Lebrun Writes Children’s Book Exploring Medical Imaging

This May, 21-year-old Carina Lebrun, a native of Fall River, Mass., will earn her Bachelor of Science in diagnostic medical sonography at Rhode Island College. 

Diagnostic medical sonography, or ultrasound, uses high-frequency sound waves to view soft tissues, organs and blood flow. This imaging technique helps physicians diagnose conditions, guide procedures and monitor pregnancies. RIC works in partnership with Brown University Health’s School of Medical Imaging to offer this program.

According to Associate Professor Eric Hall, “Carina’s journey through the program has been both inspiring and a true reflection of commitment. Academically, she has excelled, earning top marks throughout her time in the program and being inducted into Lambda Nu, the national honor society for radiologic and imaging sciences, which recognizes students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Beyond academics, Lebrun has been an engaged leader in the medical imaging program. For the last three semesters, she took on the role of medical imaging student representative, holding fundraisers in order to donate to various health-related causes. 

Lebrun’s senior capstone project was especially unique. She wrote and illustrated a children’s book designed to help young patients and families understand medical imaging in a way that is fun and easy to understand.

Titled “Stanley’s Guide to Seeing Inside” and available on YouTube, the book is narrated by a little boy – Stanley the Stethoscope – who takes the reader on an exploration of the world of medical imaging. Both the content and the illustrations are exceptional.

The idea for this project came from adjunct faculty member Emma Bobb, program director of radiography, MRI and diagnostic medical sonography at RIC.

“She knew I had a creative side after seeing me design the program’s logo and make blankets for children,” Lebrun says. “So, I wrote and drew everything on my iPad. It was a lot of work. But it was also fun.”

Bobb and Lebrun’s goal is to use the book as a fundraising vehicle in the future. Profits from the sale of the books will be used to print more copies, which will be donated to Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

“That’s pretty exciting,” Lebrun says. “Just the thought that this little book will be at Hasbro and that a child will actually read it is amazing to me.”

She, too, was a child when she first explored the world of sonography.

“I was 11 years old,” she says. “My mom was pregnant with my brother and I remember going with her to her ultrasound appointments. I was fascinated by it. When I decided on a major at RIC, I knew sonography was the area I wanted to work in.”

Upon her graduation, Lebrun will begin the work she was once in awe of as a child. She has already accepted an offer to work at Women & Infants Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Providence, where she will apply ultrasound on pregnant women.

The best advice Lebrun says she learned from this program is to stay open to learning.

“This is a field where you’re constantly learning,” she says. “Many techs that I did my clinicals with would often say, ‘I still learn something new every day even though I’ve been doing this for years.’ You’ll never know everything. So, stay open to that as you go into the field. It will make you a better tech.”

Hall is sure Lebrun will make an outstanding technician: “She is a balance of academic excellence, leadership and creativity.”

Learn more about RIC’s medical imaging B.S. program.