President’s Message:
South Carolina Society of Echocardiography
Board Member
Kassi Potrafka
Charlee Porcelli
Leadership
The South Carolina Society of Echocardiography (SCSE) Board of Directors is comprised of members from a variety of professional backgrounds including experienced sonographers, lead sonographers, advanced practice cardiac sonographers, lab managers, technical directors, and sonography program directors. Each leader is elected by our members through a democratic election process and have pledged to volunteer their time in supporting the society to the best of their abilities. Having leaders from each region of South Carolina is essential for fair representation and contributes to our mission and goals of strengthening our profession and furthering the welfare of echocardiographers in the state and surrounding areas.
MELISSA ESCUDERO
MHA, ACS, RDCS, RDMS, FASE
ATRIUM HEALTH
PRESIDENT
Melissa Escudero is originally from Wayne, NJ but has lived in Tega Cay, SC for the past sixteen years with her husband, 13-year-old twins, a dog, and a cat. She graduated with an associate in applied science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from Bergen Community College in 1995. In 2002, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude in Health Service Management from Montclair State University. In 2023, she graduated from Ohio University with a master's in health administration degree. She is an Advanced Cardiac Sonographer with over twenty-five years’ experience in echocardiography. She is also a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography currently serving as a member-at large on the Finance Committee. She has also mentored students, new hires, and cardiology fellows. She has served as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor for the echo program at BCC working with students on scanning techniques and competencies. She has also functioned as an ICAEL consultant having successfully aided echo labs seeking both initial accreditation and reaccreditation. She currently works as a Supervisor of Cardiology at Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute-Kenilworth.
JEREMY NG
MBA, PMP, RDCS, RDMS, RVT, FASE
ANMED HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Jeremy has over 8 years of clinical and leadership experience in the healthcare industry spanning Radiology, Cardiology, and Vascular Surgery under various roles including Lead Sonographer and Technical Director. In addition to being a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography, he is ARDMS board certified in echocardiography, vascular, and general. He is also Project Management Professional certified under PMI. He has a bachelor's degree in Cardiovascular Sonography from Grand Valley State University as well as a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois. Jeremy is currently working as the Non-Invasive Cardiology Manager at AnMed Heart and Vascular Center in Anderson, South Carolina and is passionate in promoting ergonomics, education, and sonography profession awareness to the community.
ROBERT SMITH
MHA, B.S., RDCS, RVT
MUSC HEALTH, MIDLANDS
VICE-PRESIDENT
Robert Smith from Camden, South Carolina is the Program Director for the Claude W. Smith, MD School of Cardiovascular Technology at MUSC Columbia. He and his wife Suzy are the proud parents of a 12 year old son named Banks. Robert received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University and a Master in Health Administration from MUSC. In addition he graduated from Midlands Tech with a certificate in cardiovascular sonography. Through his almost 20 year career he has worked in a number of capacities including Vascular Lab Manager at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Clinical Applications Specialist for Imacor, Informatics Educator at Prisma and as a Cardiovascular Sonographer at Lexington Medical Center.
HANNAH DOWDY
BS, RDCS, RVT
MUSC HEALTH, MIDLANDS
Secretary
Hannah Dowdy is a cardiovascular sonographer from Charleston, SC who trained at USC and the Claude W. Smith, MD School of Cardiovascular Technology at MUSC Columbia. Shortly after obtaining her credentials, she began her career in the echo lab at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC. In 2022, she moved backed to Columbia, SC to work in her alma mater at MUSC Health as an instructor and the clinical coordinator. In her free time, Hannah enjoys traveling, exercising, and visiting her family in the Charleston area. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve as Secretary of the SCSE this year and looks forward to getting to know new faces of the field that share the same passion that she does.
Erin Branham
RDCS, RVT
LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER
TREASURER
In 1992, Erin started her medical career at Bruce Hospital while attending Florence-Darlington Technical College. She moved to Columbia in 1995 and began working at Columbia Cardiology as a medical assistant while simultaneously furthering her education in echocardiography at MUSC. Erin transitioned to Lexington Medical Center in the Cardiovascular department in 2002 and eventually became the first dual registered sonographer at the hospital in 2009 and has nearly 20 years experience as a registered cardiovascular sonographer. She recently transferred to the mobile cardiovascular lab with LMC. Erin currently lives in Lexington with her husband, Bo, of three years and their blended family. She enjoys traveling, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.
Kaitlin Scott
BS, RDCS
Lead Sonographer
Medical University of South Carolina
BOARD MEMBER, LOW COUNTRY
Kaitlin is from Hartsville, SC, but has lived in Charleston since 2011. She received her Bachelors degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Health Promotion from the College of Charleston. She later received her certificate in Cardiovascular Sonography from Midlands Technical College. After finishing school she began working at MUSC, as a new graduate. Since then she advanced in MUSC’s Imaging Specialist Clinical Ladder Program in 2019, to a Sonographer III, and in 2022 moved into the Lead Sonographer position. This is her second year on the South Carolina Society of Echo Board.
KASEY WRIGHT
B.S., RDCS, RVT
CARDIOLOGY CONSULTANTS
BOARD MEMBER, UPSTATE
Kasey Wright lives in Spartanburg with her husband and Boykin Spaniel, Finn. Kasey received her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a concentration in Cardiovascular Imaging from Clemson University in 2014. Although she is also credentialed in vascular, she has a passion for the heart and has spent the majority of her career in echocardiography. She currently works in an outpatient clinic with an office based lab doing echocardiography, stress echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiograms. When Kasey is not at work, she enjoys traveling with her husband, cheering on her Clemson Tigers, or spending time with friends and family. Kasey is looking forward to serving alongside many talented cardiac sonographers and all the exciting things ahead with the South Carolina Society of Echocardiography.
FAYE KUPERMAN
MUSC
BOARD MEMBER, MIDLANDS
ANDREA PITKOWICZ
BA, CCT, RCS
ATRIUM HEALTH
BOARD MEMBER, UPSTATE
KASSIE WARREN
BOARD MEMBER, OUT OF STATE
Andrea is originally from Michigan and relocated to Fort Mill, SC in 2011. She received
her bachelor’s in communication studies from the University of Detroit- Mercy. She
began her healthcare career after receiving her certificate in Cardiac
Sonography Carnegie Institute. Andrea joined Atrium Health in 2011 as a Registered
Cardiac Sonographer. She has served as a Clinical Instructor for the echo program at
SPCC, working with students on scanning and competencies. She currently works in
the Atrium outpatient office in Rock Hill performing echocardiograms and stress echoes.
Andrea resides with her husband, 2 teenage children and their dog Violet. Her passions
are travel and reading.
DR. PAUL KIM
M.D., F.A.C.C.
SELF REGIONAL HEALTHCARE
ADVANCED CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES
BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Kim is the son of a cardiologist and soon followed his father’s footsteps. Dr. Kim began his adult education with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1990 where he graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin. In 1994, he graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency in 1997 and his Cardiology Fellowship in 2002 where he served as Chief Interventional Fellow. The American Board of Internal Medicine certifies him in Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, and Internal Medicine. The Texas and South Carolina State Board of Medical Examiners also certify him as a Medical Examiner. In 2002, he moved to Greenwood, SC and created the first coronary artery stenting program at Self Regional Healthcare. This was a big win for Greenwood and surrounding areas. He has previously served as the Medical Director of the Echocardiography Lab and currently serves as the Medical Director for the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Self Regional Healthcare and the Cardiovascular Technology Program at Piedmont Technical College. Dr. Kim had quite a few cardiology publications in multiple peer-reviewed journals over the years. Above all, Dr. Kim is a person who cares deeply for his patients, the team members that assist him in taking care of his patients, cardiac students, and the education of health care professionals. Dr. Kim shows this through his day-to-day practice and his generosity.