Grace College was recently gifted two Diagnostic Ultrasound machines from Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital for its medical imaging program. This gift allows Grace to set up additional exam tables and related equipment to train its growing number of program participants.
“We are so thankful for this generous donation that allows us to expand our Scan Lab availability,” said Thomas Wallin, medical imaging clinical coordinator at Grace College with 40-plus years of medical imaging experience. “In conjunction with our partners at John Patrick University, we have secured the services of a registered ultrasound technologist to offer expanded lab hours. One technologist can oversee and coach as many as three students simultaneously as they practice scanning live volunteer ‘patients.’”
Grace’s program places a strong emphasis on hands-on experience and requires medical imaging majors to complete numerous clinical experiences while in school. Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital is one of many hospital systems Grace College and John Patrick University have relationships with, including locations in California, New York, and Florida.
“Investing in the hands-on education of future healthcare professionals is a win for our entire region,” said Perry Gay, CEO of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. “We are thrilled to provide Grace College with equipment that directly enhances student training, strengthening our local healthcare workforce and the care delivered to our community.”
Grace’s hands-on emphasis is already proving its worth through the new program’s strong outcomes. More than 85% of the program’s graduates are placed in hospitals. Brooklyn Adkins, Grace’s sonography lab instructor, looks forward to the opportunities the new equipment may bring.
“Having additional machines will provide more lab time and hands-on training as students practice scanning with one another,” said Adkins. “This additional experience will help them strengthen their skills, build confidence and feel better prepared to care for patients at their clinical sites. As the scan lab instructor, I am truly grateful for the opportunities this donation will create for our students!
Current senior medical imaging student Olivia Thacker agrees.
“These machines will have such a huge impact on students, especially the students who are just beginning,” said Thacker. “The ability for new students to be hands-on with actual machines will help them excel more quickly and give them the knowledge they need as they enter their clinical sites.”
Grace College’s medical imaging major includes three concentrations: nuclear medicine, sonography and magnetic resonance imaging. To learn more about Grace’s medical imaging program options, check out the School of Science and Engineering.
Photo attached: Thomas Wallin, medical imaging clinical coordinator at Grace College, shows student Lizzy West how to use one of the two Diagnostic Ultrasound machines gifted to Grace from Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital for its medical imaging program.
