Medical Imaging Program Notes

Program Overview and Advising

• Welcome and role: Dr. Mallory Jankore, Program Director for Medical Imaging; your adviser moving forward. You’ll work together on classes, advising, and planning your path.
• Attendance: Scan QR code at sessions to record attendance.
• Session goal: Provide essential information about medical imaging majors and what to start thinking about now if this is your major.
• Canvas access: Each major has a Canvas page with detailed information; I’ll point you to these resources during the session.
• Important takeaway: If you have a question, chances are others do too—asking helps everyone stay informed.
• Two distinct programs at UW Oshkosh:
  • Medical Imaging with Radiologic Science emphasis (prepares for CT, MRI, X-ray, etc.).
  • Medical Imaging with Sonography emphasis (Ultrasound).
• You must pick one emphasis; you can change later, but you cannot pursue both simultaneously.
• Advising cadence: Mandatory advising with Dr. Jankore; expect a meeting in mid-October to plan spring coursework; Navigate is used to schedule. Two-year timeline is tight—efficient planning is essential.

Program Tracks: Radiologic Science vs Sonography

• Radiologic Science emphasis (RS): Focused on radiography-based modalities (CT, MRI, X-ray).
• Sonography emphasis: Focused on ultrasound modalities (general ultrasound, OB, vascular, cardiac, etc.).
• You can declare either track; switching is possible but should be discussed with advising.
• Not all hospitals offer all tracks for clinicals; accreditation matters for clinical hours to count toward the registry exam.

2+2 Program Structure and Clinical Timeline

• Two-year on-campus core year: General education and science prerequisites (examples include public speaking, writing, general education courses, and science prerequisites).
• Core science prerequisites include courses such as Bio 105, Bio 211 (Human Anatomy), Bio 212 (Human Physiology), and chemistry or physics (or both), plus math and other required GE courses.
• Second two years: Off-campus clinicals (two years full-time, 40 hours/week, Monday–Friday; includes summers).
• Radiologic Science clinical schedule: Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer (six terms).
• Sonography clinical schedule: Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring (five terms).
• Summer class on campus before leaving for clinicals.
• Clinicals are unpaid; tuition is billed to UW Oshkosh; you earn 60 credits toward your bachelor’s degree during clinicals; you can still use financial aid for this period.
• Practical consequence: You are not paying the hospital directly; the university bills tuition.

Clinical Sites, Accreditation, and Options

• Clinicals are competitive: You must apply and be accepted by a partner hospital for your clinical hours.
• Hospitals used are those accredited for your major; non-accredited sites do not count toward clinical hours or eligibility.
• Radiologic Science has 7 hospital sites; Sonography has 3 hospital sites.
  • RS sites include locations in Meenah, Fond du Lac, four in Milwaukee, and Madison.
  • Sonography sites are in Milwaukee and Madison only (no local to campus options).
• Hospital partner lists and options are accessible via Canvas documents:
  • "RadSci affiliate websites" for RS hospitals.
  • "Sonography affiliate websites" for sonography hospitals.
• To view hospital locations, sites, and expectations, review the affiliate websites document on Canvas.
• Important caveat: Some hospitals may be the right fit for one track but not accredited for the other; choose sites accordingly.

How to Become a Competitive Applicant for Clinicals

• Applications are points-based; hospitals assign points for various criteria when you apply.
  • Name, work history, grades (A, B, C scale with varying points).
• GPA requirements and performance:
  • Radiologic Science: Minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (meaning roughly a B- or better in most courses).
  • Sonography: Minimum overall GPA of 3.0, and a separate science GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Focus areas to improve early:
  • Maintain strong grades, especially in science coursework; more weight placed on science GPA for these programs.
  • Take advantage of campus resources: SI (Supplemental Instruction) sessions, one-on-one tutoring, and professor office hours.
  • Research tutoring options on the Oshkosh homepage (search for tutoring) and math tutoring (Math Lab) for walk-in help.
  • Do not ignore struggles; a C or better is required in science courses to move to the next course (prerequisites depend on maintaining a C or higher).
• GPA improvement evidence: Students who attend SI regularly perform better (e.g., 30% improvement in some cases) and can raise grades from C to B or B to A with sufficient support.
• Shadowing (required for competitive candidacy):
  • RS majors: minimum of 4 hours of job shadowing.
  • Sonography majors: minimum of 8 hours total, split as 4 hours of general ultrasound and 4 hours of cardiac ultrasound.
  • Shadowing must be documented using the job shadow form on Canvas; include hours, observations, and sign-off by the affiliated hospital.
  • You can shadow more than the minimum; hours can be accumulated across multiple sites; you can break hours into multiple sessions.
  • If difficulty arranging shadowing, use affiliated hospitals’ websites (the affiliate hospital pages often provide guidance on scheduling shadowing for students).
  • For general ultrasound vs cardiac, hours in the two specific areas align with the two clinical tracks you may enter after graduation.
  • It is acceptable to shadow at different facilities to gain broader exposure.
• Patient care experience (PCE):
  • RS majors: Highly recommended but not strictly required.
  • Sonography majors: Must have CNA certification and at least 100 hours of patient care experience outside the clinical setting.
  • Typical CNA hours for accepted sonography students average around 900 hours; more hours improve competitiveness; plan to accumulate as many hours as feasible.
  • Potential PCE roles: CNA, Imaging Assistant, Hospital Transporter (moving patients to imaging and back).
  • CNA is not offered by Oshkosh; students must obtain CNA training through a technical college or other private program.
  • For imaging-related roles, ensure your job title aligns with required categories (e.g., CNA for sonography).
  • If you already work in a hospital as an imaging assistant, you still need separate, guided job shadowing for a holistic exposure.
• Shadowing and PCE timelines: Shadowing and PCE hours should be accumulated in the years leading up to application (by December of the application year; for next cycle, that would be December 2026 in the example given).
• What happens if you don’t meet requirements initially: You may reapply next year with feedback from hospitals on how to strengthen your application (e.g., more PCE, higher GPA, more shadowing, improved interview language).

Plan A, Plan B, and Backup Options

• If you don’t get placed in the clinical program:
  • Reapply the following year with targeted improvements based on hospital feedback.
  • Consider changing emphasis (RS to Sonography or vice versa) if necessary, or pursue a different major as a backup plan.
  • You may complete an Associate’s degree (AA/AS) after two years if you choose to exit the imaging path.
• The idea is to develop a flexible plan that aligns with your strengths and hospitals’ feedback.
• Gap year considerations:
  • A gap year to gain more PCE hours is acceptable and not inherently negative on a resume, provided you show purposeful activity and improvement.
  • If you take a gap year, you may not have a campus email; we will work to maintain guidance and communication through a suitable plan.
• It is possible to study abroad or participate in honors-related opportunities; study abroad options exist for imaging students (especially for honors) and do not necessarily derail degree progress; however, study abroad can extend degree time if it overlaps with clinical cycles.

Advising, Resources, and Canvas Details

• Mandatory advising with Dr. Jankore to optimize your spring course planning and to track: CNA status, shadowing progress, and potential major/emphasis changes.
• Monitoring and scheduling: You will receive an email to schedule via Navigate; you are encouraged to book a time that fits your schedule.
• Major-specific resources on Canvas:
  • Student manual (RadSci and Sonography): Use the search/find feature to locate terms like CNA, tuition during clinicals, etc., to quickly access relevant sections.
  • Job shadow verification form: Print, complete, and obtain signatures; use for application submissions.
  • Hospital affiliate documents: Lists of partner hospitals with websites and details.
• Hospital information and informational sessions:
  • Past hospital presentations: Useful to understand differences between programs and hospitals.
  • Examples of hospital differences: Froedtert (level 1 trauma), Ascension Saint Joseph’s (four-day week with four 10-hour shifts), UW Health (free bus pass, campus accessibility).
• Extracurriculars and backups:
  • Extracurriculars and volunteering are beneficial but not required; they are not a formal admission criterion.
  • Mock interviews: Required for sonography; career development office can arrange mock interviews (often via Navigate).
• Advising approach and expectations:
  • The adviser helps you navigate the process but does not control admissions outcomes; you apply to each hospital individually and make final decisions.
  • You may apply to three hospitals; if accepted to two, you choose which to accept.
  • If no offers, you work with advising to plan alternative paths.

Study Aids, Study Tips, and Real-World Relevance

• Study strategy tips:
  • Use SI sessions and tutoring to boost grades, particularly for tough science subjects.
  • Prioritize courses that are prerequisites and have a direct impact on your ability to move forward in the program.
  • Keep track of shadowing hours and PCE hours with documented forms and receipts; keep both electronic and paper copies as backups.
• Real-world relevance:
  • Clinical experiences build practical patient interaction skills, including explaining procedures, patient movement, and exposure to clinical realities in imaging.
  • Job shadowing teaches you how to communicate with patients and adapt to different clinical environments.
  • PCE exposes you to the patient care environment and helps you understand workflow and patient handling before entering the clinical setting.
• Key takeaways for your plan:
  • Prioritize GPA in science courses, and build robust PCE and shadowing resumes.
  • Start arranging shadowing early; use affiliated hospitals if local options are limited.
  • Plan spring courses early with advising to ensure you stay on track for the two-year on-campus block.
  • Consider study abroad or honors opportunities if they align with your goals, recognizing potential impacts on degree timing.

Quick Recap: Major Points to Remember

• You must choose one track: Radiologic Science or Sonography; no dual-track pursuit.
• Structure: 2 years on-campus (core + prerequisites) + 2 years clinicals off-campus; clinicals are full-time and unpaid; tuition is paid to UW Oshkosh; 60 credits earned during clinicals.
• Clinical sites are limited and accredited; RS has 7 sites, Sonography has 3; site options are listed on Canvas via the affiliate documents.
• Competitive criteria include GPA requirements (RS 2.5; Sonography 3.0 overall and 3.0 science), shadowing hours (RS 4; Sonography 8 with specific general and cardiac splits), and patient care experience (Sonography requires CNA; RS benefits from PCE but not required).
• Shadowing and PCE hours must be documented; planning should begin early and be well-documented to improve competitiveness.
• If not placed, there are structured paths: reapply with feedback, switch emphasis, or pursue an associate degree as a backup plan.
• Advising is mandatory and ongoing; plan spring coursework and monitor CNA/shadowing; meetings typically occur at least once per semester, with additional meetings as needed.
• Resources on Canvas (manual, forms, hospital lists) are essential for planning and applications; attend informational sessions to understand hospital differences and opportunities.
• Practical tips: Seek tutoring, office hours, and math lab help; use mock interviews if applicable; consider a backup plan early; study abroad and honors options can enrich your experience but may affect timeline.

End of Notes