Yorkton’s Suncrest College to offer ultrasound diploma program

Suncrest College in Yorkton is set to offer a new program to train people to provide ultrasound services in Saskatchewan.

The provincial government and Suncrest announced Monday the college will offer a diagnostic medical sonography advanced diploma program in Yorkton starting in the fall.

Currently, Saskatchewan residents who want to become sonographers have to go to Alberta to access training seats that are reserved for Saskatchewan students and then complete the clinical component of their training in Saskatchewan.

The government has secured seats in that program until at least 2024-25. Students may also compete for a non-reserved seat at other institutions outside Saskatchewan.

Now, Suncrest College is accepting applications until May 15 for six students to begin the new 28-month program this fall.

“Our government is committed to increasing training capacity for high demand health professions, and giving our students more opportunities for rewarding careers,” Advanced Education Minister Gordon Wyant said in a release.

“This new program at Suncrest College will attract students from across Saskatchewan, help meet the demand for diagnostic services, and ultimately speed up treatment for our residents.”

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“We are thrilled to bring this program to Suncrest College and to the province of Saskatchewan,” Suncrest College CEO Alison Dubreuil said in the release. “This new innovative training program reflects our commitment to excellence and ensures we contribute to the development of the health-care workforce for Saskatchewan.”

The ministries of Advanced Education and Immigration and Career Training are offering financial support for the program, and the Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan is to raise $300,000 for equipment costs. Other donors in the community will cover the remaining capital costs.

“The Health Foundation strives to expand the quality of health care and medical services in east central Saskatchewan,” foundation executive director Ross Fisher said in the release. “Through this training partnership with Suncrest College, we hope to address sonography and other hard to recruit careers in health care and revitalize our local services.”

The program at Suncrest College will be offered in partnership with Manitoba’s Red River College Polytechnic, which will provide program support and instruction.

Teaching is to be done in Suncrest College’s new on-campus imaging lab, with clinical placements to be provided in hospitals across the province through the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

More information about the program is available here.