Lackawanna College has received accreditation for two of its health majors from the Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The institution’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program was awarded its initial accreditation in time for the graduation of its first class this May, while the Vascular Technology Program had its accreditation renewed. Both accreditations will run for three years.

Lackawanna introduced the Diagnostic Medical Sonography major in January 2005 as a two-year program leading to an associate in applied science degree. Vascular Technology began in the fall of 2002, also as a two-year degree program.

CAAHEP, headquartered in Chicago, accredits educational programs that prepare health professionals in 21 different disciplinary areas. A program is certified when it is determined that it meets the educational standards and guidelines established by the specific medical occupation. Accreditation is meant to protect the public and ensure a supply of qualified health care professionals. The process, which is voluntary, seeks to assess the quality of institutions, programs and services, measuring them against agreed-upon standards and thereby assuring that they meet those standards.

In order to gain official approval, Lackawanna College was required to complete an intensive self-study of the program, which was subsequently followed up by an on-site visit by members of an evaluation committee assembled by the Commission.

"Lackawanna College is tremendously pleased that the Commission on Accreditation has recognized our institution's steadfast commitment to quality education," said Ann Marie Stelma, Ph.D., Lackawanna’s Vice President for Continuing Education, who helped design the institution’s programs.

"Accreditation proves that individuals studying in Lackawanna’s sonography programs will receive the standard of training and preparation they need to properly do such demanding work," Dr. Stelma added.

The acquisition of accreditation by Lackawanna College permits students who successfully complete the institution’s programs to sit for the appropriate American Registry of Diagnostic Medicine Sonographers Examinations.

Lackawanna's Sonography Programs teach students to use ultrasound equipment to direct non-ionizing, high frequency sound waves into areas of a patient’s body for the assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions. Students may specialize in obstetric and gynecologic sonography (the female reproductive system), abdominal (the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas), neurosonography (the brain), ophthalmologic (the eyes) or vascular technology.

The programs combine classroom instruction with clinical internships at regional hospitals and laboratories, and include both career-specific and academic core courses. Stephanie McDaniels serves as serves as Lackawanna’s Director of Sonography Programs, with Mauri Conforti serving as Assistant Director and Clinical Coordinator. Both administrators are certified as a diagnostic medical sonographer and as a radiologic technologist and are listed in the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography with multiple specialties. Ms. McDaniels, who earned her bachelor’s degree from College Misericordia, has 11-years experience in the field and is employed by Lackawanna Mobile Diagnostic Services as Chief Sonographer of the Ultrasound Departments and Technical Director of the Vascular Laboratory. Ms. Conforti, who has 20-years experience in the field of ultrasound and eight in radiologic technology, was previously employed by Advanced Imaging Specialists in Dunmore as lead technologist.

Accreditation standards are established by the Commission in conjunction with the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Radiology, the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine, the American Society of Echocardiography, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and the Society for Vascular Ultrasound.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012 as the population grows and ages. The median annual earnings of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in 2002 was $48,660.

Most sonographers are employed by hospitals, with the rest working in the offices of physicians or in medical and diagnostic laboratories.

For further information about the Sonography Programs, phone Lackawanna College’s Department of Continuing Education at 961-7883.