am looking forward to my new role as a board member with NOCIA and am grateful for the opportunity to serve and help educate and further the field of cardiac sonography. I live at home with my two sons and two old, somewhat grouchy dogs. I am a huge NCAA basketball fanatic and every March, you will find me at the tournament somewhere warmer than northeast Ohio.
Neha graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and went on to Cuyahoga Community College in 2009. After graduation she began her second career at Cleveland Clinic Children’s where she is now the Education Coordinator and Trainer. Neha is the current President of NOCIA and is very active with the American Society of Echo and Society of Diagnostic Sonographers. She serves in many volunteer roles including the Ethics and By-laws committee at ASE and reviewer for the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Locally, she is an adjuct instructor at Tri-C and teaches a full semester pediatric echo course. Neha believes that “just an echo tech” is not a phrase to be used when describing the echo profession. Education and progress in the echo field is something she strongly believes and knows that there is no limit to what any sonographer can do.
Hello there my fellow sonographers. My name is Cindy Opsincs. I am a very proud graduate from our Tri-C West Program in Cardiac Ultrasound.
I have the highest regard for all those involved in teaching and for the sonographers that have chosen this field.
I am constantly amazed at the research, growth and abilities we as sonographers are capable of performing. Our field has so much future potential and I am very pleased to be a part of it.
I currently work at Summa Hospital. I have been in the Cardiovascular services at our Hospital for 17 years. I am involved with TAVR, MV Clip and Watchman as well as previously LV Stem cell research. This is along with regular Echo & Stress testing. We travel to 5 different OP labs as well. This is what I love about being a cardiac sonographer. I am constantly stretched and never have time to be bored (heehee). If it were not for Tri C and NOCIA I would not be where I am today !! The networking and new growth in knowledge and opportunity from our students to those who speak at our conferences keeps me coming back.
I think everyone should spread the word “ NOCIA is a Great Association ”. Thank you and see you somewhere in the field,
I am constantly amazed at the research, growth and abilities we as sonographers are capable of performing. Our field has so much future potential and I am very pleased to be a part of it.
I currently work at Summa Hospital. I have been in the Cardiovascular services at our Hospital for 17 years. I am involved with TAVR, MV Clip and Watchman as well as previously LV Stem cell research. This is along with regular Echo & Stress testing. We travel to 5 different OP labs as well. This is what I love about being a cardiac sonographer. I am constantly stretched and never have time to be bored (heehee). If it were not for Tri C and NOCIA I would not be where I am today !! The networking and new growth in knowledge and opportunity from our students to those who speak at our conferences keeps me coming back.
I think everyone should spread the word “ NOCIA is a Great Association ”. Thank you and see you somewhere in the field,
I am Ruth Maruschak and I began performing echocardiograms in 1984, for a small community hospital that sent me for training with Owen Brown Cardiac ultrasound Technicians workshop. I continued performing Echo’s at various hospitals throughout the Cleveland area. In 1994 the first Cardiovascular program began at Tri C. While working at St. Vincent Charity hospital in Cleveland I became one of the clinical preceptors for the program. In 2007 I completed my ARDMS registry in echo. In 2008 worked for Sanford Brown for a short time as Clinical Coordinator for the Cardiovascular program. Then in late 2008 went to work for University hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. I missed the clinical side of performing echo’s. I have remained working for University hospital ever sense. I currently work in one of their satellite out patient clinics. In 2010 I completed my registry with CCI. Also in 2010 I was voted in as assistant treasurer for Northern Ohio Cardiac Imaging Association, and continue to be on the board of directors. This last election I was voted in as Vice President for which I am honored to fulfil. Currently I am enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University and am pursuing a degree in Health Care Management
I am Dr. Kenneth Zahka and I am dually appointed in both pediatric and adult cardiology, specializing in genetic forms of cardiovascular disease including Marfan Syndrome, Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, familial aortic aneurysm, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and adult congenital heart disease. He is active in research of connective tissue diseases and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy including, a gene mutation found in Old Order Amish and medical therapy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Dr. Zahka is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He has also worked help enhance cardiovascular care abroad, in the Middle East, Kenya, Armenia, Russia and Ecuador.
A self-described baker, Dr. Zahka enjoys occasionally sharing a cookie or two with his patients. He feels it’s important to work directly with the child, as the patient, with the support of the family.
Dr. Zahka is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He has also worked help enhance cardiovascular care abroad, in the Middle East, Kenya, Armenia, Russia and Ecuador.
A self-described baker, Dr. Zahka enjoys occasionally sharing a cookie or two with his patients. He feels it’s important to work directly with the child, as the patient, with the support of the family.
