Systems and methods for control of a medical data processing system are provided. Some embodiments are particularly directed to presenting a user interface for control of an IVUS imaging system. In one embodiment, a method comprises: presenting a set of mode options to a user at a user display device; receiving a mode selection selected by the user; determining a set of operating parameters based on the mode selection; receiving, by a medical processing system, a first set of medical sensing data; and processing, by the medical processing system, the first set of medical sensing data according to the operating parameters. The determining may be further based on at least one of a previous mode selection, a user preference, an operative course of a medical procedure, patient information, the first set of medical sensing data, a second set of medical sensing data, a status indicator, and a sensing device identifier.