The Weatherford College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is a 22-month curriculum comprised of classroom, laboratory, and clinical learning experience. This is a full-time program. While the majority of coursework and clinical hours are performed during the week from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., the clinical learning experience may require that the student attend clinicals during the evening hours or on the weekend. Applicants accepted into the WC Sonography Program should be aware that clinical placements may require travel up to 80 miles from Weatherford College. Clinical site assignments are based on each student's performed exams to ensure an equitable scanning experience at graduation. The course of study is comprised of 65 semester-credit hours and is designed to prepare individuals for careers as entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers.
Weatherford College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered on the basis of qualifications without regard to gender, age, race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, or the presence of a non-job-related disability or any other legally protected status.
A sonographer provides a service to patients utilizing medial ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal structures). Sonographers obtain patient history, as well as other supporting clinical information, prior to saving sonographic images of human anatomy. After obtaining the sonographic images, they develop a preliminary report and submit the study to a radiologist, who then reads the images to help diagnose patients.
The ARDMS registry pass rates for all three registries and job placement rates among the WC DMS program’s graduates are substantially higher than the global performance average. Please see “Program Effectiveness Data” for the most recent information regarding test-taker outcomes, pass rates, job placement rates, and retention rates.
The Weatherford College Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the Joint Review Committee on Accreditation for Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS).
CAAHEP
- Address: 9355 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775
- Phone: 727-210-2350
- Website: www.caahep.org
JRCDMS
- Address: 6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 21043
- Phone: 443-973-3251
- Website: www.jrcdms.org
Weatherford College is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Address: 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033
- Phone: 404)-679-4500
- Website: https://sacscoc.org/
The goal of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is to prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the following concentrations:
- Abdominal sonography- extended
- Obstetrics and gynecology sonography
- Vascular sonography
Learning Outcomes
- Provide an avenue for an associate degree in sonography education in the community.
- Present students with standards of sonography practice with an emphasis on legal and ethical practice.
- Prepare graduates to meet the needs of this community and surrounding communities.
- Prepare graduates to function safely and effectively in a variety of health care settings and with populations that may be diverse culturally, racially, ethically and developmentally.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program prepares you for a fulfilling career as a sonographer.
The field of sonography offers a wide range of career opportunities! As a graduate, you will be trained to perform studies in abdominal, obstetric and gynecologic, and vascular sonography. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose your work environment, whether that’s in a hospital, outpatient clinic, speciality clinic, or as a traveling sonographer.
- The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the job outlook for diagnostic
medical sonographers is 15% from 2023-2033
Reference: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0019100
Requirements
Technical Standards
Technical Standards The following must be able to be performed by each student who is accepted into the sonography program in order to carry out the responsibilities required of a sonographer based on analysis of current literature, expert opinion, open forum commentary and formal consensus. Listed below are some of the technical standards that sonographers must be able to routinely perform. If an individual is unable to meet the technical standards, they will need to speak directly with the program director and will be referred to the ADA department.
- Lift more than 50 pounds routinely (be able to assist patients on and off examination tables)
- Push, pull, bend and stoop routinely
- Have functional use of both hands, wrists and shoulders
- Working standing on feet 80% of the time
- Distinguish audible sounds
- Adequately view sonograms, including color distinctions
- Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals
- Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence
Retrieved from: www.sdms.org
Program Director
Kelly Staub has Master of Science in Health Studies with a Focus in Higher Education
from Texas Woman's University. After working in the field as a sonographer and a radiologic
technologist, she started working full-time at Weatherford College in the Diagnostic
Medical Sonography Program as the Clinical Coordinator in 2016. She currently serves
as the Program Director.
She is credentialed by The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography in abdomen, breast, OB/GYN, and vascular ultrasound. She is also credentialed through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists in radiography.
Kelly is one of 12 professionals who currently serves on the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) Board of Directors. She serves on the board as one of the representatives for the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS), the largest professional membership organization for sonographers in the world. She has served as a JRC-DMS site visitor for multiple years and is an active volunteer with SDMS.
Clinical Coordinator
Tessa Gray has her Master of Science in Health Studies with a Focus in Higher Education from Texas Woman's University. After working in the field as a sonographer, she started working full-time at Weatherford College in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program in 2016. She currently serves as the Clinical Coordinator.
She is credentialed by The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography in abdomen, OB/GYN, and vascular ultrasound.
Tessa is a member of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and volunteers as a programmatic accreditation site visitor for the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
Related Programs
Transfer Options
Students who are interested in transferring to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Graduates of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program are encouraged to further their education by enrolling in Weatherford College’s online Bachelor of Applied Technology in Medical and Health Services Management.
Advanced Placement Policy
At this time, advanced placement is not offered for either sonography program at Weatherford College. Each applicant must meet all application requirements.
Scholarships
I am truly grateful for the school I've chosen among all DMS programs in this entire country. I worked as a healthcare professional in Japan but decided to move to the US and study medical ultrasound in depth. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program in Weatherford College has an outstanding course curriculum that well prepares students for real-life clinical situations, and amazing instructors who are extremely helpful, organized, and willing to solve any problems a student might have. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is interested in sonography!