Lisa Mekenas, RVT

Lead Vascular Sonographer
Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group
San Diego, CA

In addition to working at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group in San Diego, I also continue vein work part-time with Dr. John Bergan and Dr. Villanueva at the Vein Institute of La Jolla, CA.

When did you start this position?

The surgeons for Sharp Rees-Stealy (an HMO type clinic) saw a need to have a dedicated vascular lab for their patients and asked me to set it up; then they talked me into coming to work here in February of 2008. I had been working in the hospital setting.

What degrees and credentials do you have?

I have an AA (in Construction Technology) and an AS, and of course my RVT from ARDMS — I was also an Optician before getting into the CVT program.

Where and when did you get your vascular training?

I received my vascular education through the Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA. My training is continuing, but I did leave San Diego and worked in Orange County for a few years, which provided me with additional training. I encourage techs to venture away from “home” to see what others are doing. I have been invited to go to Ireland to experience the trends there and learn from their surgeons. That’s on the back burner now until the dollar gains a little more momentum.

How long have you been in the vascular technology profession?

I graduated from Grossmont College in 1992, but also worked in the profession while I was a student. And I did some retinal vascular work as an optician.

What made you decide to enter vascular technology as a career?

Working at 3 am in the ER one July, I was getting ready to start the RN program and my co-workers talked me out of it for various reasons. I went back to the college to find out about the perfusion program, met Rick Kirby and signed up thinking I’d go to a Cath Lab or Echo Lab. Then I met Dr Bergan, and went into vascular ultrasound and have never regretted my choice since.

What and where was your first job in vascular technology?

Oh boy—I went into “slave labor” with Dan Steinell at DIS in San Diego. He was really a great guy. He saw the need to standardize and have quality assurance before ICAVL. He worked you hard, but had humor, caring and working to make sure you became a first rate tech. I was lucky to be matched up with some of the best techs and was given every opportunity to cross train. I had a lot of call and went mobile, loading and unloading everything from an HP to Accuson to the ATL UM7. I also got to do one-on-one training with a lot of cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons. Dr. Bergan was our Medical Director for a time also.

When did you join SVU?

As a student at Grossmont College, I was highly encouraged to join the Society in 1992 and continue my membership by Don Ridgway, and I try to continue that practice. No matter what your position is, this is our professional society and it is our obligation to nurture and support it.

What do you like best about your current position?

I have a window and it has a view! The docs and the staff are friendly and supportive. There is openness in communication that is refreshing. Even though it is an HMO setting, the surgeons are treating patients using the most current technologies. And of course, I have the option of taking call for another hospital, but there is no call at the clinic. Lately family time has become very important.

On which SVU Committees/Subcommittees have you served and when?

I was active in the Medicare Committee and the Chapters Committee about 6-10 yrs ago or so. I try to volunteer as much as I can. This past year I was on the Annual Conference Program Planning Committee.

Are you a member of an SVU Affiliated Chapter?

I started a Chapter here in San Diego 6-10 years ago, but had some stress factors and when I left it lasted a year and then disappeared. Maybe someday we can get it going again.

How do you think SVU and its Chapters can work better together in the future?

Keep the regulatory and legislative advocacy work going. Our Society’s work with billing issues is the most comprehensive of any of the other societies. I’m sorry to see that there are not more Chapters, but I think the start up process is somewhat overwhelming to some. Keep it affordable. Unfortunately we work so hard at our jobs and they continue to get more demanding with less and less managerial support, most techs don’t want to think of going to another meeting at the end of the day. I have some ideas to make it informative, but enjoyable that I would try if I ever started up another Chapter in San Diego.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing vascular technologists today?

Continuing cuts in reimbursements, the poor economy cutting our pay and jobs, and the cross training of general and echo techs. Injuries due to long protocols and demands for increase daily patient loads also are of concern.

What tips would you give to today's ultrasound students about their career in the vascular ultrasound profession?

Be patient, first jobs are best when working in places where you have multiple techs so you can learn. Support your society in any way you can and read journals. SLEEP when you can! Take care of your bodies, you only get one and replacement parts don’t feel the same. Call is not always a bad thing, you can learn a lot in those late hours, especially about your abilities.

How can SVU better serve its members in the future?

Don’t try to place more controls on labs and techs; support them and give minimum standards that are realistic and can be built on. Keep the Society open to ideas and growth with our leaders. Listen and reach out to the techs, the people’s voices who join will lead us to where we need to go.

Any other comments you would like to add about your membership in SVU since 1992 and how the Society and profession has changed since then?

When I first graduated, some sites didn’t have color on the machines. Automatic inflators were a dream. Documentation of the exam sometimes took longer than the actual test, cutting and pasting the waveforms. I love my FLO LAB! We also didn’t have a lot of dedicated Vascular and Echo labs in town. Hospitals hired out to mobile services because the technology wasn’t fully understood. I actually took a cut in pay to be a tech from a receptionist in the ER.

I have read the Society’s Journal since I received it. I may not agree with everything in it, but that stimulates my mind. SVU has tried to represent the professional trends. In this sense, the SVU has consistently worked to improve our profession and represent us to the best of its abilities. It gives us a voice. The people who have served have done so in addition to their work schedules, for which I believe we should appreciate their efforts. The staff of the SVU are very informative; I have been in contact with other societies whose staff are not as educated.

If married, name of Spouse and Children (what are their names and ages)

I have five daughters—Danielle (31), Vanessa (30), Sommer (28), Briana (27), and Portia (26) and four terrific son-in-laws. I also now have a granddaughter, Taylor (2) and a grandson, Preston (1.5). My significant other for 13 years is Jeffry.

Any Pets?

We have a dog named Bailey, and two cats—named Jack Daniels and Captain Morgan

What do you do for fun and relaxation when not working?

I enjoy taking my jet-ski down the Colorado River in the summer (love rocks and water), riding the mudhills and the dunes in the desert in the winter with Jeffry. Or just hanging out with my kids—with my family, that is always entertaining!