Ultrasound course supervisor ends 32-year federal career Published May 7, 2009 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, BILOXI, MISS. -- Carolyn Teal was honored for 32 years of federal service at an April 23 retirement ceremony at Keesler Medical Center. Mrs. Teal ended her career as supervisor of the 81st Medical Operations Squadron diagnostic imaging flight ultrasound Phase II course. A native of Mobile, Ala., she entered civil service in 1973 as a clerk typist for the Keesler technical training staff. She left in 1974 to earn an associate degree in radiologic technology from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She returned to federal service in 1977 as a staff sonographer at the medical center and was soon placed in charge of the ultrasound department. That year, she received her national registry in radiologic technology from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and completed the ultrasound program at the University of South Alabama. In 1979, she received her registry in obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. In addition to her regular duties, she developed an on-the-job training course for ultrasound technologists and began training military X-ray technologists for ultrasound. Mrs. Teal has extensive Air Force training and completed the technical training instructor course in 1993. As demand for ultrasound technologists increased, the military established a Phase II ultrasound program based out of Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Keesler is one of eight bases with the program. In 1995, Mrs. Teal became the Phase II course supervisor and received her registry in abdomen ultrasound. She's taught at least 35 Airmen in the Phase II program. Although early in the program her classes had two to three students, there was only one per class for a number of years. Students spent two months in Phase II after completing their Phase I training at Sheppard. Keesler's program was suspended following Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, resuming in 2007. Mrs. Teal was the first Department of Defense civilian instructor for the ultrasound career field and was selected by the Air Force functional manager as one of two military liaisons to the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. She received a certificate of achievement in conjunction with an Outstanding Unit Award, was the 81st Medical Operations Squadron Civilian of the Quarter and was nominated as Keesler's Woman of the Year in 2001. Mrs. Teal, a member of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, has published many articles in the Journal of Clinical Sonography and co-authored an article in the Journal of Computerized Anatomy Technology. Mrs. Teal and her husband, Randy, live in Ocean Springs and have a married daughter and two grandsons. "I plan to take it easy for a while and do things with our grandchildren," she said. "My husband and I also will enjoy our classic car (a 1946 pink, purple and green Plymouth business coupe)." They've had the car for three years and participate in "Cruisin' the Coast" and other car shows.