The St. Catharine College Sonography Program is designed to educate students in the required minimum entry level competencies of diagnostic sonography. In doing this the student will be knowledgeable and proficient in providing diagnostic services for patient care utilizing ultrasound and other noninvasive diagnostic techniques. The intent of the program is to produce sonographers who are professional, have the ability to adapt to change, and are capable of passing the American Registry of Diagnostic Sonographers examination.

The program is nationally accredited and is one of only a few programs in the United States that grants an Associates of Science degree in Diagnostic Sonography in three specialty tracts. The professional program, after students are admitted, will take 21 consecutive months to complete. Clinical rotations for the students span a 12 month period excluding schools holidays and semester breaks. Student's clinical time consists of rotations at clinical education sites located at area hospitals in Louisville and Lexington. Beginning this fall, 2005 classes and labs will be held in the new facility on our main campus in Springfield. Clinical education sites are located at area hospitals in Louisville and Lexington.

Ultrasound is an ever-evolving and expanding field of imaging. Personnel responsible for performing the exams, Diagnostic Sonographers and Vascular Technologists, must be knowledgeable of normal variant anatomy and disease processes.

Noninvasive Vascular Technology involves the diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease without the use of ionizing radiation or dye. With the use of ultrasound, Doppler, and various plethysmographic volume measuring devices, a vascular technologist performs exams which assist the physician in the diagnosis of pathology in the arteries and veins of the legs, arms, brain, and abdominal organs.

Cardiac Sonography assesses cardiac structure, function, pathology, and anomalies. The sonographer is instrumental in securing information relevant to patient diagnosis. Examinations include trans-thoracic echocardiograms, various exercise testing, and more intensive trans-esophageal and echo directed procedures done in or out of the operating room.

General Sonography encompasses information pertaining to normal anatomical and pathologic processes seen in the abdominal and pelvic cavities and the evaluation of the obstetric patient. Using ultrasound and Doppler, the sonographer forms exams to assist the interpreting physician in the diagnosis of diseases in the abdomen and to assess growth and well-being of the fetus.