Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program

A photo of a line of people standing in front of a screen that says "graduation celebration"
SUNY Empire and Northwell Health celebrated their partnership at the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of diagnostic medical sonography students. From left to right: Edward Waldron ’18, ’22, assistant vice president of operations at Northwell; Maureen Kroning, interim dean at School of Nursing and Allied Health at SUNY Empire; Claudia Innaco, program director at Northwell; Jennifer Saleta, vice president for the Center for Learning and Innovation (CIL) ; Jennifer Kurek, clinical program director at Northwell; Jason Naidich, senior vice president for the CIL; John Pellerito, medical director at Northwell; and Kelly Mollica, senior director of the Office of Partnerships and Workforce Development. Photo courtesy of Northwell Health
Posted On: May 20, 2025

(NEW HYDE PARK, NY — May 20, 2025) — Empire State University and Northwell Health graduated their first class of students in the diagnostic medical sonography program this month.

The twelve students celebrated with a graduation ceremony on Long Island. The graduates are eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography’s (ARDMS) Sonography Physics and Instrumentation (SPI) examination and at least one specialty examination, as well as the specialty examinations corresponding to their respective track of study. Many of the graduates have already begun their employment as sonographers at Northwell Health.

The 20-month, full-time program prepares students to become entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers. Students took prerequisite courses online through SUNY Empire, with sonography classroom courses and clinical placements held at Northwell Health facilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in 2024 was $82,570.

Students have the option of one of two tracks—abdominal extended sonography and obstetrics and gynecology sonography or adult cardiac sonography and vascular sonography.

Maureen Kroning, interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health, spoke at the ceremony. “We are proud to partner with the Sonography School and with Northwell Health, whose trust in Empire State University as an educational partner speaks to our shared commitment to building a resilient and skilled healthcare workforce,” she said. “Together, we are working to close critical gaps in healthcare access and training across the state.” 

“This milestone proves the power of strategic partnerships to meet real workforce needs,” said Kelly Mollica, senior director of Partnerships and Workforce Development for SUNY Empire. “By aligning academic pathways with clinical experience, Empire State University and Northwell Health are creating direct pipelines to meaningful careers in healthcare. We are proud to support students as they transition from education to employment, and we look forward to expanding access to this high-impact program in the years ahead.”

The program is being offered through Northwell’s Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI). For more information about the program, visit the CLI.