The program is one of California’s few hospital-based sonography programs — and the only one in the nation accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) to train in these five different sonography disciplines:
- General sonography (abdominal extended and OB/GYN)
- Adult cardiac echocardiography
- Pediatric cardiac echocardiography
- Vascular sonography
- Advanced cardiac echocardiography
It was also the first in the nation to offer an advanced cardiovascular sonography program. This 18-month program is designed for practicing echocardiographers to complete formal education in areas that promote quality, efficiency and technical expertise in the busy echocardiographic laboratory. Community Regional also offers the only CAAHEP-accredited pediatric cardiac sonography program in California.
Training graduates for hard-to-fill healthcare positions
“Sonography positions are hard to fill, and it takes a lot of one-on-one and hands-on training to produce one sonographer,” said Joy Guthrie, PhD, director of Community’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. “That’s why having 21 graduates this year is so exciting. We are able to help fill those positions.” About half of Community’s sonographers and ultrasound techs are graduates Guthrie helped train. The sonography program maintains clinical affiliations with several regional hospitals and private practices to provide substantial educational opportunities for its students.
“The success of the program is truly a team effort,” Guthrie said. “We have exceptional support from Community’s leadership, fantastic affiliations with regional hospitals and outpatient clinics, tireless clinical oversight by the clinical sonographers, as well as exceptional faculty and program administrative support.”
Learn more about sonography training programs available at Community.
