An Interview with Jo McCann, President of the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM)

We are delighted to bring you an exclusive interview from our RABcast Series 2025, featuring Jo McCann, President of the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM), RABuc Committee Member and Clinical Lecturer in Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) at the University of Otago.

Jo has worked across public and private healthcare settings, most recently as Charge Sonographer at Hutt Hospital, and her career spans clinical practice, education, research, and governance. In recognition of her contributions, she was named 2024 New Zealand Sonographer of the Year.

She is deeply passionate about improving access to ultrasound education and services in resource-limited regions and regularly contributes to international outreach and capacity-building initiatives.

Clinical Leadership | Ultrasound Education | Outreach

 Summary

In this RABcast episode, Jo McCann shares her professional journey into leadership and her vision for the future of ultrasound practice. She discusses ASUM’s multidisciplinary mission, the importance of robust education and clinical standards, and how collaboration across professions strengthens patient care.

Jo provides valuable insight into global ultrasound outreach, emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term programs rather than one-off visits. She highlights ASUM’s work with WFUMB Centres of Education across the Pacific, Fiji, and emerging regions, and explains how training local clinicians creates lasting impact.

The conversation also explores the rapid expansion of ultrasound, the rise of PoCUS, the role of AI as a supportive tool, and why sonographers must remain actively involved in shaping how technology is integrated into practice. Throughout the discussion, Jo reinforces the importance of leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy in strengthening global healthcare systems.

Key Takeaways

• Ultrasound education thrives when delivered through multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Sustainable outreach programs create long-term capacity, not dependency.
• Training local clinicians as educators multiplies impact across generations.
• AI should be embraced as a support tool, not feared as a replacement.
• Sonographers must have a voice in how AI is developed and implemented.
• Workforce development and retention remain key challenges globally.
• Subspecialisation in sonography improves patient outcomes in complex settings.
• Research and publishing outreach outcomes help influence policy and practice.
• Partnerships like ASUM–RAB strengthen global ultrasound delivery.
• Philanthropy in healthcare is most powerful when paired with education and mentorship.

This episode is ideal for sonographers, radiologists, medical educators, clinicians, and anyone passionate about global health, education, and sustainable outreach—while also offering a personal glimpse into the leadership journey of Jo McCann.