School of DMS at Henry Ford Providence Southfield

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What ultrasound concentrations does your program offer?

A. Our program is fully accredited in Abdominal– Extended, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Vascular ultrasound concentrations by Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
We do not offer separate Abdomen-extended, OB/GYN or Vascular tracts.
Students admitted into the program will be trained in all of the above concentrations during the twenty-one (21) month program.

Q. May I attend the program part-time?

A. No, we are a unique hospital-based program that is full-time, Monday through Friday, 40hrs per week for twenty-one (21) months. In addition, there is required independent study time after program hours.

Q. What is the typical student schedule during the program?

A. Didactic classes are held for approximately one to two days per week at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital. The remaining time is spent in the clinical setting. All students are scheduled for clinical rotations to various approved clinical sites. See program booklet for more information.

Q. How are applicants selected?

A. We use a point system and select our students based on three (3) main factors (listed in no particular order of importance):

• Clinical Experience - The more the better! A minimum of 80hrs of documented patient care experience is required prior to the application deadline.
• GPA - The higher the GPA, the more competitive the applicant will be.
• Interview Process – All applicants selected for an interview are required to:
  • Observe at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital Ultrasound Dept for a half day. This is scheduled by program officials after the application deadline has passed.
  • Take the Pegasus Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) Exam. This needs to be scheduled after the application deadline and before the personal interview.
  • Attend personal interview. This is scheduled by program officials after the application deadline has passed.

Q. Where should I obtain the required patient care experience?

A. Direct patient care experience can be obtained from volunteering, observing or working in a medical setting such as hospital, doctor’s office or nursing home. Retail experience is not accepted.

Q. Do you allow interested candidates to observe in your ultrasound department?

A. Yes, prior to applying, we highly recommend observing at our program’s main clinical site, Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital Ultrasound Department. This is a great way to meet our staff and see how our department works. Please reach out directly to the Program Director to schedule this.

Q. Must all course prerequisites be completed before I apply for the program?

A. It is preferred to have all course prerequisites completed by the application deadline. Please reach out directly to the Program Director for more information.

Q. Do you accept international degrees?

A. Applicants with degrees from outside the United States must have a course-by-course evaluation completed by a facility that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) qualified to evaluate foreign educational credentials to verify equivalency to a U.S. Associate of Science Degree or higher. www.ece.org or www.wes.org

Q. May I apply to this program after I graduate from medical school?

A. No, as a technical educational program we do not accept applications of graduates from any domestic or foreign medical schools. Physicians are advised to seek information for obtaining sonography education by contacting the American Medical Association (ama-assn.org) or Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (sdms.org).

Q. How do I study for the Pegasus Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) exam?

A. The Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) exam is an aptitude test and isn’t something you can study for. It tests your current knowledge and abilities. The purpose of the USA exam is to help determine if a candidate is more or less likely to be successful in ultrasound and is only one part of the interview process. You may visit their website for an overview/description of the exam: www.PegasusLectures.com (click on “Products” then “USA Program”).

Q. Will I be guaranteed an interview?

A. No, but an interview is highly likely if all the application requirements have been met and there is not an extremely high number of applicants.

Q. How many students apply and how many students do you accept?

A. The number of applicants varies. However, we tend to interview approximately 10-12 applicants on average. We accept up to four (4) students per cohort. We plan to start a new cohort every mid-January with the application deadline the prior mid-August.

Q. Is there a waiting list? May I reapply if I am not accepted?

A. We do not have a waiting list, but applicants are welcome to reapply and compete against the field of candidates for that year.

Q. Is there any financial assistance (loans, grants, scholarships, tuition forgiveness, etc.) available to help cover program expenses?

A. No, we do not participate in any financial assistance programs. Furthermore, as a hospital-based program, we are not federally funded and do not participate in Title IV federal student aid (FAFSA) programs.
However, once accepted into the program, students are encouraged to apply for scholarships offered through specific societies (i.e. SDMS Educational Foundation; SVU Foundation). See program booklet for more information.

Q. Can I work full-time while in this program?

A. Due to the intensity and volume of course material, maintaining employment while in the program is not recommended.
If employment outside the program is necessary, it must not conflict with the academic or clinical schedules and not interfere with clinical or academic performance.