Presently, several parts of the United States have caught up with the rising number of aspiring sonographers, as evidenced by numerous academic firms offering at least one type of sonography program. In the state of Wisconsin, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare- St. Francis and Sanford Brown have both emerged as excellent choices for aspiring sonographers.
Program Description and Details
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis has dedicated a whole unit exclusively dedicated to the said profession. At St. Francis’ School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, enrollees can choose between the General/Vascular and Cardiac/Vascular programs. The former focuses on equipping students with the proper skills and ample knowledge in performing vascular, obstetric, gynecologic, and abdominal ultrasound. The latter, on the other hand, concentrates on teaching students how to conduct vascular and cardiac examinations.
Meanwhile, the Allied Health Diagnostic Areas of Study at Sanford-Brown offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree Program. The school’s sonography course follows a standard curriculum plus Pegasus Lectures. Pegasus is an innovative teaching method that centers on conceptual learning and clinical application. Founded by Frank Miele in 1992, Pegasus Lectures mainly involves the use of online seminars with interactive features, review segments, note taking features, etc.
Program Prerequisites
Those who wish to be admitted in St. Francis’ School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography must be able to comply with one of the three admission criteria. First, completion of a two-year Allied Health Occupation Training Program i.e. Medical Technology, Occupational Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapist, and Registered Nursing. Second, a B.S. degree with completed coursework in Human Anatomy & Physiology, Biology or Microbiology, Medical Terminology, Algebra, Pathophysiology, Basic Physics, and Communications. Finally, a current enrollee in any undergraduate program of St. Francis’ syndicate schools i.e. Mt. Mary College and Concordia University of Wisconsin.
At Sanford-Brown, enrollees must be able to meet either or both minimum testing or college credit requirements. Although the institution generally requires applicants to take and pass the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (Wonderlic SLE) prior to enrollment, it does not apply to DMS program enrollees. Instead, they are admitted based on math and science grades, previous postsecondary experience, and Accuplacer test scores. Those who have graduated with a B.S. degree also qualify for admission to the program.
Advantages
Both Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis and Sanford-Brown have established a strong reputation as producers of highly competent graduates. As to which DMS program enrollees must choose, it will have to depend on their personal preferences in terms of affordability.
Being a non-profit organization, St. Francis does not offer financial aid for those who have will avail of the program while Sanford-Brown provides students with several options to help with the expenses of this ultrasound technician school.
With what these institutions have to offer, it would be reasonable for an aspiring sonographer in Wisconsin to include Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis and Sanford-Brown in their options.
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