Where Are They Now: OFTC Diagnostic Medical Sonography Grads
Mackenzie Thomas, RT(S), RVT
C/O 2021
Dodge County
Employed: Middle Georgia Vascular Surgery Center in Warner Robins, full-time
Nationally Registered: ARRT – Sonography (Abdomen and OB/GYN) & ARDMS – Vascular
Q: You’ve gone back to school to further your education. Tell us what your goals are for continuing your education.
A: I am a fully online student at Georgia Southern University pursuing my bachelor’s in health sciences. I would love to one day move into a teaching role for ultrasound or basic health sciences. I actually have students from OFTC come to my office as a clinic site and have come to realize I love teaching! Hopefully the opportunity will present itself in the future.
Q: Any reflections you’d like to make on your time in OFTC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program?
A: I was in the first Sonography program at OFTC and I think it prepared me well for my career. Before I graduated, I had several job offers. I also feel as though it prepared me testing wise – I passed my physics and Abdomen/OB board on the first try. The instructors are still great about keeping up with me today.
Jessica Fordham, RT(S)
C/O 2021
Dodge County
Employed: Taylor and Karoly P.C., part-time; OFTC Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Lab Assistant, part-time.
Nationally Registered: ARRT –Sonography (Abdomen and OB/GYN) & ARDMS – Physics
Q: You’ve gone back to school to further your education. Tell us what your goals are for continuing your education.
A: I am working towards my bachelor’s degree at Georgia Southern University in health science. I plan to continue to work alongside OFTC’s DMS program. I’ve loved working with the students and want to continue doing that.
Q: Any reflections you’d like to make on your time in OFTC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program?
A: I truly enjoyed my time as a student in OFTC’s program. I was in the very first cohort, so it was a learning year for us as students, but also for Mrs. Eiland, our program director. Not to mention, we were in the COVID-19 year since the program started in August of 2020. We had to wear masks in class and masks and face shields in the lab. So, for many reasons that will always make it memorable, but Mrs. Eiland is also another reason why it will be so memorable. She had to create a brand-new program from scratch all while working from home. She got to come back to campus just a month or two before we started. Of course, there were hiccups along the way, but she literally made it as smooth as possible. She was also a great teacher and was truly working for us as students. She cared so deeply for us and I can’t express how much that helped us along the way. The DMS program is hard, extremely hard, but everyone on campus from Mrs. Eiland, to admissions and financial aid, and all the other faculty were truly on our side and did everything they could to help us succeed.
LaCourtney Johnson, RT(S)
C/O 2021
Laurens County
Employed: Lead Sonographer, Fairview Park Hospital.
Nationally Registered: AART – Sonography (Abdomen and OB/GYN)
Q: What do you love most about working as a diagnostic medical sonographer?
A: I absolutely love working in this field. I say all the time that I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Being able to help people in need of our services is a blessing. As a sonographer, the relationships you build in a short period of time are phenomenal, and the bond made with your regular patients is something you’ll cherish forever. Ultrasound is more than taking pictures.
Q: Any reflections you’d like to make on your time in OFTC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program?
A: OFTC is heaven sent! The opportunity students have to learn hands on changes the game for you when it comes to learning this field. Making the decision to enroll at OFTC was the best decision I made. I enjoyed every minute of my time at the college and the instructors changed my life for the better.
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To learn more about OFTC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, visit the college’s website, OFTC.edu.
OFTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.
