Radiation Sciences

College of Health Professions

Apply NowEventsMake a Gift

Jun 9, 2026

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Summer 2026 Highlights

Program celebrates accomplishments of latest graduates

DMS graduates in cap and gownGraduate cap that says A wise girl knows her limits, a smart girl knows she has none. RDMSMia Thomas honored as student of the year

Congratulations to the Class of 2026, which hit some major milestones:

  • The program celebrated a 92% completion rate, with 11 graduates.
  • All graduates are registered sonographers. Eight are dually registered in both abdomen and OB/GYN through the ARDMS.
  • Before graduation, 10 students had job offers in Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Florida.
  • The entire class successfully passed both the ARDMS Abdominal Sonography and OB/GYN registries within 1 year of graduation. All also are now working as sonographers.

Mia Thomas was honored as Student of the Year.

Record applications with reaccreditation under way

In the spring, the DMS program hit a record high of 97 applicants – 30 more than the previous year and 80 more than its first application period in 2020. Department and program leaders are discussing ways to expand the program to serve more students and health care employers.
 
On April 9-10, the DMS program hosted its regular review by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), with results expected by mid-summer.

Collaborative project enhances health sciences teaching

Yonella Demars presented with Programs that Work awardVMSC Programs that Work 2026 Pathways for Authentic Teaching of Health Sciences Virginia Commonwealth UniversityYonella Demars standing in front of poster

The Virginia Mathematics & Science Coalition presented its Programs that Work award to Yonella Demars, Ph.D., DMS program director, Elizabeth Edmondson, Ph.D., associate professor of teaching and learning, and their PATHS project theme. The award recognizes their work on Pathways for Authentic Teaching of Health Sciences, which demonstrated positive impacts on student and teacher learning; the project is funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Science Education Partnership Award. Demars and her team will work with a new set of K-12 instructors during a July session at the College of Health Professions.

Alumni & Faculty Corner

Sonographer of the Year Award to Elizabeth Libby Dodson

Elizabeth “Libby” Dodson, ’22, serves as clinical supervisor for DMS students at VCU Health. She was also recently named Sonographer of the Year by the Class of 2026.

Last fall, Destiny Barnes joined the Sonography team as an adjunct lab instructor. She brings three years of experience.

« Back to Featured News