Diagnostic Medical Sonography students Leah Price, left, Vi Vo, and Macy Williams conduct an exercise at Wallace State Community College. The three students are members of the Class of 2016 graduating next month. Every member of the class passed their physics registry, which is one of the requirements for earning certification as a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
HANCEVILLE – The 22 members of the Class of 2016 set to graduate next month from Wallace State’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program have something to be proud of as they finish up their last semester. Every one of them passed the physics registry exam, giving the program a 100 percent pass rate on the physics registry for the second year in a row.
More than two-thirds of the class has taken and passed their specialty registry exam (either abdomen or OB/GYN), which coupled with their physics registry earns them their credentials as a registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS) once they earn their degree from Wallace State.
April Sutherland, program director for Wallace State’s DMS program said she is very proud of her students and of the efforts she and fellow instructor Donna Attaway put forth to ensure their students success.
Along with their regular course work, the students take physics review in the summer to prepare them for that exam. This fall they have reviews for their specialty registries. If it’s needed, they provide the students with extra remedial exercises and provide one-on-one tutoring.
The students appreciate those efforts.
“Mrs. Sutherland and Mrs. Attaway went the extra mile helping us prepare for our physics registry,” said Leah Price. “They used fun games and created study guides to help us review the specific material we needed for the registry. Anytime I had a question I would go to them and they would help me understand anything I was struggling with. I really can’t say enough great things about them.”
Nicole Bates agreed. “Mrs. Attaway and Mrs. Sutherland are incredible instructors. They both go above and beyond to make sure we all succeed in what we do.”
Sutherland said one of the reasons behind the success of their students is the program’s adoption of a new physics textbook by Sidney Edelman, whom she refers to as the “physics guru.” She said his book presents the lessons regarding ultrasound physics in a way that is easier to understand than some of the books used in the past.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a four-semester program after completion of general required courses. Applications are accepted from May 1 through June 1 of each year for fall entry; 25 students are accepted each year. This year, the program offered a vascular short-term certificate as an additional option for students.
For more information, contact Sutherland at 256-352-8318 or april.sutherland@wallacestate.edu or visit www.wallacestate.edu.
