New diagnostic medical sonography lab at Lake Michigan College on display during Oct. 30 public open house

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – Lake Michigan College will showcase a $377,000 investment in regional health care training when it hosts a community open house of its newly renovated diagnostic medical sonography lab.

The open house will be held 3 – 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in the Main Academic Building on the LMC Benton Harbor Campus located at 2755 E. Napier Avenue. The event will include tours of the new labs, ultrasound equipment demonstrations, and refreshments. The sonography lab is located on the first floor C-Wing, across the hall from its previous location.

The renovation doubles the number of sonography training rooms from three to six, with each larger room able to better support student instruction. Enhancements include new high-resolution wall monitors for viewing ultrasound imaging, stretchers for volunteer subjects, a dedicated reception area for expectant parents who visit for free imaging services, and an additional office for faculty.

"Investment in our health care learning spaces is vital to preparing students for high-skill, technology-based careers in our local medical workforce," stated Dr. LaToya Mason, LMC Dean of Health Sciences. "Adequate space, industry-standard equipment, and a professional setting create an environment that supports the high-quality training employers in the region have come to expect from Lake Michigan College."

Prior to the renovation, the College's sonography program shared space with the radiologic technology program, creating challenges for both programs. Cramped quarters made student-instructor interactions difficult and hampered instructional demonstrations.

"Even in just the first few weeks of this semester, we are experiencing how the new setup allows both programs to operate in a more efficient and effective way," stated Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Chair and Faculty Beth Zak. "More students can use the equipment simultaneously. It's easier to move around to show students proper scanning techniques, and it provides our students with an experience more similar to what they will encounter in the workplace."

Zak further explained that the added space makes it possible for the College to expand specialized sonography training in the future. Currently, students can pursue training in OB/GYN and Abdominal-Extended concentrations, but there are other specialties in demand by local healthcare providers that the expanded lab space makes feasible to explore.

LMC's Diagnostic Medical Sonography program was established in 2008. It operates both concentrations under 10-year accreditations—the highest possible— awarded by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in 2024. These accreditations reflect the College's adherence to rigorous program academic and clinical standards.

Each year, the College enrolls up to 40 sonography students, with a maximum of 20 each in the first and second years of study. Students gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills through the on-campus sonography lab equipped with the latest ultrasound technology including 4-dimensional imaging.

As part of their training, students conduct approximately 500 prenatal ultrasounds annually at no cost to expectant parents. They also gain real-world experience through clinical rotations in a variety of regional healthcare settings.

"We currently have 20 clinical partners throughout southwest Michigan and northcentral Indiana, who welcome our students into their practices for hands-on training. It gives students an important first-hand look at the various situations in a clinical setting" stated Zak.

The rigor of the training and education pays off. LMC graduating sonography cohorts consistently pass the credentialing exam at rates above the national average. The latest cohort of graduates posted a 100 percent pass rate on both the OB/GYN and Abdominal-Extended tests offered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Post-graduation job placement rates are also very high. Almost without exception, all graduates of the program who choose to pursue a career in sonography immediately after graduation find employment in the field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for diagnostic medical sonographers nationwide is $89,340. Job growth prospects for the field are bright with an anticipated 13 percent increase in jobs by 2034.

Area healthcare professionals, people considering training for a career in health care, and the broader community are welcome to tour the sonography lab during the open house. Free parking is available in the lot nearest the main entrance of the main academic building.

More information about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at LMC can be found at https://www.lakemichigancollege.edu/academics/imaging/diagnostic-medical-sonography-associate-applied-science.