Minot-area students who aspire to become an ultrasound technologist will soon be able to train closer to home, according to a press release.

Trinity Health is using Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month this October to announce it is launching its own Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program to educate students in the skills needed to become a medical sonographer, also known as an ultrasound technologist.

Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool that uses high frequency sound waves to observe various structures and functions within the body. It’s most commonly used to view heart function, blood flow, fetal growth, breast tissue, and other structures. Unlike x-ray, there is no ionizing radiation used to perform a sonogram.

Radiology Director Jim Coffin says sonography is a dynamic field that has grown significantly over the past several years due to advances in technology, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. The result is that recruiting sonographers has become more challenging.

“We’ve been a clinical training site for many years for two out-of-state ultrasound programs. With that experience we’ve developed the confidence that we are a very strong clinical site for those training programs,” Coffin said in the press release. “Our vision is to attract great local students and create excellent sonographers that will likely stay in and around our location. This will be good for Trinity Health, Minot, and our surrounding rural communities.”

Students are now being accepted into the program, which starts in January. The next round of applications will take place July through September 2020. Graduates will receive a Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, or through a consortium agreement with the Dakota College at Bottineau, an Associate of Applied Science.