In Fall of 2020, IU Fort Wayne students were able to take prerequisite courses for the Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging with a focus on the primary pathway of Sonography. This semester the program welcomed its first cohort of students. The program, administered through the IU School of Medicine, is one of the only Bachelor of Science programs that offers a focus in sonography in Indiana.

Sonographers, also known as Ultrasound Technologists, use sound waves to produce images of the human body for the purpose of medical diagnosis. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of general sonography and will be prepared to perform medical diagnostic sonography exams in a variety of settings such as hospitals, emergency rooms, outpatient clinics and more following graduation.

“The program is designed to promote the transfer of theory into practice as students apply their classroom and laboratory learning in an actual healthcare setting,” said Cheri Duncan, Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiologic & Imaging Sciences and 2021 voted Reader’s Choice Best College Professor. “The clinical education portion of the program will be conducted in hospitals, clinics and physician offices to provide students with supervised, hands-on sonography experience in a variety of ultrasound areas including general, OB/GYN, and vascular.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for medical sonographers is projected to grow by 14 percent from 2020 to 2030. Additionally, about 12,000 openings for medical sonographers are projected each year.

“The field of medical sonography is expected to continue to evolve rapidly, and the demand for highly skilled sonographers is expected to continue to grow due to the dependency of many healthcare providers on quality images as part of the diagnosis and treatment of patients,” said Duncan. “We are excited for these students to dive in and lead the way for future sonography students on campus.”