The diagnostic medical sonographer is a health care professional who performs diagnostic ultrasound examinations under a physician’s supervision. Sonographers are required to integrate medical knowledge of cross-sectional and three-dimensional anatomy, physiology, pathology and ultrasound physics to imaging patients in the clinical setting.

Sonographers work within the framework of an examination protocol, where they must exercise judgment to tailor each examination to the individual patient’s needs to answer the clinical questions.

The interaction between ultrasound and a patient’s body tissues requires the constant adjustment of techniques and procedures during the examination. Therefore, the sonographer must be able to understand the interactions between ultrasound physics, anatomy, pathology and equipment manipulation to produce diagnostic medical images that provide comprehensive information about the patient’s specific pathology.

Sonographers may work in a variety of different inpatient and outpatient clinical environments from hospital medical imaging and cardiovascular departments to specialty clinics like vascular and obstetrics.  Sonographic exams are also performed in emergency departments and surgical suites. Non-clinical positions are available with medical imaging equipment manufacturers who employ sonographers to test ultrasound equipment and function as application specialists to teach new technologies to clinical sonographers. Sonographers may be involved in research and clinical studies.

The goal of the UWHC School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography is to educate students in the art and science of diagnostic medical sonography and:

To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains for the Abdominal-Extended, Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography and Vascular sonography concentrations.

or

To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains for the Adult Cardiac and Vascular Sonography concentrations.

The UWHC School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography offers professional training in two specializations. Both programs include training in vascular sonography.

Abdominal Sonography-Extended/Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography/Vascular Sonography

The general diagnostic medical sonography option provides didactic and clinical instruction in: 

• Abdomen-Extended
• Obstetrics Sonography
• Gynecology Sonography
• Vascular Sonography

The general sonography curriculum covers ultrasound imaging in obstetrics and gynecology, evaluation of the abdomen, breast, thyroid, scrotum, prostate and neurosonography. The vascular section includes evaluation of the major blood vessels of the neck, brain, abdomen and extremities. In addition to attending formal classes, students often have an opportunity to attend physician lectures and conferences on ultrasound-related topics.

Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Sonography/Vascular Sonography

The echocardiography, or cardiac ultrasound, option provides didactic and clinical instruction in:

• Adult Cardiac Sonography
• Pediatric Cardiac Sonography
• Vascular Sonography

The cardiovascular curriculum covers ultrasound imaging of the heart in a variety of different ways including transesophageal, transthoracic and introduction to stress echocardiograms on both adult and pediatric patient populations. Students are also exposed to the basic principles of fetal echocardiography as these patients tend to be followed by echocardiographers as neonates. The vascular section includes evaluation of the major blood vessels of the neck, brain, abdomen and extremities.  In addition to attending formal classes, students often have an opportunity to attend physician lectures, cardiology conferences and interesting case readout sessions conducted by cardiologists.