Her Story
About Regina
Regina Shalor is a Complex Congenital Pediatric Cardiac, Fetal Cardiac, and Adult Congenital heart disease Sonographer at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, where she has dedicated more than a decade to caring for patients with complex congenital heart conditions. With 26 years of experience in the medical field, she specializes in imaging high-risk pregnancies, identifying fetal cardiac abnormalities, and providing continuity of care from fetal diagnosis through childhood and adulthood. Her expertise extends from fetal echocardiography to pediatric and adult congenital heart imaging, including intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and lifelong monitoring of congenital heart disease patients. Throughout her career, Shalor has been committed to advancing the field through education and mentorship. She is an Elite Preceptor who has trained students, new graduates, new hires, residents, and fellows for more than two decades. In addition to her clinical role, she serves as an Echocardiography Instructor at Gulf Coast Ultrasound Academy, where she teaches cardiac ultrasound courses and emergency medicine point-of-care ultrasound. She earned her Diagnostic Non-Invasive Cardiology degree from Ultrasound Diagnostic School in Tampa, Florida, and holds multiple professional credentials, including RDCS (AE), RDCS (PE), RDMS (FE), and RVT. Shalor attributes her success to giving her full effort in everything she does and maintaining a constant commitment to excellence and improvement. Her passion for image optimization, pathology knowledge, and lifelong learning has allowed her to provide exceptional care in one of the most specialized areas of cardiac imaging. She encourages young women entering the field to prioritize their physical well-being through proper ergonomics, maintain healthy habits despite demanding schedules, and continue expanding their knowledge throughout their careers, especially in a specialty where complex congenital conditions require ongoing learning and dedication.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Regina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my commitment to always giving my best effort. Whatever I take on, I approach it with the mindset that I need to give it my all. I am not satisfied unless I know I have done everything possible and given my absolute best. My constant pursuit of excellence and desire to continually improve have been key drivers throughout my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The thoracic cavity is your canvas to create beautiful images. Think outside of the box when scanning hearts. We can still uncover answers with modified views as long as the sonographer understands the function, structure, hemodynamics, and surgical repair of the heart. Critical thinking is our fight or flight standard in STAT situations.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to prioritize taking care of themselves while building their careers. Ergonomics is extremely important because our profession carries a high risk of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly involving the neck, wrists, and shoulders. It is essential to develop healthy habits early to protect your body and ensure longevity in the field.
It is also important to be mindful of sleep deprivation, especially with the demands of on-call responsibilities. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being allows you to continue providing the highest level of care. Finally, remain a lifelong learner. In complex congenital cardiology, the conditions we encounter are often rare, and no one will ever see every possible case. Staying curious, continuing to learn, and expanding your knowledge are essential to growth and excellence in this field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is the level of exhaustion experienced by healthcare professionals. Anyone working in a clinical medical setting understands the demands of patient volumes, on-call responsibilities, and the emotional weight that comes with caring for others. In complex congenital cardiology, we also face the challenge of working with children who may have life-threatening conditions, which can be incredibly difficult emotionally.
However, one of the greatest rewards of this profession is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference. When we are able to help save a child’s life, we are not just impacting one patient—we are helping an entire family. Looking ahead, I also see opportunities for growth through leadership roles, where experienced professionals can help guide teams, support the next generation of healthcare providers, and continue improving patient care.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Persistence, understanding, and awareness.
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