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Learn more about the Cardiac Sonography Program at Ascension St. Vincent
The St. Vincent Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Program is part of the St. Vincent College of Health Professions, the only hospital-sponsored academic institution in Indiana accredited to award academic degrees. The DMS Program is approved to award the Associate of Applied Science degree. The program is a twenty-four-month program and consists of formal didactic education and supervised clinical education. The DMS program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) under the recommendation of Joint Review Committee for Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs (JRC-DMS) in the areas of General (abdomen and OBGYN) and Vascular Sonography. The students accepted into our program have access to comprehensive, state-of-the-art sonography technology and all types of medical imaging science modalities. Our students also gain patient-focused, hands-on experience with all types of patients receiving medical imaging services. We currently have clinical training sites in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers and Anderson.
7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314 N
Falls Church, VA 22043
703-917-9503
www.ABHES.org
101 West Ohio Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46204-4206
9355 113th St N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500
Ellicott City, MD 21043
443-973-3251
www.jrcdms.org
Dear Prospective Sonography Students,
Thank you for your interest in the St. Vincent College of Health Professions Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program! Our program serves to educate and train qualified individuals to obtain the appropriate certification required for entry-level employment in sonography. Sonography is a rapidly growing field and is in need of qualified technologists to fill the demand. The College is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Educations Schools (ABHES) and is programmatically accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) under the recommendation of Joint Review Committee for Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs (JRC-DMS) in the areas of General and Vascular Sonography. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is approved to award the associate of applied science degree upon completion and graduation from the program. The program is also authorized by the Indiana Board for Proprietary Education.
We value individuals and want to make a positive difference in the lives of patients we serve. Our commitment is to provide students with the highest quality health education available and the appropriate pathway to professional certification. Each program has designed a rigorous curriculum with an active clinical and field participation. Please take some time to look over the information presented.
Our goal is to serve as a model for hospital-based allied health education and training and we are looking for individuals that are called to serve and learn in our hospital communities. Please let us know if you have any questions. We hope to hear from you soon!
Ashlie Munchel, BS, RT(R), RDMS, RVT
Sonography Program Director
St. Vincent College of Health Professions
St. Vincent College of Health Professions Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is a two-year, full-time program. The College is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Educations Schools (ABHES) and is programmatically accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) under the recommendation of Joint Review Committee for Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs (JRC-DMS) in the areas of General and Vascular Sonography. Individuals interested in the program must submit an application to be considered for acceptance into the program. Applications are accepted only from November through January of each year. Classes will begin in June with graduation occurring 24 months later in May. Since the program has limited student capacity, selection into the program is competitive. Not every applicant who applies to the program will be selected. To learn more about the selection process, see Application Process.
The program enrolled the first student cohort in June 2019. Since the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program structure is still in development, more information will be periodically released online.
The program's curriculum will consist of both intensive classroom education and hands-on clinical training. Enrolled students will be engaged in clinical or classroom activities on-site five days per week. All classroom education and clinical training will be conducted within the St. Vincent Health System.
After completion of the first year of the program, the students will be able to apply for eligibility to sit for the Sonography Physics Instrumentation (SPI) board examination through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
60 days prior to graduation from the program, students will be able to apply for eligibility to sit for the ARDMS board examination in abdomen (AB), obstetric (OB) and/or vascular technology (RVT).
This website contains much information about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. If you have any questions after reviewing the information, please contact one of the faculty members below.
Ashlie Munchel, Program Director - ashlie.munchel@ascension.org
St. Vincent College of Health Professions Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program provides equal opportunity to all applicants. The Program is selective in its admissions practices and evaluates applicants based on merit without discrimination on the basis of age, race, religion, creed, color, national origin, marital status, gender, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. The program selects one class annually based on requirements and preference categories listed herein.
2021 Application is Available NOW!
The enrollment period is Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021 for our next program that begins June 1st, 2021.
All applicants must be 18 years of age by June 1. All candidates must complete and submit each of the following:
Pre-registration is not necessary. PRE-ADMISSION CONFERENCES WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY. Click on the Google
hangout link below to attend virtually. Attendance will be monitored and recorded.
To be accepted in the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
DUE TO COVID-19, FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PATIENTS AND ASSOCIATES, OBSERVATIONS WILL NOT BE PART OF THE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM THAT STARTS IN JUNE OF 2021.
Final acceptance and enrollment of applicants will be contingent on the following:
DUE TO COVID-19, FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PATIENTS AND ASSOCIATES, OBSERVATIONS WILL NOT BE PART OF THE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM THAT STARTS IN JUNE OF 2021.
To be considered for admission, it is a requirement that candidates complete an onsite observation in general, obstetric and vascular sonography. Applicants are advised to allow sufficient observation time in general, obstetric, and vascular sonography to familiarize themselves with the role of sonographers in a healthcare setting. Observations may or may not be completed at a hospital affiliated with the Sonography Program. It is required that a minimum of 4 hours must be completed in each general and vascular concentrations AND a minimum of 4 hours in the obstetric concentration for a total of 12 hours. This needs to be completed before the application deadline and must be completed less than eighteen months prior to the start of the program. All observation hours must be documented in the observation log and verified by the supervising sonographer. All observations hours not completed within St. Vincent need to be approved by the program director. To request an observation at an Ascension St. Vincent hospital or to find out more information, please CLICK HERE. Required documents can be sent to the program director listed below.
Ashlie Munchel
Program Director
ashlie.munchel@ascension.org
(please contact via e-mail)
For a variety of reasons, there are some individuals whose overall college GPA is adversely affected by a period of poor academic performance, such that their overall GPA is not an accurate indication of their true academic abilities. Many of these same students have subsequently demonstrated the ability to achieve academic success. The bankruptcy policy allows individuals to exclude an earlier portion of their academic record while still receiving credit for having passed prerequisite courses so that the GPA considered by the Program Admissions Committee more accurately reflects the student’s true academic abilities. The policy does not allow individuals to pick and choose poor classes or semesters, but instead allows an individual to convey, “that was me then, but this is what I am capable of now.” If you feel that this policy would benefit you we encourage you to submit your appeal.
Applicants may request in writing to the program director that college grades prior to a specified date not be factored into the calculation of an overall college GPA and therefore not be considered as part of the selection criteria provided the following criteria are met.
If approved, all academic grades prior to the bankruptcy date will not be considered toward the calculated GPA. However, all courses passed with a letter grade of “C” or higher regardless of bankruptcy will still be counted toward meeting the program’s general education requirements.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program faculty will review each bankruptcy request and render a decision based on the merits of each request individually. Transcripts of all academic work must still be submitted as indicated.
Applications are initially reviewed for verification of minimal requirements. Applications who meet minimal requirements are scored using an established and approved score sheet.
Of the applicants who attend the Pre-Admission Conference, a pre-determined number of applicants will be invited to attend a personal interview. Interview candidates will be notified via letter of their respective interview appointment. Interviews will be conducted using an established format including defined questions and interview score sheet.
Following each candidate’s interview, a comprehensive score will be determined by the interview team based on an approved comprehensive score sheet. This comprehensive score is based in part on the interview itself but will also include characteristics and factors that are predictive of success in the program. Applicants will be rank ordered according to their comprehensive score. Final selection of applicants into the program will be based on the comprehensive score and represents the interview team’s assessment of the overall likelihood of applicant success in the program.
In order to meet all of the requirements in the general and vascular concentrations, clinical sites are assigned by the program director. Sonography students will rotate through all concentrations including general, obstetric, and vascular rotations. It is up to the program director if the student is allowed to focus their clinical sites to a certain concentration in the second year of the program.
All candidates who meet minimum requirements are encouraged to apply to the program. Because the selection processes are competitive, not all applicants who meet minimum admission requirements will be selected into the program. All qualified candidates will be evaluated for consideration based on merit utilizing the program's established screening process. Preference will be given to candidates who, at the time of application, have earned a minimum of an academic bachelor's degree in any discipline from a regionally-accredited institution or has completed a single two-year allied health education program that is patient-care related.
Applicants educated in foreign countries are welcomed to apply to the program. However, candidates must have completed all of the program’s general education requirements through regionally-accredited American colleges and universities. No foreign academic work will be considered toward the general education requirements. Foreign transcripts or the equivalent domestic evaluation of foreign transcripts (ECE, for example) are not required.
The St. Vincent College of Health Professions does not discriminate on the basis of disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). College programs do not request disability information from program applicants. Likewise, candidates are advised to not discuss or disclose a disability to college faculty, students or other representatives. If accepted into a College program, candidates will undergo a physical assessment by a St. Vincent Health hospital Associate Health Office during which candidates can disclose their disability. Accepted candidates will have the opportunity to request accommodations for disabilities as defined by the American with Disabilities Act and state laws during their physician exam. The Associate Health Office will advise the College on accommodations necessary for the disability. The College, in consultation with the respective Associate Health Office, will determine if disability accommodations are reasonable. The College reserves the right to deny disability accommodations that are not deemed to be reasonable. Those seeking more information should contact the program director, Ashlie Munchel at 317-338-2484 or ashlie.munchel@ascension.org.
The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography may deny exam eligibility for any applicant convicted of a felony, or misdemeanor, with the sole exception of speeding and minor parking violations. Consistent with ARDMS practices, applicants will be asked on the application to disclose their criminal history, excluding speeding and minor traffic violations. Applicants who disclose their criminal history must provide details as directed on the application.
Failure to disclose a positive criminal history will result in denial of the application. A positive criminal history will require the candidate to submit to the ARDMS a pre-eligibility application at their own expense. The applicant will be required to forward the decision of the ARDMS to the Program Director upon receipt. The decision of the ARDMS will be considered when selecting candidates into the program. In such cases when the ARDMS decision is pending when final selections are made, full acceptance will be contingent upon receiving the ARDMS decision by an established deadline.
Denial of pre-eligibility by the ARDMS will result in immediate revocation of acceptance. While approval of pre-eligibility by the ARDMS is required to gain full acceptance into the program, the program reserves the right to deny full acceptance or revoke conditional acceptance to any individual with a positive criminal history based on individual circumstances.
All College applicants will be asked on the application to disclose if they have ever had a professional license or certification suspended or revoked by any certifying agency or governing body. Applicants must provide details of the suspended or revoked professional license or certification as directed in the application. Failure to disclose a suspended or revoked professional license or certification will result in denial of consideration or withdrawal of conditional acceptance. The College reserves the right to deny acceptance or rescind conditional acceptance to any individual history of suspended or revoked professional license or certification based on individual circumstances.
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Algebra, Statistics or Higher Math | 3.0 Credits |
General Physics or Radiographic Physics | 3.0 Credits |
Communication Skills: | 3.0 Credits |
Human Anatomy and Physiology: | 5.0 Credits |
Medical Terminology: | 1.0 Credits |
Course | Credits |
---|---|
This course provides the diagnostic medical sonography student with an orientation of the program, introduces the student to the sonographic equipment, sonographic anatomy and sonographic scanning so the student can transition into the clinical site with basic knowledge of a sonographer and their expectations. This course will give the students knowledge of the protocols being utilized in their clinical settings. The students will have a very basic and limited understanding of normal anatomy, physiology, protocol, and scanning techniques with the more frequent exams seen in general and vascular sonography so the students can transition into their clinical site with a better understanding of sonography. This course contains educational objectives, learning activities and scan labs directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
1.5 Credits |
This course provides the diagnostic medical sonography students with the basic concepts of patient care including consideration for the physical and psychological needs of the patient. Some topics to be covered include: Safety and transport of a patient, infection control, isolation techniques, aseptic technique, handling acute situations, pharmacology, emergency recognition and response, and vital signs. This is a time for the students to develop their own patient care techniques while developing an understanding of body mechanics, patient assessment techniques, ethical, legal, and professional issues. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
1.5 Credits |
This course is designed to provide the diagnostic medical sonography students an understanding of work related musculoskeletal injury, incidence of sonographer injuries, and prevention of such injuries by following proper ergonomic guidelines. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in utilizing proper ergonomics throughout their education as well as sustaining their career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. This course will also provide the student with knowledge of ultrasound safety, including the ALARA principle and how to complete quality assurance assessments on the diagnostic ultrasound machines, and the importance of professional development within the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. |
1.0 Credits |
This course provides the diagnostic medical sonography student with an introduction to sonographic anatomy, sonographic scanning, and patient care. This course unit contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
3.0 Credits |
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Upon completion of this course, the diagnostic medical sonography student will gain knowledge and understanding of the normal organ systems and vascular structures of the abdomen and superficial organs. The student will gain knowledge to recognize and identify the sonographic appearance of normal anatomic structures, including anatomic variants and normal Doppler patterns of the abdomen and superficial organs. This course unit contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
4.5 Credits |
This course is designed to provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with a thorough understanding of normal and abnormal female pelvic anatomy, pathology associated with the female pelvis, conception, embryonic development and sonographic technique and appearance of the aforementioned topics. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
2.5 Credits |
This course is designed to provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with the knowledge of extremity venous and arterial systems to include anatomy, physiology and pathology of the aforemen tioned system. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
3.0 Credits |
This course allows the diagnostic medical sonography student to develop a fundamental knowledge of the physical and vascular principles that are used in the field of diagnostic medical sonography. This course unit contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
3.0 Credits |
These courses provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with the clinical opportunity to develop their scanning techniques and patient care skills with the guidance of a staff sonographer. |
6.5 Credits |
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Upon completion of this course, the diagnostic medical sonography student will gain knowledge and understanding of the normal and abnormal organ systems and vascular structures of the abdomen and superficial organs. The student will gain knowledge to recognize, identify, and appropriately document the abnormal sonographic and Doppler patterns of disease processes, pathology, and pathophysiology of the abdomen and superficial structures. The student will learn how to modify the scanning protocol based on the sonographic findings and the differential diagnosis. The students will gain knowledge of the invasive procedures that are performed with ultrasound guidance. This course unit contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
4.0 Credits |
This course is designed to provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with a thorough understanding of, normal and abnormal fetal development, pathologies that can occur during fetal development and prognosis and treatment of such pathologies during pregnancy and after birth. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
2.0 Credits |
This course is designed to provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with the knowledge of the abdominal vasculature system to include anatomy, physiology and pathology of the aforementioned system. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
3.0 Credits |
This course is a continuation of Ultrasound Physics I and allows the diagnostic medical sonography student to develop a fundamental knowledge of the physical and vascular principles that are used in the field of diagnostic medical sonography. This course unit contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
3.0 Credits |
These courses provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with the clinical opportunity to develop their scanning techniques and patient care skills with the guidance of a staff sonographer. |
6.5 Credits |
Course | Credits |
---|---|
These courses provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with the clinical opportunity to develop their scanning techniques and patient care skills with the guidance of a staff sonographer. |
6.5 Credits |
Course | Credits |
---|---|
This course is designed to provide the diagnostic medical sonography students an understanding of normal and abnormal conditions associated with a pediatric patient, including normal and abnormal neurological development of neonatal head and spinal cord. This course will also give the students the knowledge of the ultrasound exams performed less often, such as MSK, GI Tract, abdominal wall and contrast imaging. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
1.5 Credits |
This course is a continuation of OBGYN Sonography II. This course is designed to provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with a thorough understanding of pathologies that can occur during fetal development and prognosis and treatment of such pathologies during pregnancy and after birth as well as medical ethics associated with pathological processes. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
2.0 Credits |
This course is designed to provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with the knowledge of the extracranial cerebrovascular and intracranial cerebrovascular systems to include anatomy, physiology and pathology of the aforementioned system. This course is also designed to provide an understanding of miscellaneous arterial and venous anatomic and pathological conditions related to the profession of sonography. This course contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
3.0 Credits |
These courses provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with the clinical opportunity to develop their scanning techniques and patient care skills with the guidance of a staff sonographer. |
10.0 Credits |
Course | Credits |
---|---|
This course allows the diagnostic medical sonography student to develop professional awareness of the knowledge that can be gained, by doing follow-up work and research on interesting cases. This course unit contains educational objectives and learning activities directed toward aiding the student in obtaining this goal. |
1.5 Credits |
This course will review all subjects covered throughout the course of the program. The goal is to prepare diagnostic medical sonography students for taking the ARDMS registry examinations upon completion of the program. |
2.5 Credits |
These courses provide the diagnostic medical sonography student with the clinical opportunity to develop their scanning techniques and patient care skills with the guidance of a staff sonographer. |
9.5 Credits |
St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
2001 W. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-338-2868
St. Vincent Anderson Hospital
2015 Jackson Street
Anderson, IN 46016
765-646-8619
St. Vincent Women's
8111 Township Line Road
Indianapolis, IN 46260
765-415-8111
St. Vincent Carmel
13500 North Meridian Street
Carmel, IN 46032
317-582-7000
St. Vincent Fishers
13861 Olio Road
Fishers, IN 46037
765-415-9000
St. Vincent Primary Care Center
8414 Naab Rd., Ste. 210
Indianapolis, IN 46260
St. Vincent Medical Group Vascular Lab
8433 Harcourt Rd., Ste. 100
Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-583-7600
St. Vincent Vein Solution
13450 N. Meridian St. Ste. 160
Carmel, IN 46032
317-582-7676
St. Vincent Maternal Fetal Medicine Genetics
8081 Township Line Rd., Ste. 203
Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-371-9390
St. Vincent Maternal Fetal Medicine Carmel
13500 North Meridian St., Ste 200
Carmel, IN 46032
317-582-8806
Class hours are typically from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with breaks and lunch but the exact schedule may vary slightly depending on the semester. Clinical hours are typically 8:00a – 4:00p but some clinical sites will require 7:00a – 3:00p.
Junior year students attend class on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and have clinical observation on Mondays and Wednesdays during the first summer session. Junior year students attend class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters. Clinical days for junior year students are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Clinical days during the senior summer term will be Monday through Friday. Senior year students attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters. Clinical days for senior year students are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the fall and spring semester.
Semester | Class | Clinic |
---|---|---|
Summer | Tuesday, Thursday and Friday |
(Observation) Monday and Wednesday |
Junior Fall | Monday, Wednesday and Friday | Tuesday and Thursday |
Junior Spring | Monday, Wednesday and Friday | Tuesday and Thursday |
Summer | Monday - Friday | |
Senior Fall | Tuesday and Thursday | Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
Senior Spring | Tuesday and Thursday | Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
Indianapolis serves as the program's administrative location and all academic courses are taught at this location.
The program's structure allows students to complete a significant portion of their clinical education within the Indianapolis area. However, some travel to other St. Vincent Health clinical sites in Indiana is necessary to provide students with an expansive understanding of sonography in different settings. Travel to St. Vincent Anderson, St. Vincent Carmel and St. Vincent Fishers can be expected in order to gain the most experience within sonography.
Breaks are scheduled between semesters. Additionally, students have personal time off (PTO) to be used for personal reasons.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program honors the following hospital recognized holidays. Students are not assigned to clinic or class on these holidays.
Students must take every diagnostic medical sonography course in the sequence outlined on the “curriculum” page. Students cannot drop or add courses. Students earn letter grades based on academic and clinical performance. The program adheres to the grading criteria below for most program courses.
Students are required to pass every course with a letter grade of “C” or higher to graduate from the program. Failure to pass a course with a letter grade of “C” or higher will result in student dismissal from the program.
The program is academically challenging and labor-intensive due to its mastery-based approach to academic and clinical education. In short, students are required to achieve a master level performance of 80% on most written tests and 75% on clinical evaluations. Students are required to repeat (with a limited number of attempts) evaluations/examinations until the master performance level is achieved.
To be eligible for graduation, the following requirements must be met:
Competent Practice
Safety
Patient Care
Professional Practice
Qualifications
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is seeking accreditation to award the Associate of Applied Science degree. However, until accreditation is achieved, graduates will receive a certificate upon completion of the program.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program will not consider individuals wishing to transfer into the program from another program in sonography.
Although not employees of St. Vincent Health, enrolled students do receive some services and benefits as a result of their enrollment in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. Below is a summary of said services and benefits.
College faculty offers academic counseling to all enrolled students. Students will be counseled regularly regarding their academic and clinical progress. While College faculty members are available for individual academic assistance, the College does not offer formal tutoring services.
Enrolled students are also entitled to pastoral counseling for matters of personal or religious nature free of charge. Interested students should see the Pastoral Department for more information.
College students are eligible to receive the following health services:
Students are required to carry their own personal health insurance. Health insurance is not provided to enrolled students. The College will not be liable for any general illness that occurs to a student as a result of clinical training.
College students are covered under the general liability and medical malpractice coverage of Ascension Health only while acting in the authorized capacity and scope of students assigned to clinical sites within St. Vincent Health and only while acting in accordance to all established program and clinical site policies and procedures.
While the College does not guarantee employment upon graduation, the College faculty assists students in finding employment opportunities relative to their training field. In addition to writing recommendation letters, College faculty also post position openings, and offer resume’ and interview writing tips.
St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital has an on-site medical library and a robust online digital library. The medical library has numerous written resources including periodicals as well as internet access for research purposes. Students can use hospital library resources, including internet access, for legitimate and relevant academic purposes.
The American Disabilities Act (ADA) defines “disability" as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity or who have a record of such impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability ( www.adata.org). College programs do not request disability information from program candidates. Likewise candidates are advised to not discuss or disclose a disability to College faculty, students or other representatives. The College does not discriminate on the basis of disability in any of its programs, services or activities. The College will not deny any otherwise qualified student with a disability the opportunity to participate in, or benefit from, any aid, benefit or service that the College provides. The College strives to ensure that all disabled students have full access to the benefits of the College and will engage in a good-faith interactive process with all disabled students to attempt to identify reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations do not include measures which fundamentally alter the academic programs, which place an undue financial burden on the College, or which may endanger the student or others at the College. Additional information regarding requesting accommodations will be provided to enrolled students.
All College programs are offered only in English. Language assistance is not available.
Sonography is a non-invasive medical procedure that uses the echoes of high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to construct an image (sonogram) of internal organs or body structures. In sonography, a transmitting device (the transducer) sends out high-frequency ultrasound waves. Harmless sound waves, which contain no radiation, bounce off the surfaces of the object they hit. The reflected sound forms an echo which is visualized on the screen.
There are several areas of specialization in the field of sonography, including:
A diagnostic medical sonographer is a highly-skilled professional who uses specialized equipment to create images (sonograms) of structures inside the human body. Physicians interpret the images to make a medical diagnosis. The professional responsibilities of a diagnostic medical sonographer include, but are not limited to:
To practice sonography, sonographers must possess the following skills and abilities:
1. Physical/Motor Skills
2. Sensory Abilities
3. Communication Abilities
4. Emotional and Behavior Skills
5. Intellectual Abilities
St. Vincent College of Health Professions does not discriminate on the basis of disability as determined by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Physical/motor skills, sensory abilities, and communication skills are not assessed during the selection phase of the admissions process. Emotional/behavioral skills and intellectual abilities are assessed during the selection phase of the admissions process as they relate to a candidate’s academic record and ability to communicate effectively in English during a personal interview. The SVCHP Disability Accommodations policy will detail the procedure to request disability accommodations.
Clinical education involves training in a potentially hazardous environment. While all reasonable efforts are taken to assure student safety including adherence to state and local laws and following institutional policies and procedures, students should be aware of these environmental risks.
1. Exposure to infectious diseases:
2. Exposure to workplace violence:
3. Exposure to sharp instruments:
4. Ergonomic stressors:
Sonography Program tuition and fees paid to the St. Vincent College of Health Professions.
Tuition | |
---|---|
Summer Semester Year 1 | $400 |
Fall Semester Year 1 | $1,400 |
Spring Semester Year 1 | $1,400 |
Summer Semester Year 2 | $400 |
Fall Semester Year 2 | $1,400 |
Spring Semester Year 2 | $1,400 |
Books and Materials | $710* |
Other Fees | $0 |
Total | $7,110 |
Additional fees not paid to the College or programs are listed below.
CPR | Up to $100** |
---|---|
Uniforms | $100 - $150** |
Books & Materials | $600** |
SPI Exam (Year 1) | $250*** |
Specialty Exam (Graduation) | $250*** |
Total | $1,050 - $1,100 |
It is a requirement that each student brings their own laptop to every didactic class and scan lab.
Tuition is paid each semester. Accepted students will be required to pay a deposit of $400 by the date established in the student's acceptance letter to reserve their place in the program. This deposit will cover the tuition for the first summer semester. Material fees will still be due for the first semester as stated in the acceptance letter.
Tuition (excluding textbook, materials and other fees) refunds are made for voluntary student withdrawal from the program. Upon the student's written request, a refund will be made on the basis of a percentage of the tuition payment. The semester refund schedule is as follows:
The College does not participate in Title IV federal student aid (FASFA) programs and as a result students may not be able to have their student loans deferred. Students should contact the financial aid office of the college through which the loan was processed to discuss their options.
College programs are approved by the Indiana State Department of Veterans Affairs under Title 38, US Code 3676 for G.I. Bill funding. Eligible enrolled students may obtain financial assistance to cover College fees through this provision. Interested candidates should contact the Program Director for more information. While the College will work with any third-party payer, it is the student’s responsibility to secure adequate funding sources.
St. Vincent Indianapolis
2001 W. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-338-2484
E-mail: ashlie.munchel@ascension.org
Ashlie Munchel is the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director for the St. Vincent College of Health Professions. She attended IUPUI, where she graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Radiography and a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Imaging Technology. She is certified by the ARRT in radiography and by the ARDMS in abdominal sonography. Currently, she is pursuing her ARDMS vascular certification and undergoing classes for her Master of Science degree in Adult Education through Indiana University. She began her radiology career as a radiographer at St. Vincent Carmel Hospital in 2006 and became a sonographer in 2012. Over the last six years, she has worked within IU Health and Franciscan Heath as a sonographer. In 2017, she began teaching at IUPUI in the Medical Imaging Technology Program as an Adjunct Lecturer. She is excited to bring her professional experience to St. Vincent Health and build the sonography program within St. Vincent College of Health Professions. She has a passion for teaching and sonography and she is excited to share this passion with our first class of sonography students starting in June of 2019.
St. Vincent Indianapolis
2001 W. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-338-5319
E-mail: Rebecca.edwards1@ascension.org
Rebecca Edwards is the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Clinical Coordinator for the St. Vincent College of Health Professions. She attended Butler University, where she graduated with an Associate of Science degree in the Allied Health Ultrasound Technology Program. She is certified by the ARDMS in abdominal sonography, obstetrical & gynecological sonography, and breast sonography. Currently, she would like to pursue her ARDMS vascular certification. She began her career at Methodist Hospital in 1985. She has worked in the Methodist Hospital/IU Health system in both the inpatient and outpatient Radiology Departments. She has also worked PRN for Advanced Fertility Group and Riverview Health. At Methodist Hospital, Rebecca worked for several years with students who were attending the Methodist Hospital Ultrasound Add-A-Comp training program. It was here that she developed her love of teaching. Rebecca has a passion for the field of sonography and feels it is time to share her knowledge and passion with the next generation of sonographers.
St. Vincent Indianapolis
2001 W. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260
E-mail: Sarah.Maloy@ascension.org
Sarah Maloy is the Vascular Clinical Coordinator for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program through the St. Vincent College of Health Professions. She attended St. Vincent Health/St. Joseph Hospital Radiography program where she completed her radiography certification. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging focusing on Sonography at Indiana University Kokomo followed by receiving her Master of Science degree in Management through Indiana Wesleyan University. She is board certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists in radiography, computed tomography and general ultrasound. She also received her breast and vascular ultrasound certification through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. She has worked at Logansport Memorial Hospital for over fifteen years and over nine years cumulatively at St. Vincent Kokomo in medical imaging. She developed her love of teaching working with medical imaging and sonography students at both locations. She loves what she does and wants to share her knowledge and passion to future students wanting to develop a career in medical imaging.
No, the general education coursework does not have to completed before being accepted into the program. If you are accepted into the program without your general education coursework being complete, you will need to show proof of completion with an official transcript prior to June 1st of the year of enrollment. All general education coursework must be completed with a letter grade of “C” or better by June 1st of the year of enrollment.
Please check back as we continue to develop the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.
There are opportunities available for new graduates. The long-term employment projections still show that there will be a need for qualified sonographers as our population continues to age.
The sonography field is growing at a much faster rate than average and the job outlook remains promising. However, please keep in mind that no academic program can guarantee employment after graduation.
We look for individuals who have a strong background in biological sciences and mathematics (and good grades). This will come from regionally-accredited college-level coursework. We also look for work experience with customer contact and service-oriented emphasis. Candidates should possess good interpersonal communication skills and a discernable interest in health care.
Due to the limited number of spaces within the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, we look for a candidate that is knowledgeable about the field and is confident that this is the career path they are truly passionate about.
Given the tremendous interest in our program, we cannot guarantee that any candidate will be accepted. The program will stop short of prescribing a specific plan to any or all candidates. Each candidate is expected to evaluate his/her own strengths and weaknesses and to establish a plan that will address relevant weaknesses. Should a candidate not be accepted, we are always happy to discuss with a candidate our perceived strengths and weaknesses.
The ideal candidate will possess a healthy balance of characteristics and skills deemed desirable by the faculty. The ideal candidate:
The program faculty is sensitive to the inconveniences of traveling for classes and clinical assignments and makes every reasonable effort to minimize the travel expectations. However, traveling is a necessary and reasonable expectation given the learning opportunities that result. We are proud of the comprehensive education in medical imaging that we provide, which will greatly benefit our graduates as they seek employment opportunities.
The program does have a central classroom located at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Additionally, the program requires some traveling to clinical sites in Carmel, Fishers, Anderson and Kokomo during the program.
To help offset the expenses of travel, the program keeps tuition and book expenses very reasonable. While the tuition costs of some local programs can reach $14,000 annually, our tuition is a very reasonable $3,200 annually. We encourage candidates to inquire about all programs regarding their travel expectations and to weigh the costs of travel with tuition and textbook expenses.
We believe that our program is one of the most cost-effective programs in this region that is able to offer a comprehensive approach to education in varying settings and access to state-of-the-art technology to ultimately making our graduates highly marketable!
Sonographer salary varies throughout the country and depends on what credentials you obtain following graduation from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. The average full-time salary for sonographers in Indiana is about $58,000-$62,000. For more information, see www.asrt.org/main/news-research/research-studies-and-surveys or www.sdms.org/resources/salary-calculator.
Although courses may have similar names and subject matter, the program courses are presented with an emphasis on material that is relevant to sonography.
The program does not participate in Title IV financial funding and therefore does not offer financial aid opportunities. Thus Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, and other state and federal-sanctioned aid do not apply. As a result, the program does keep tuition and textbook expenses very reasonable.
We encourage candidates to seek scholarship opportunities throughout their local communities and local civic organizations. We will be happy to work with any third-party payer who will guarantee tuition or textbook payment on behalf of an enrolled student.
This is a very common and poignant question and an issue we cannot emphasize enough to be seriously considered by each individual applying to the program. Although we cannot dictate what a student does outside of the program, past experiences have demonstrated that it is extremely difficult to successfully meet the requirements of the program while working a full time schedule. Some factors to consider beyond an individuals personal stamina and abilities are:
Many students do work part-time while in the program. The program faculty, while sympathetic and understanding of the situation, cannot lower the performance expectations of a student. Ultimately it is for each individual to honestly evaluate their abilities, both physical and academic and determine if after the commitment to the program hours and the hours to the job that there is enough time left to eat, sleep, study, travel, and for family while still meeting the requirements of the program…for 24 months.
The increased interest in radiography over the past few years has indeed resulted in an increased number of applicants applying for a limited number of positions in the program and has therefore made the application process more competitive. For any applicant to be considered for acceptance they will need to demonstrate a history of successful academic performance as well as a personality that is compatible with both the academic and healthcare environment. Our selection panel evaluates many factors when selecting candidates for the program and has found that there is no one “model” for the ideal student. There is no one factor or attribute that can guarantee acceptance into the program.
The program is full time and two years in length. During the week a student will spend 2-3 days in the clinic usually from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and 2-3 days in the classroom usually from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The program is unable to accommodate applicants seeking any form of part-time education.