Harper ultrasound program in good company

Harper College's diagnostic medical sonography program is in good company. MedicalTechnologySchools.com, an online resource for prospective students interested in medical technology, recently highlighted some of the best schools in the field. In addition to Harper, the website lists seven programs including the Mayo Clinic, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Seattle University.

The list provides a cross section of programs offering training at hospitals, colleges and universities.

"The courses offered at Harper College will help students to earn an associate degree and to qualify them for the national certification exams in either general or cardiac sonography, depending on the path they choose," according to the site.

While the average person may immediately associate ultrasound technology - also referred to as diagnostic medical sonography - with images of babies growing inside the womb, the field extends beyond obstetrics and gynecology to cardiac sonography, vascular sonography, and even pediatric sonography. Sonographers work closely with trained physicians in capturing and interpreting sonographic images.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ultrasound technicians earn an average annual salary of $67,170. It's also a career on the rise, with the BLS projecting the job to grow 46 percent between 2012 and 2022.

For more information about Harper's program, visit harpercollege.edu.