Ultrasound Technology Program

The Ultrasound Technology Program prepares graduates for entry-level employment as an Ultrasonographer with specialization in general sonography (Abdominal and Small Parts, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Introduction to Vascular). Graduates will be qualified to work in hospitals, imaging centers, physicians’ offices, or clinics.

The mission of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is to offer quality medical programs that integrate
professional skills, career-focused education and hands-on practical experience, empowering
students to develop and achieve their personal and career potentials.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts believes that education should promote the development of
positive self-esteem. Therefore, the institution provides services that support the efforts of students
to succeed academically, vocationally and personally. The Academy provides a sophisticated level
of training to individuals who desire a professional career in the medical field. This is accomplished
through educational programs utilizing advanced training equipment, didactic lectures and hands-on
experience provided by highly trained instructors, physicians and technologists.

1. To train students to be professional and competent sonographers in the medical community.
2. To develop interpersonal skills in communicating with patients, medical and administrative individuals.
3. To teach students about using sound waves in projecting an image of the human body so they can contribute to the diagnosis of disease.
4. To help students acquire the necessary skills to practice proper patient care.
5. To ensure that students have the ability to produce quality diagnostic images with a maximum of information contributing to the diagnostic process.
6. To provide students with knowledge, clinical skills, problem solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to practice in the profession of sonography.

Applications are available from the admissions office and are accepted according to the current program schedule. For the January 5, 2010 program start date applications will be accepted September 17th through 5pm October 1, 2010.  To be considered for the core program, the applicant must:

1. Submit a completed application. It is recommended that interested applicants fill out the application with the admissions advisor at the San Mateo campus.
2. Submit a non-refundable application fee of $75.00 at the time of application.
3. Submit a hundred dollar ($100) Refundable Statistical Data Recovery Fee at the time of enrollment.
4. Be at least 18 years of age.
5. Possess an Associate of Science Degree in an Allied Health field or a Bachelor of Science or Arts Degree in any field.
6. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all college course work and must submit official transcripts directly from the registrar’s office before the application will be considered complete. Copies will not be accepted.
7. Pay all applicable fees, as per the current published fee schedule prior to the issuance of an enrollment contract or must make other arrangements acceptable to the school.
8. Complete the SLE—Scholastic Level Exam, with a minimum score of 30 out of 50 questions correct.
9. Applicants holding a foreign diploma must bring proof of successful completion of an ESL class equal to ESL 26/ English 1A in the Foothill - De Anza community college system or to successfully pass TOEFL test with the following minimum scores: 560 for the PBT (paper-based test); 220 for the CBT (computer-based test); and 87 for the iBT (internet-based test).
10. Applicant must pass all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of “C” defined as a 2.5 grade point value*. All prerequisite courses (see list below under “Prerequisite Courses and General Education Requirements”) must be completed and official transcripts submitted at the time of application to the core program.
a. Essential Medical Bio-Science
b. Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Terminology
c. Ultrasound Basic Physics and Instrumentation
d. Cross-Sectional Anatomy
*Applicants may request to challenge the prerequisite courses by taking and passing a challenge exam for each course after submitting an original transcript that proves the course was taken within the last 5 years and given a grade of at least 2.5 or “C”.
11. Applicants who can demonstrate 2 years of allied health education including but not limited to Nursing sciences, Radiology Technicians, Paramedics, etc., may be exempted from taking certain prerequisite
courses and challenge exams by providing an official grade transcripts for each of the following courses:
a. Anatomy and Physiology
b. Medical Terminology
c. Biology
d. Algebra (College Level)
e. Physics (College Level)
12. Applicant must submit an essay (no longer than two typed pages) which describes the following:
a. Synopsis of their observation, experience, and the impact on their decision to pursue this career path based upon one 4 hour Ultrasound Department visit to our affiliated hospitals scheduled by the Program Director during their completion of the pre-requisites.
b. Reasons for applicant’s desire to become an ultrasound technologist.
c. Reasons for applying to the GAMA Ultrasound Technology Program.
d. Personal attributes which would contribute to the applicant’s success in the program.
e. Pertinent employment, volunteer, or other experience which would support applicant’s knowledge of the medical field.
13. Submit all the following requirements for internships**:
a. Titer for MMR (Measles/Rubeola, Mumps, & Rubella)
b. Titer for Varicella
c. 3-Shot Series for Hepatitis B Immunization
d. Titer for Hepatitis B Dated After the Completion Date of the Immunization
e. Physical Exam by a Physician
f. CPR certification through the American Heart Association which is valid for 2 years. Classes are offered at GAMA monthly.
**Current PPD (TB) Skin Test (within 1 year) or Chest Film if PPD+ will be taken in the 6th month of the core program.
14. Pass an interview with the Ultrasound Program Director and the Associated Program Director of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts.
 

Length: 18 months (2092 Hours)
Internship: 960 hours of clinical training in affiliated medical facilities

Didactic Sessions Schedule:
Evening Program: Monday & Friday 6:30PM-10:30PM and Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 6pm-10pm.
Day Program: Monday 10AM-2PM, and Wednesday/Thursday  9:30AM-6PM.

Clinical/Internship Sessions Schedule: 8AM-6PM (Weekdays)

Tuition: $36,610.00
Books & Materials: $840.00
Uniforms:  $60.00
Application Fee: $75.00 (non-refundable)
Student Tuition Recover Fund:  $92.50
RSDRF: $100.00 (refundable deposit)
Total Program Cost: $37,777.50

 
Additional costs if applicable - Prerequisites: $3,855.00 which includes the cost of textbooks ($262.20). Prerequisite courses cover general medical science courses such as:  Essential Medical Bio-Science (80 Hours); Anatomy, Physiology & Medical Terminology (56 hours);  Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation 1 (48 Hours); Cross-Sectional Anatomy (32 hours).

Sallie Mae student loans are available now for those who qualify.

For details please call 650-685-6616

According to the statistics of US Labor Deportment, Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012 as the population grows and ages, increasing the demand for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technology. In addition to job openings due to growth, some job openings will arise from the need to replace sonographers who leave the occupation permanently.

Opportunities should be favorable because sonography is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures, as patients seek safer treatment methods. Unlike most diagnostic imaging methods, sonography does not involve radiation, so harmful side effects and complications from repeated use are rarer for both the patient and the sonographer. Sonographic technology is expected to evolve rapidly and to spawn many new sonography procedures, such as 3D-sonography for use in obstetric and ophthalmologic diagnosis. However, high costs may limit the rate at which some promising new technologies are adopted.

Hospitals will remain the principal employer of diagnostic medical sonographers. However, employment is expected to grow more rapidly in offices of physicians and in medical and diagnostic laboratories, including diagnostic imaging centers. Health facilities such as these are expected to grow very rapidly through 2012 due to the strong shift toward outpatient care, encouraged by third-party payers and made possible by technological advances that permit more procedures to be performed outside the hospital.
 

Disclaimer Form:

To all Ultrasound Technology Program students: The law does NOT require Ultrasonographers to be ARDMS certified to work, but such certification increases the chances of being hired. To get more information about ADRMS certification & examination you can visit ARDMS web site @ www.ardms.org or contact them at The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, 51 Monroe Street, Plaza East One, Rockville, MD 20850

Since Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program accepts applicants only with Bachelors Degrees; the graduates who hold BS or BA degrees are eligible to sit for ARDMS examination right after completion of the program (ARDMS prerequisite # 3A.)
 

Would like to know more about Ultrasound Technologists? Watch this "Career Encounters Video" presented by ASRT:
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography - (Sonography)

Accreditation of Ultrasound Practices

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
http://www.aium.org

American College of Radiology (ACR)
http://www.acr.org

The Joint Commission (JCAHO)
http://www.jointcommission.org/

Educational Programs Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) http://www.caahep.org

Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) http://www.jrcdms.org

Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT)
http://www.jrccvt.org

Ultrasound Registry Associations

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
http://www.ardms.org

The Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
http://www.cci-online.org

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
http://www.arrt.org

Professional Membership Associations and Organizations

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS)
http://www.sdms.org

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
http://www.aium.org

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)
http://www.asecho.org

Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU)
http://www.svunet.org

Canadian Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
http://www.csdms.com

Health Professions Network
http://www.healthpronet.org

Ultrasound Equipment

Toshiba Nemio XG  
http://www.medical.toshiba.com/products/us/nemio.aspx

Ultrasonix
http://www.ultrasonix.com/

GE Ultrasound Systems
http://www.gehealthcare.com/usen/ultrasound/index.html

Medison
http://www.medisonusa.com/index.asp?p=1

Siemens
http://w1.siemens.com/entry/cc/en/

MedSim
http://www.medsim.com/main.html

Universal Diagnostic Solutions
http://www.u-d-s.com

Hitachi
http://www.hitachimed.com/contentindex.asp?ID=218

Philips
http://www.medical.philips.com/us/products/ultrasound