Technical Staff

Katrina - Holter Analyst

Holter monitors are 24-48 hour recordings of the electrocardiogram or ECG.   The analyst ensures that the normal and abnormal heart rhythms are correctly detected and interpreted, the patient’s activities and symptoms are correlated to the recording, and that the findings are summarised in a report for the cardiologist.
 
Katrina worked as a cardiac technologist for many years and is also an accredited cardiac sonographer.  Her qualifications include: BAppSci (Human Physiology), COPSCT (Cardiac), NASPExAM (Pacing), MSc (Statistics), PhD (Medicine).  Katrina has analysed Holters after hours at Auckland Heart Group since the mid-1990s, and during the week, she is a research fellow at the University of Auckland.
 

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Anita - Sonographer

Anita is a very experienced sonographer who joined the Auckland Heart Group part time in September 2008.  She also scans one day a week for Counties Manukau District Health, Vascular Surgery - Vascular Lab and  3 days in General ultrasound for a private Radiology practice.  She has gained experience working in the UK and Australia.

Her special interests are in research and all ultrasound relating to heart and blood vessels.

Qualifications:
      NZ National Diploma in Medical Diagnostic Imaging - 1991
      Diploma in Medical Ultrasound - General 2001
      Diploma in Medical Ultrasound - Vascular 2004
      Diploma in Medical Ultrasound - Cardiac

Anita enjoys New Zealand's outdoors and lifestyle.

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Georgina - Sonographer

Georgina has worked part time for Ultravision, the Auckland Heart Group's associate company specialising in cardiac ultrasound, since June 2007. She has extensive experience as a cardiac sonographer performing and reporting echocardiography studies in both adults and children. Her qualifications and training as a cardiac technologist also included pacemaker implantation, follow up assessment of pacemakers, complex lung function testing, tilt table and treadmill testing.

Georgina completed her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in 2004 and also has a Diploma of Christian Studies, which she completed in 1996. Georgina and family have recently re-located to the North Shore and her echocardiography clinics are now held at Shea Terrace, Milford. She currently works part time (to allow her to spend more time with her young daughter) at North Shore Hospital, and previously had worked at Middlemore Hospital for over five years.

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Jennifer - Sonographer

Jennifer works part time for the Auckland Heart Group, holding clinics at the Mercy Hospital premises, Epsom, several times a week. Jennifer also works for the Auckland District Health Board and Christchurch Endocrinology and Cardiovascular Research and Christchurch Echo and ECG services.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science Degree 1998
• Diploma of Medical Ultrasound (Cardiac) 1999
• Diploma of Medical Ultrasound (General) Part 1

Jennifer is qualified and skilled to undertake the following ultrasound tests:

• General: obstetrics, gynaecology, vascular,
• Cardiac: Paediatric echoes, Adult echoes and stress echoes.

Jennifer actively enjoys all sports.  She values time with friends and family and over the last year has been working towards finalising her General Ultrasound Diploma.

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Lindsay - Sonographer

Lindsay works part time for the Auckland Heart Group, holding a clinic at Southern Cross Hospital Wairau Road, Glenfield.  Lindsay also works for the Waitemata District Health Board as a sonographer at both the North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals.

Qualifications:

• Diploma of College of Radiographers 1972
• Diploma of Medical Ultrasound (General) 1981
• Diploma of Medical Ultrasound (Cardiac) 1987
• Diploma of Medical Ultrasound (Vascular) 1995

Lindsay is qualified and skilled to undertake the following diagnostic tests;

• General - abdominal, obstetric, gynaecology, small parts
• Cardiac - Echoes, stress echoe’s, TOE’s,
• Vascular - Carotids, renals, leg arteries/veins, arm arteries/veins, aorta, mesenteric vessels

Lindsay enjoys fleeing across the harbour on his windsurfer when not scanning.

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Melissa - Sonographer

Melissa works part time for the Auckland Heart Group, holding echocardiography clinics at the Mercy Hospital premises on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Melissa has been involved in cardiac technology since 1989, working first at Green Lane Hospital, then at Mercy Hospital. Melissa has specialised in echocardiography since 1992.




Her qualifications include:

• 1998 BSc (physiology)
• 1991 Associate of the Society of Cardiopulmonary Technicians (Highest Marks)
• 1991 NZCS (Certificate in Science - human physiology)
• 1993 Post Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Measurement Technology
• 1999 Advanced Cardiac Ultrasound Techniques (QUT)
• 2003 Post Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound (distinction)

Melissa's clinics at our Mercy Hospital site include stress echoes, adult and paediatric echoes, ECG's and collection of national research data.

Melissa has two boys and one girl and the family are horse riding and snow skiing enthusiasts.

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Rachel - Sonographer

Rachel is a Cardiac Technologist working part time for Auckland Heart Group.  She holds echocardiography clinics at Mercy Hospital on Wednesdays and some Saturdays. Rachel has been working in the field of Cardiac Technology since 1993, first working at Green Lane Hospital followed by Middlemore Hospital.  She has a wide range of experience in this field and currently specialises in echocardiography and pacing.

Her qualifications include:

• 2005 Examination of Special Competency in Cardiac Pacing and Cardioversion Defibrillation
  • North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology
• 2003 National Certificate in Ambulance Officer Training
  • Order of St John
• 1997 Post-Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Technology
  • Society of Cardiopulmonary Technology NZ
• 1996 Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Anatomy and Physiology)
  • Auckland University of Technology
• 1994 Associateship
  • Society of Cardiopulmonary Technology NZ

Outside of Cardiac Technology, Rachel has spent 8 years working approximately 1 shift a week as a Volunteer Ambulance Officer in South Auckland.  She has also spent 1 day a week for the last 3.5 years helping out at a drop in centre for people with disabilities which is run by Christian Ministries for Disabled.

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Wei Li - Sonographer

Wei Li  is an experienced cardiac sonographer and works part-time for the Group's cardiac imaging company - Ultravision, holding weekly ultrasound clinics at the Ormiston Hospital, Botany Junction.

She has trained at Auckland City and Starship Children's Hospital's and has a Post graduate diploma in Medical ultrasound, a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma of Applied Science.  Wei Li's previous experience includes working as a cardiac technician at Auckland City Hospital and also as a personal trainer.  She has a very active baby boy and enjoys spending most of her spare time at home with him, the family dog, cat and flock of chickens.