Dr Samantha Thomas
Research Associate

Dr Samantha Thomas

PhD (Medicine and Health) USYD, AMS, DMU (General) ASUM, DAppSci (DiagRad.) USYD.

 

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

Dr Samantha Thomas is an experienced, accredited and qualified sonographer in obstetric and general ultrasound. Her PhD in communicating adverse findings to pregnant patients has lead to her passion on researching areas that will improve perinatal outcomes. Sam works clinically in obstetric tertiary referral settings and in radiology. She has been heavily involved in sonography training for more than 25 years and continues to drive the improvement of patient-centred care through her instigation of new Australasian guidelines for ultrasound practitioners with her role as the chairman of  Australasian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine OCUG (Obstetric Communication in Ultrasound Group). Sam is part of the Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA) Sonographer Policy and Advisory Committee. She was awarded ASUM "Sonographer of the Year" in 2021 and was recognised by the Australasian Sonographers Association through their Awards of Excellence in 2013 as 'Mentor of the Year'.

  • Journal articles | 2022
    Oomens D; Thomas S; Clarke J, 2022, 'Ultrasound of dialysis fistulae: Factors influencing Australian practice', Sonography, vol. 9, pp. 16 - 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sono.12288
    Journal articles | 2020
    Johnson J; Arezina J; Tomlin L; Alt S; Arnold J; Bailey S; Beety H; Bender-Atik R; Bryant L; Coates J; Collinge S; Fishburn J; Fisher J; Fowler J; Glanville T; Hallett J; Harley-Roberts A; Harrison G; Horwood K; Hynes C; Kimm L; McGuinness A; Potter L; Powell L; Ramsay J; Shakes P; Sicklen R; Sims A; Stacey T; Sumra A; Thomas S; Todd K; Torrington J; Trueman R; Walsh L; Watkins K; Yaz G; Hardicre NK, 2020, 'UK consensus guidelines for the delivery of unexpected news in obstetric ultrasound: The ASCKS framework', Ultrasound, vol. 28, pp. 235 - 245, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1742271X20935911
    Journal articles | 2020
    Johnson J; Dunning A; Sattar R; Arezina J; Karkowsky EC; Thomas S; Panagioti M, 2020, 'Delivering unexpected news via obstetric ultrasound: A systematic review and meta-ethnographic synthesis of expectant parent and staff experiences', Sonography, vol. 7, pp. 61 - 77, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sono.12213
    Journal articles | 2020
    Thomas S; O'Loughlin K; Clarke J, 2020, 'Sonographers’ communication in obstetrics: Challenges to their professional role and practice in Australia', Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, vol. 23, pp. 129 - 139, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajum.12184
    Journal articles | 2020
    Thomas S; O’Loughlin K; Clarke J, 2020, 'Factors that Influence the Communication of Adverse Findings in Obstetrics: A Survey of Current Sonographer Practices in Australia', Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, vol. 36, pp. 199 - 209, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/8756479320905816
    Journal articles | 2020
    Thomas S; O’Loughlin K; Clarke J, 2020, 'Sonographers’ level of autonomy in communication in Australian obstetric settings: Does it affect their professional identity?', Ultrasound, vol. 28, pp. 136 - 144, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1742271X20928576
    Journal articles | 2017
    Thomas S; O’Loughlin K; Clarke J, 2017, 'The 21st century sonographer: Role ambiguity in communicating an adverse outcome in obstetric ultrasound', Cogent Medicine, vol. 4, pp. 1373903 - 1373903, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331205x.2017.1373903
    Journal articles | 2016
    Thomas S; O'Loughlin K; Clarke J, 2016, 'Organisational and professional structures shaping the sonographer role in obstetrics', Sonography, vol. 3, pp. 125 - 133, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sono.12081

Australasian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) Sonographer of the Year 2021

Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA) Mentor of the Year 2013

Sam is part of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and engineers investigating novel methods for evaluating the fetus and neonate to improve perinatal outcomes.