Ascension Providence Hospital School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Ascension Providence Hospital School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
What is a diagnostic Medical Sonographer?
A Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a highly skilled Allied Health professional who performs diagnostic medical sonographic examinations utilizing high frequency sound waves under the supervision of a medical physician or doctor of osteopathy. Such sonographic examinations may be provided by an institution such as a hospital or clinical setting whereby the physician is responsible for the interpretation of the sonographic images. Sonographers work as a team with the physician in collecting data for the purpose of diagnosing disease processes.
A sonographer is required to operate a variety of complex ultrasound equipment as well as numerous ancillary devices in order to perform a sonographic procedure. The profession of sonography includes the study of the human body through the use of abdomen; obstetrical and gynecological; adult and pediatric cardiac; vascular technology; musculoskeletal and pediatric sonographic exams.
Program Description
Ascension Providence Hospital School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program (“Program”) includes classroom and clinical instruction in Abdomen-Extended, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Sonographic Physics and Instrumentation, and Vascular ultrasound examinations.
The Program is based in Southfield, Michigan with main clinical sites at Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit and Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi Campus, Michigan. Students are assigned clinical rotations and are required to rotate to all clinical sites during the program.
Mission Statement
Ascension Providence Hospital School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography program administrators, educators, and clinical instructors are dedicated to serving the community by providing quality education along with compassionate patient care under our accreditation standards and guidelines. To achieve these ends, we commit ourselves to support each student in their pursuit to meet the didactic and clinical competencies according to the goals and objectives of the sonography program.
Program Goal
The program goal is to prepare competent entry level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the Abdomen-extended, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Vascular sonography concentrations.
- Cognitive Domain - the student will successfully apply basic and advanced knowledge of didactic material learned throughout the sonography program
- Psychomotor Domain – the student will competently demonstrate the practical application of their learned skills from the laboratory and the clinical setting throughout the sonography program
- Affective Domain – the student will display appropriate professional interaction, behavior and conduct in both didactic and clinical environments throughout the sonography program
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will demonstrate ethical patient/sonographer relationships.
2. Students will demonstrate proper physical safety and exam room readiness.
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of proper ergonomic techniques to reduce repetitive stress related injury.
4. Students will be able to competently perform abdomen, pelvic, obstetrical, vascular and superficial structures sonographic examinations as an entry level sonographer.
5. Students will be able to successfully complete the national registry exams given by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) in specialties that include: Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI), Abdomen, OB/GYN, and Vascular Technology.
Length of Program
The Program is 21-months in length with the next program starting in mid-January 2026 and ending in mid-October 2027.
Program Capacity
A maximum of four students are selected for each program. There is no waiting list. Applicants may reapply the following year if they are not selected during the interview process.
Program Hours
Students attend 40 hours weekly (Monday thru Friday) which includes an average of 8-16 hours of classes with the remainder of time scheduled in clinical assignments focused on applying theory.
Program Costs
Application fee of $50 due on or before application deadline. (Only check, official check or money order will be accepted)
All interviewed candidates will be required to take the Pegasus Ultrasound Student Assessment exam (approx. fee of $85.00 - not included in application fee)
Program tuition** is $9,000. A tuition deposit is required upon acceptance into the program. All payments are non-refundable.
**University students will pay tuition directly to their school. Please see university website for tuition costs.
One-time $150 lab fee, paid directly to the electronic recordkeeping company.
Students are required to purchase the required program textbooks (approximately $800) and purchase student membership to Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (approximately $45), not included in the program tuition.
Students must obtain BLS (Basic Life Support) certification through the American Heart Association prior to starting the program, not included in the program tuition.
The Program will pay for the registration fee for one local sonography conference, chosen by the Program Director during the program. All students will be given time off to attend up to two additional local sonography conferences, if held during program hours, but will be required to pay the registration fees.
Admission Requirements
Download the 2026 Program Booklet for complete list of required pre-requisites
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must have a GPA of 2.8 or higher.
- Must be eligible to legally work in the United States. The program does not accept candidates without established U.S. employment authorization.
- Must have 80 hours of documented patient care experience through healthcare volunteer observation or employment (within 12 months prior to application deadline)
- Must complete all pre-requisite* courses prior to program starting (see program booklet)
*All program pre-requisites must be accredited by the U.S. Dept. of Education, or recognized equivalency of, and approved for post-secondary college credits. - All candidates must have one of the following educational backgrounds (1 or 2 or 3) by the start of the program with a GPA of 2.8 or higher:
Required educational background #1 – must have completed an AMA (American Medical Association)-recognized two (2) year qualified allied health program as a registered radiologic technologist, registered nurse, registered respiratory therapist, registered occupational therapist or physical therapist.
-- OR --
Required educational background #2 -must have a minimum of an Associate Degree of Science or Bachelor degree from an accredited American university or college (or recognized equivalent). Program officials will determine if any review courses need to be repeated if courses are more than 10 years old.
-- OR --
Required educational background #3 - must be enrolled in Concordia University’s Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or Oakland University's Bachelor of Science in Clinical & Diagnostic Sciences program. Program officials will determine if any review courses need to be repeated if courses are more than 10 years old. Please see website for more information:
https://www.cuaa.edu/academics/programs/diagnostic-medical-sonography-bachelors/index.html
https://oakland.edu/shs/clinical-and-diagnostic-sciences/diagnostic-medical-sonography/
Advanced Placement; Transfer of Credits; Credits for Experiential Learning
Program does not offer advanced placement. Program does not accept transfer of credits from any other school or credits from experiential learning.
Accepted students must attend the entire program regardless of what courses they may have taken previously.
Students in the Program
Students will be required to purchase scrub-type uniforms of specific colors according to clinical rotations.
Students are responsible for their own transportation, food and lodging while in the Program.
Students must maintain an 85% (or above) average in all didactic and clinical evaluations throughout the program.
Program Time Off
Each student is given up to twenty-five (25) days off (combined vacation and/or sick time) during the program. Fifteen (15) days off will be made available at the start of the program and the remaining ten (10) days will be given after successful completion of external rotations, scheduled throughout the program.
Students are off on six (6) hospital approved holidays and given approximately ten (10) days off during the program that are scheduled by program officials.
Any additional time off will be required to be made up before graduation from the Program according to time off policy.
Please contact Tracey Olldashi, Program Director at tolldas1@hfhs.org for additional information.
Program Application Process
Download the 2026 Program Booklet for complete application details.
All applicants are required to complete our secure online application by the August 15, 2025 application deadline, including the Technical Standards Survey
Candidates must complete and submit the following by the application deadline:
- Application fee of $50
- All official educational transcripts (must be submitted in sealed envelope or emailed directly to program director)
- Documentation of 80 hours of clinical patient care medical experience, obtained twelve (12) months prior to application deadline
- Personal letter of interest
- Two (2) letters of confidential professional reference, dated within twelve (12) months prior to application deadline (must be submitted in sealed and signed envelope or emailed directly to program director)
The Program Director will review all applications; a limited number of applicants are interviewed at Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield Campus. Personal interviews will be scheduled in mid/late September 2025
Upon Graduation
Graduates receive a graduation certificate and school pin. Graduates who successfully complete the program are eligible to complete the ARDMS (American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography) registry examination(s) in Abdomen, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vascular Technology and Sonographic Physics and Instrumentation.
Accreditation
Ascension Providence Hospital School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography is fully accredited in Abdominal-extended, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Vascular ultrasound concentrations by CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield Campus Ultrasound Department is accredited for General, Gynecological, First Trimester Obstetrical, Vascular, Breast and Breast Biopsy ultrasound examinations by the ACR (American College of Radiology). Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi Campus, Ultrasound Department is accredited by ACR in General, Gynecological, Vascular, Breast and Breast biopsy ultrasound examinations. Ascension St John Hospital, Ultrasound Departments are accredited by ACR in General, Gynecological, First Trimester Obstetrical, Pediatric and Vascular. Providence Maternal Fetal Diagnostic Department and St. John Perinatal Ultrasound Departments are both accredited by the AIUM (American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine) for Obstetrical ultrasound exams.
Ascension Providence Hospital is fully licensed by the State of Michigan Department of Public Health and accredited by The Joint Commission.
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CAAHEP |
JRC-DMS |
The Joint Commission |
Program Outcomes
Program Effectiveness Data for student retention, job placement and registry pass rates are submitted yearly to JRC-DMS (Joint Review Commission in Diagnostic Medical Sonography) and updated after each class graduation. Any questions, please contact Tracey Olldashi, Program Director at tolldas1@hfhs.org
Non-Discrimination Statement
Qualified applicants are considered for admission to Ascension Providence Hospital School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography without regard to race, color, religion, sex, height, weight, national origin, age, sexual preference, arrest record, marital or veteran status, or the presence of a non-job related medical condition or disability. It is the applicant's responsibility to notify us prior to the program starting of any reasonable accommodation necessary to perform the essential duties of the position for which the applicant has applied.
Contact / Mailing Address
For All Transcripts & Letters
Tracey Olldashi, BA, AAS, RDMS, RVT
Program Director, School of Ultrasound
16001 W. Nine Mile
Southfield, MI 48075
Office: (248) 849-5385
E-mail: tolldas1@hfhs.org