New DMS Director

In early 2018, Gadsden State Community College Dean of Health Sciences Deborah Curry announced the addition of the new Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. A few months later, Rebecca Southern was named the director of the new program. The first class of students began in August 2018.

“It was overwhelming and exciting to develop a new program,” Southern said. “We developed a very well-rounded curriculum with cooperation from local hospitals.”

Southern began her career as a diagnostic medical sonographer in 2005 after obtaining her associate degree in DMS from Virginia College. While doing ultrasounds in physician offices, she continued her education to earn a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Jacksonville State University. In 2015, she earned a Master of Organizational Leadership from Colorado Christian University.

“I enjoyed performing ultrasounds, but I really became interested in vascular and cardiology because some members of my family had heart disease,” Southern said. “I believe that connection to my family is where my passion came from.”

Gadsden State’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is the only one in the state of Alabama enrolling students to be trained in three DMS modalities – abdomen, obstetrics and vascular.

“This program provides all three modalities which makes it highly competitive,” she said. “Over 130 students applied for the fall 2018 cohort, and we only accepted 20.”

This is not Southern’s first foray in education. She previously worked for eight years as a clinical instructor and eventually program director at Virginia College.

“We are thrilled to have Rebecca join our team,” Curry said. “She has worked diligently to help develop this program by using her on-the-job training and previous instructor experience. I’m very proud of her and all of the members of our faculty and staff in the Health Sciences Division for working so hard to provide new and traditional educational opportunities for our students.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, DMS is projected to grow 17 percent by 2026, which is much faster than the average of all occupations. In 2016, there were 122,300 diagnostic medical sonography jobs in the U.S. with a median pay of $64,280 per year.

“I am so excited to be the program director at Gadsden State,” Southern said. “Gadsden is my home, so I am thrilled to help students in my community learn about something that is so important to me and has such a growing need.”

This program is highly competitive with a minimum ACT score requirement. The full list of requirements are as follows:

• Apply to and meet all general requirements of Gadsden State
• Be in good standing with the College
• Official transcripts from other colleges 
• Proof of active or current CPR for healthcare providers
• Proof of health insurance
• Must maintain a C or better on all general and pre-DMS courses
• Must have an 18 on the ACT
• Must have a 2.5 GPA on general education courses (orientation, English composition I, Humanities/Fine Arts elective, Fundamentals of Oral Communications, Intermediate College Algebra, 
  Anatomy and Physiology I, Technical Physics and General Psychology)
• Must complete all general required courses for DMS program by application deadline
• Must pass a criminal background check and drug test
• Must be 18 years old
• Must meet the essential functions required by the DMS program

“If you are interested in this career, be excited and prepared,” said Southern. “Retake the ACT or a class if you have to because it’s competitive but worth it."

“If there is any advice I can give to those considering applying for this program, I say go for it,” she said. “My associate degree was the most pivotal of all the degrees I have earned.”

For more information,visit www.gadsdenstate.edu/health/diagnostic-medical-sonography.