Your Steps in Service have taken you before countless lives, infinite stories.

Tell us yours.

As we enter our fifth decade in holding ultrasound training courses in health care, we want you to join us in a more personal way. Millions of people all over the world are living better lives, and living them longer, because of the way you've chosen to live yours. We want you to share part of that walk with the rest of us. You can remain anonymous or tell us how to post. Tell us your Story....

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"I was instrumental in helping the Institute get its start."

A few knew a lot and were willing to share...

If one sentence could sum up Ultrasound in the infancy days, that would be the one. Looking back we all were blessed to have one another with none of the fierce academic and commercial rivalry that is so prevalent today; just a tight-knit community in the dawn of what we all knew would be exciting. I really do not have a story, just a pocket full of memories, so I will share one...

I met this young man outside of the Emergency Room at Parkland Hospital in Dallas in early 1980. I was told he had an interest along with a vascular surgeon in doing some research work using high-frequency ultrasound in the dog lab. They wanted to investigate the various linings of the carotid artery. So, being a cat and ultrasound lover the meeting was set.

Now the ER at Parkland truly is a sociological field trip and as such very entertaining. It was like being at County, but everyone had on a hat and boots… even the muggers.

Time passed quickly. My meeting sponsor eventually shows up late but brings an infectious grin ear to ear. A lanky kid with the dirtiest lab coat and ugliest glasses I have ever seen. His name: Keith Mauney. The rest as you would say is history.

So, if you are ever wondering where one of the places that the Diasonics \"Duplex\" 7.5mhz small parts probe had its roots look no further than the dog lab at Parkland.

Albert, Al, Don, Ken, Gail, Len, Marveen, Barry, Tom, Eugene, Kirk, Omar, Jason, Sam, Fred, Michael, Herb, Diane, Marsha, George and Keith.

A few knew a lot and were willing to share... now that is the story.

Edmund Yochum
Ultrasound Sales Manager Dallas, Texas 1981

Early on in my ultrasound career, I began getting doctors to go to Keith Mauney's classes. After a few of them telling me how good the classes were, I found three of my doctors who had an interest in going to the Carotid interpretation class. Since I had referred other doctors to him for classes I thought I'd ask him if I could join my doctors and come for free to his next Carotid interpretation class. He didn't hesitate and said, of course, I could come at no charge.

I found Keith to be both interesting and entertaining to listen to. I had only been doing Carotids for about two years and I learned a lot from Keith about interpreting them. Being there with three of my doctors was good for the fact that I could further explain things to them. Another great thing about Keith is that even well after your class is over with him, he is available to answer questions and even research out answers for you if needed for the field of ultrasound. I'm speaking from experience.

By May of 2013, I will have been in this wonderful field of ultrasound and diagnostics for twenty years. I went (from) entry-level pay to being the highest paid employee in my hospital and on into business for myself with doctors offices. And Keith Mauney and Assoc. had a vital part in my career growth! And it is great to know I can still come to Keith Mauney and Assoc. for a valuable resource when needed.

Update: March, 2026

Thirty three years as a RVT. Began my career in a hospital for over sixteen years gaining valuable experiences and skills. The remainder of my career I have been out on my own working part time and contract work with eleven other clinics doing exams or training others.
It has been a wonderful ride, but after September the next chapter in life begins, retirement !

Kurt Olson
Contract Vascular Sonographer Fort Worth, Texas, 1990

In 2002, after a decade as a general internist, I became passionate about the care of the patient with vascular disease. I wanted to go beyond blood pressure management, lipid-lowering and counseling to manage vascular disorders. My search to gain a deeper understanding of noninvasive vascular testing led me to Keith Mauney.

As passionate as I was about learning, he and his colleagues were more passionate about teaching. As I look back, I have to say that I was initially very unsure if I would succeed in developing a vascular lab in our busy primary care practice, but getting down to the basics with the hands-on courses gave me a deep understanding of ultrasound that was worth all the time and money. I not only developed a quality vascular lab, but the nudge from KMA helped me pursue vascular medicine as a career.

Now, as a vascular internist another decade later, I use the principles I learned with KMA on a daily basis in the diagnosis and management of my patients. My patients appreciate the point-of-care testing, and I get to interact with sonographers clinically in order to make the best decision for them in the increasingly confusing world of healthcare.

Steve Chastain

Internist, Vascular Technologist Greenville, Mississippi 2002, 2006

I brought a friend with me to Texas to the seminar. We had a good time but enjoyed the hands-on because you have someone there to help us get the right pictures and the way to go to get the pictures.

I have been an echo tech since 1985 and received my registry in 1996. This has been a joy in my life because I get to meet new people even in the hospital. The meeting (with them) lasts for about 30 minutes. As a nurse, I had to care for the patient for maybe 3-5 days in a row. I like it when it is just a few minutes with Echo.

This is a job that has no age limit as of yet that I know of. I am retired and working two part-time jobs. Last year I became a widow and echo has given me a great social life. I thank God for my jobs every day.

Janice M.

Echocardiographer Bakersfield, California 2007

I’ve known Keith since our days together at Diasonics (30 years ago). Way back. When I was at Interson a few years ago, Keith trained my entire sales and marketing group on basic ultrasound concepts at a workshop in California. The attendees (who were, for the most part, new to ultrasound) gave rave reviews. Said, "best training ever."

Keith knows everybody, is an invaluable resource, and a good friend.

Marc Fine

Ultrasound Engineering and Marketing Consultant Camano Island, Washington 2009

I am an engineer employed in the design of prosthetic heart valves. My job includes technical and clinical support for company colleagues, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons. I attended Keith Mauney’s course in order to understand the dynamics of the heart and how these dynamics could be observed and diagnosed. I was especially interested in the visualization of prosthetic heart valves in vivo.

I was very pleased with this learning experience. Technical information was clearly presented and progress examinations were relevant and challenging. The biggest bonus of this class was the opportunity to apply real equipment to real patients (our classmates). This class is certified training for echo techs, but I would recommend it for any engineer involved in cardiac devices.

Joe Sauter

Medical Device Engineer Austin, Texas 2000

"There it is... is it there?
Prove it's there."

I use this method with all tests.

Gayle J.

Abdominal Sonographer Paris, Texas 2013

Makeba Waller

Military (OJT) to CEO Arlington, Texas Date not provided

Over 30 years ago, I began a journey that would change my life and allow me to serve thousands of families. My path to becoming a sonographer was not traditional, but it was purposeful. I served in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman, where I was first introduced to the world of ultrasound imaging. I quickly realized that ultrasound was more than just technology it was a window into the human body and, in many cases, the very beginning of life. What started as a career soon became a calling. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of scanning babies, performing general and vascular ultrasounds while helping detect health conditions early, and giving families peace of mind during some of the most important moments of their lives. After gaining years of experience and expertise, I stepped out on faith and founded Ultrasound Imaging Concepts. At the time, there was no roadmap, no internet resources, and very few examples of women, especially Black women owning imaging centers. But I believed in the vision God placed in my heart. Today, more than three decades later, I am still passionate about what I do. Ultrasound is not just my profession, it is my ministry of care, education, and empowerment.

John Warth

Newbie, cardiac, then vascular, and again with general - twice lol

1996, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2018

I started healthcare in 1985 as a Respiratory Therapist. Quickly transitioned to cardiopulmonary diagnostic testing - stress testing, pulmonary function, holter analysis. I left a local hospital to manage a stand alone diagnostic facility. They were interested in adding echo. I talked to friends and one in particular said, "look into KMA." So the office sent me to Dallas for the "Intro to Ultrasound" class. It was my first visit with Keith and a friendship was forged. Unfortunately - or fortunately actually - that clinic did not fly and I was forced to return to the local hospital but as an RT again and punishment was in order. I was assigned night shift and it was not a good fit. I was in ICU one late night and a local physician came through and asked how nights was going and I replied terrible. He said they had a need for somebody to do what I did well and was I interested. "OF COURSE"!!! Well, can you do echo? Head down...No Joe, I'm not trained for echo. Well, would you like to learn? Their internal medicine practice was owned by the Ohio State University Hospital and he arranged for me to go to Columbus and learn echo in their lab. I wouldn't recommend learning that way, but it was the 90's, so a bit different than today. I struggled and remembered Keith Mauney. I asked if it was possible to attend the cardiac session and they agreed. This time in Celebration, Florida. It was 1998 and Hurricane George made landfall on our last day. I had to leave early to get ahead of the storm as I had driven from Ohio! That class laid a very firm foundation. I changed jobs once again and they needed vascular. I told my boss, "I know a guy". It was approved and I traveled to Orlando this time - drove it again, from Ohio. After a few years, I changed jobs again. Boss says, I want to add general - can you do that? I have no idea - but if you want me to learn..."I know a guy". This time, back to Dallas area and I have a new modality in my toolkit! Left that job for a little buit, but returned! Was rusty on the general and asked to go back for the class again and they agreed. Hadn't seen Keith for a few years, but that morning in the hotel lobby was like we had just hung out last weekend. I will ALWAYS be Keith's biggest cheerleader because he is the biggest cheerleader for all of us. I really don't think my experience is any different that anybody else's because that is the person, the absolute gem that is Keith Mauney - a genius. A warm, caring, selfless man that is my friend and always will be. I would not have had the career I have today without him and the whole team.

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