$1 Million Commitment, Partnership Lead to Area’s Only Sonography Degree Program
Norton, JCTC combine educational efforts to meet technologist shortage.
(Vocus) May 28, 2009
When some think of sonography they may remember their time as expectant parents and those cherished first images, but sonography also plays a critical role in the diagnosis of a wide range cardiovascular, gynecologic and abdominal conditions. Like other healthcare fields, however, there is a shortage of certified technologists.
Norton Healthcare and Jefferson Community and Technical College have teamed to help alleviate that shortage, combining educational programs to form an associate degree program in sonography, the only such program in Jefferson and surrounding counties.
In addition, Norton has made a $1 million commitment to the JCTC Foundation that allows the college to support the sonography program and other healthcare programs.
A formal announcement is scheduled for 11 a. m. Wednesday, May 27, 2009, on Jefferson’s Downtown Campus at Second and Broadway, also the site of the college’s new Allied Health and Nursing Building, scheduled to open early next year.
Sonography is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to produce dynamic visual images of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body. The field includes a general concentration, vascular concentration and cardiac concentration.
Thanks to the three-year gift from Norton Healthcare, Jefferson was able to add the general sonography and vascular program tracks. Norton already offers the cardiac track through the Norton Healthcare Foundation School Cardiovascular Technology. That program was established in 2003 and is one of only four hospital-based programs of its kind in the country. It received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in 2007.
Under the partnership agreement, when all three tracks are completed, a student can earn an associate degree from Jefferson in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
A Sonography Advisory Board, comprising Jefferson instructors and staff and Norton Healthcare instructors and physicians and others will provide collaborative advice and counsel on the educational program.
“Norton’s generous commitment allowed us to hire faculty and purchase equipment. It also will help support other healthcare programs,” said Tony Newberry, Ph. D., president of Jefferson
Community and Technical College. “However, the unique education partnership, combining
Program tracks, opens important new educational and career opportunities to students.”
The median salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in the region is $51,110, according to KentuckianaWorks’ Kentuckiana Occupational Outlook. Job growth in field is expected to be 26 percent by 2016.
“We are facing a critical workforce shortage in healthcare,” said Stephen A. Williams, president and chief executive officer, Norton Healthcare. “Advances in technology and medicine make it possible for people to live longer, but as our population ages, the numbers of disabilities and illnesses also increase. For these reasons, it is imperative that we work together to address this workforce shortage. Norton Healthcare is pleased to partner with Jefferson Community and Technical College to bring this much needed program to our area.”
Norton and Jefferson have partnered before. In 2003, financial and program support from Norton allowed the college to double the size of its radiography and nuclear medicine programs, again filling a critical workforce need. Jefferson also is a partner in the Norton Healthcare Scholars program.
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