The mission of Harris Health System School of Diagnostic Medical Imaging is to educate the next generation of competent entry-level imaging professionals.
The median annual salary for a sonography technologist was around $ 101,650 in 2021. The job market is predicted to grow by about 9% between 2020 and 2030 (as fast as average).*
*Numbers taken from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that diagnostic medical sonographers specialize in creating images, known as sonograms or ultrasounds that depict the body’s organs and tissues. Sonography is often the first imaging test performed when disease is suspected. Sonography uses high-energy sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. The sonographer uses an instrument called a transducer to scan parts of the patient’s body that are being examined. The transducer emits pulses of sound that bounce back, causing echoes. The echoes form an image on a computer that physicians use for diagnosis.
Abdominal sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s abdominal cavity and nearby organs, such as the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. Abdominal sonographers may assist with biopsies or other examinations requiring ultrasound guidance.
Breast sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s breast tissue. Sonography can confirm the presence of cysts and tumors that may have been detected by the patient, the physician, or a mammogram. Breast sonographers assist with procedures that track tumors and help to provide information that will aid physicians in making decisions about treatment options for breast cancer patients.
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in imaging the female reproductive system. For example, many pregnant women receive sonograms to track the baby’s growth and health.
Vascular technologists (vascular sonographers) create images of blood vessels and collect data that help physicians diagnose disorders affecting blood flow. Vascular technologists often evaluate blood flow and identify blocked arteries or blood clots.
Students attend didactic classes at Fournace Place in Bellaire and attend clinical education at three Harris Health System facilities:
- Ben Taub Hospital
- Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
- Smith Clinic
The program begins July each year.
Program hours are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and excludes weekends and holidays. Students spend time in the classroom, lab and clinical rotations.
Students are required to attend school for no more than 40 hours per week.
The length of the sonography program is two (2) years. However, in instances where a student must repeat coursework, the program completion time may be extended to, but may not exceed three years, except upon approval by the advisory committee.
The program is divided into six semesters.
The student must attend class and clinical rotations simultaneously except when an injury or surgery interferes with clinical progress during the regular course of the program. In this instance, with approval, the student may be placed on a leave of absence from clinical education and attend classes only until his/her physician authorizes a return to clinic. The student will make up the time missed from clinical education.