RELEASE DATE: August 15, 2018
PRINCE GEORGE – Applications are now open for the College of New Caledonia’s (CNC) Northern Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, which is scheduled to have its first intake at the Prince George campus in January 2019.
“The sonography program at CNC will help produce highly skilled health professionals that will improve the quality of life for patients in the North and throughout B.C.,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “I’m pleased to be part of a government that is committed to funding health sciences education and training that offers the opportunity for Northern graduates to succeed and thrive in their communities.”
Diagnostic medical sonographers are an integral part of the healthcare team. They play a critical role by providing key information leading to earlier diagnosis and supports ongoing patient management using ultrasound technology.
Most people would be familiar with the importance of ultrasounds during pregnancy. Ultrasounds, however, are also used to help physicians diagnose many acute and chronic conditions.
“We are excited to bring diagnostic medical sonography to CNC as it demonstrates our commitment to increase our health science programming by adding another key professional to the health care team,” said Dr. Glenda Vardy Dell, CNC Dean of the School of Health Science. “Sonographers must have a strong background in physics, anatomy, physiology and pathology. Therefore, it fits well with our other health care programs such as nursing, medical radiography and medical laboratory technology. The graduates from this program will help to address long waitlists for ultrasounds for our northern B.C. residents.”
CNC is the second post-secondary institution to offer a publically-funded sonography program in B.C., next to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).
The new program at CNC has eight seats available in its first intake before growing to 16 seats the following year. In addition, admission preference will be given to northern BC candidates to address regional demand by encouraging students who are from the North to study in the North and to continue to work in the North.
“Sonographers contribute to timely and appropriate care for people in the north, providing important diagnostic imaging services,” said Ken Winnig, Northern Health Regional Director of Diagnostic Services. “Local and regional health care education opportunities are a key component of Northern Health’s recruitment strategy, and we look forward to welcoming graduates of the CNC sonography program to our workforce.”
The development of the Northern Diagnostic Medical Sonography curriculum at CNC was a collaborative effort supported by BCIT, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Northern Health and Sonography Canada.
The application deadline for CNC’s Northern Diagnostic Medical Sonography program’s January 2019 intake is September 14, 2018. Information regarding the program, including the application process and prerequisites, can be found online at http://www.cnc.bc.ca/diagnostic-medical-sonography or by contacting CNC’s Office of the Registrar at 250-562-2131 or registrarsoffice@cnc.bc.ca.