OSU-OKC fills a need in growing field of medical imaging
Friday, January 31, 2025
Media Contact: Matthew Price | Director of Marketing & Communications | 405-945-6733 | matthew.l.price@okstate.edu
The growing medical field requires diagnostic medical imaging professionals, and Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City is at the forefront of filling that demand in Oklahoma.
Diagnostic medical imaging creates images of the body for diagnosis and treatment. A cardiovascular sonographer uses ultrasound imaging to help diagnose heart and vascular problems. A radiologic technologist operates various radiology imaging equipment, many of which specialize in different imaging modalities.
At OSU-OKC, the Diagnostic Medical Imaging department offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in cardiovascular sonography and radiologic technology.
Karen Bubb, department head of diagnostic medical imaging, said OSU-OKC features top-of-the-line equipment and tracks emerging trends in diagnostic medical imaging.
“The OSU-OKC employment placement and certification pass rates are near-flawless,” Bubb said. “In fact, the radiologic technology program cohorts of 2022 and 2024 achieved a 100% pass rate on the national certification exam.”
Bubb reported that the radiologic technology program instructors, Kara McNair and Caryn Krueger, have been working diligently to improve the pass rate for the national Radiologic Technology board certification exam.
“Recently, we implemented a new software system that has been integrated into the curriculum,” Bubb said. “This software focuses on study strategies and exam preparation, and since its introduction, we've seen significant improvements in both program scores and national board results.”
Getting students into the workforce is part of the push behind the OSU Polytech programs.
“The Radiologic Technology program faculty are consistently exploring new and innovative approaches to support students in reaching their goal of becoming certified radiologic technologists,” Bubb said.
Meanwhile, cardiovascular sonography continues to be a highly rated program at OSU-OKC, delivering highly trained graduates to the workforce. Cardiovascular sonography trains students to operate a variety of sonography equipment that offers a real-time view of the heart and vascular system, allowing for analysis of movement and functions in the heart and vessels.
In 2024, CollegeChoice America ranked the cardiovascular sonography program at OSU-OKC No. 11 of the best associate’s level sonography programs in the nation. The program has been ranked since 2018 and is the only associate degree sonography program in Oklahoma ranked in the top 20 out of more than 1,400 accredited schools.
“The instructors of the cardiovascular sonography program, Christina Stewart, Katie Sanders, and myself, are deeply committed to student success and enhancing program outcomes. We consistently update the curriculum to align with current industry standards, ensuring our students are well-prepared for employment,” Bubb said.
This is also part of the OSU Polytech push, putting graduates directly into jobs.
The Cardiovascular Sonography Associate of Applied Science degree program is a 65-credit-hour program that includes classroom and laboratory instruction on campus as well as supervised clinical experience at affiliated health agencies.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, overall employment of diagnostic medical sonographers, as well as cardiovascular technologists and technicians, is projected to grow 10% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.