Lone Star College echocardiography program earns national accreditation

Christina Hagerty

Lone Star College-CyFair's echocardiography (cardiac sonography) program earned initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, according to a press release.

Echocardiography is the use of continuous ultrasound waves to diagnose cardiovascular disease and is one of the most widely used diagnostic tests for heart disease, according to the release.

LSC-CyFair's associate degree in echocardiography is designed to prepare graduates for employment in the health care industry as an echocardiographer.

The program is also designed to provide opportunities for job advancement and retention for currently employed radiologic technologists, according to the release.

"The initial accreditation award is for a period of five years and the sonography program is now accredited in general, vascular and cardiac concentrations," said Dr. Cynthia Griffith, dean of health and behavioral sciences, in the release. "We are extremely proud of this accomplishment and thank Christina Hagerty and her faculty for a job well done."

In addition to the echocardiography program, LSC-CyFair offers an associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography as well as noninvasive vascular technology and advanced technical sonography certificates, according to the release. LSC-CyFair's sonography program has graduated a total of 102 students since its inception in fall 2003, and has a 100 percent pass rate on the physics and specialty examinations, according to Hagerty.

For more information on any of the sonography department programs, visit www.lonestar.edu/diagnostic-medical-sonography-dept-cyfair.