Exploring MRI, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Cardiovascular Sonography Programs in Los Angeles & Ontario

May 11, 2026

scanning of intestines, abdominal cavity

If you’re exploring a career in medical imaging, you’ve probably noticed something right away: there isn’t just one path. Instead, there are several specialized roles, each with their own focus, technology, and patient experience.

At Smith Chason College, two Southern California campuses—Los Angeles and Ontario—offer training in three key imaging disciplines:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS)
Cardiovascular Sonography (Echocardiography / CVS)

Each of these programs leads to a different type of role in healthcare, but they share a common thread: using advanced imaging technology to help physicians diagnose and treat patients.

If you’re trying to decide which direction makes sense for you, this guide breaks down what each program involves, what you’ll learn, and how the Los Angeles and Ontario campuses support your training.

Why Consider Medical Imaging as a Career Path?

Medical imaging sits at the intersection of technology and patient care. Instead of administering treatments directly, imaging professionals play a critical role in diagnosis—capturing the images that help physicians understand what’s happening inside the body.

This field tends to attract people who:

Enjoy working with technology but don’t want a desk job
Prefer structured, hands-on work environments
Want to interact with patients in a meaningful but focused way
Are interested in healthcare without pursuing nursing or physician roles

Another advantage? There are multiple specialties to choose from, which means you can align your training with what genuinely interests you, whether that’s the brain, abdomen, or the heart.

MRI: A Closer Look at Advanced Imaging Technology

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most recognizable imaging technologies in healthcare. It uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissues, organs, and structures inside the body.

What You’ll Learn in an MRI Program

In the Associate of Science in MRI program offered at both Los Angeles and Ontario, students are introduced to:

MRI physics and imaging principles
Cross-sectional anatomy
Patient positioning and safety protocols
Equipment operation and image production

MRI is particularly valuable because it provides highly detailed images without using ionizing radiation. That makes it a go-to tool for examining the brain, spine, joints, and internal organs.

What the Role Feels Like Day-to-Day

MRI technologists typically:

Prepare patients for scans
Position them correctly within the MRI machine
Monitor imaging sequences
Ensure patient comfort during longer scan times

Because MRI exams can take longer than other imaging procedures, communication and attention to detail are especially important in this role.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS): Versatility Across the Body

Diagnostic Medical Sonography, often called ultrasound, uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of structures inside the body.

This is one of the most versatile imaging fields, covering areas such as:

Abdomen (liver, kidneys, pancreas)
Obstetrics and gynecology
Small parts and soft tissues

What You’ll Learn in a DMS Program

At both campuses, the Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program typically includes:

Ultrasound physics and instrumentation
Abdominal and pelvic imaging
Patient care and scanning techniques
Clinical training to apply skills in real-world settings

Sonography requires a unique combination of technical skill and real-time decision-making. Unlike MRI, where images are generated through automated sequences, sonographers actively guide the transducer and adjust settings during the exam.

What Makes DMS Appealing?

Many students are drawn to DMS because:

It offers variety in daily work
It involves active scanning rather than passive imaging
It allows for more direct interaction during procedures

If you like the idea of “hands-on imaging,” DMS often feels more dynamic compared to other modalities.

Cardiovascular Sonography (CVS): Focused on the Heart

Cardiovascular Sonography, also known as echocardiography, is a specialized branch of ultrasound that focuses specifically on the heart and vascular system.

This program is offered at both the Los Angeles and Ontario campuses and is often considered a more focused path compared to general sonography.

What You’ll Learn in a CVS Program

Students in the Associate of Science in Cardiovascular Sonography program typically study:

Cardiac anatomy and physiology
Echocardiographic imaging techniques
Hemodynamics and blood flow analysis
Disease processes affecting the heart

This specialization trains students to capture detailed images of heart function, including how blood flows through chambers and valves.

What the Role Looks Like

Cardiovascular sonographers often:

Perform echocardiograms (heart ultrasounds)
Work closely with cardiologists
Analyze motion and blood flow in real time
Assist in diagnosing cardiac conditions

Because the heart is constantly moving, this role requires precision, timing, and a strong understanding of anatomy.

Los Angeles vs. Ontario: Choosing the Right Campus

Both the Los Angeles and Ontario campuses offer these three programs, but your experience may vary depending on your location, commute, and personal preferences.

Los Angeles Campus

The Los Angeles campus places you in one of the largest healthcare markets in the country. This can offer:

Exposure to a wide range of clinical environments
Opportunities to train in diverse healthcare settings
A fast-paced, urban learning environment

For students already living in or near Los Angeles, this campus provides convenient access to training without relocating.

Clinical Training & Externships in Los Angeles: What to Expect

One of the defining parts of the student experience at the Los Angeles campus is how early and intentionally it introduces real-world training.

Before students ever step into a clinical site, they begin building confidence in lab-based environments that mirror actual hospitals and imaging centers. For MRI students in particular, this includes hands-on lab training at affiliated locations such as White Memorial Hospital, Dignity Health California Hospital, USC Arcadia Hospital, Cedars-Sinai, RadNet Inc., and Northridge Hospital.

These lab settings aren’t just classrooms with equipment; they’re designed to feel like working imaging departments. Students practice positioning, protocols, and patient interaction in environments that simulate the pace and expectations of real healthcare settings. Think of it as a rehearsal stage before stepping into the full production.

Transitioning from Lab to Clinical Experience

Once students have built that foundation, they move into externships, where training shifts from simulation to reality.

Smith Chason College partners with hospitals and imaging centers across the country, including organizations like White Memorial Medical Center, Optima Diagnostic Imaging, and Precise Imaging (PI). During externships, students work alongside experienced professionals, applying what they’ve learned in real patient scenarios.

This is where the learning curve sharpens—in a good way.

You’re interacting with actual patients
You’re adapting to different clinical workflows
You’re learning how imaging fits into broader patient care

It’s less like a classroom and more like stepping into the rhythm of a working healthcare team.

Be Prepared: Externships May Require Relocation

One important detail that prospective students should understand upfront is that externship placements are not always local.

Because Smith Chason works with a wide network of clinical partners nationwide, students may need to:

Travel outside the immediate Los Angeles area
Temporarily relocate to another part of California
In some cases, complete externships in another state

While that might sound like a curveball at first, many students find it to be one of the most valuable parts of their training. It offers exposure to different healthcare environments, patient populations, and facility types, experiences that can broaden both skillset and perspective.

In a way, externships become a bridge between school and career, sometimes even opening doors to future employment opportunities.

Why This Matters for Your Training

Clinical experience isn’t just a checkbox, it’s where classroom knowledge turns into professional capability.

By the time students complete their externships, they’ve typically:

Worked with real patients in clinical settings
Gained confidence using imaging equipment under supervision
Learned how to communicate within a healthcare team
Experienced the expectations of a professional imaging role

For many, this is the moment where everything “clicks.”

Ontario Campus

Located in the Inland Empire, the Ontario campus offers a slightly different experience:

Easier commuting for students in surrounding areas like Riverside and San Bernardino
A more suburban setting compared to Los Angeles
Access to growing healthcare networks in the region

For many students, the decision between campuses comes down to logistics, where you live, how far you’re willing to commute, and which environment suits your lifestyle.

Clinical Training & Externships in Ontario: From Equipment to Real-World Experience

The Ontario campus stands out for its strong emphasis on hands-on learning with industry-standard equipment, but what really shapes the student experience is how that training transitions into real clinical environments.

Students begin by working with advanced ultrasound systems like the GE Vivid E9, GE Logiq E9, Philips iE33, Samsung HS40, Acuson Sequoia 512, and Philips iU22. These machines, paired with tools like UltraLinq, EKG systems (Welch Allyn CP150, GE MAC 1200), ABI devices, and blood pressure equipment, allow students to develop technical skills in a controlled setting.

It’s a bit like learning to fly in a simulator before stepping into the cockpit, you’re building muscle memory and confidence before the stakes become real.

Lab Training That Mirrors the Field

For MRI students, laboratory courses take place at off-site locations such as San Dimas Community Hospital, Alliance Imaging Mobile, SoCal Radiology, and Casa Healthcare Center. These environments are designed to reflect actual hospital and clinic workflows, giving students early exposure to how imaging departments operate.

This phase of training helps students get comfortable with:

Patient positioning and communication
Imaging protocols and equipment handling
The pace and expectations of clinical settings

By the time students transition into externships, they’re not starting from scratch; they’re stepping into something that already feels familiar.

Externships: Where Training Becomes Experience

Externships are where everything comes together.

Through partnerships with hospitals and clinics across the country, Smith Chason College provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real healthcare environments under the guidance of experienced professionals.

During this phase, students:

Work directly with patients
Perform imaging procedures under supervision
Adapt to different clinical teams and workflows
Gain insight into day-to-day responsibilities in the field

It’s the moment where theory turns into instinct.

Important to Know: Flexibility for Externship Placement

Like the Los Angeles campus, externship placements for Ontario students are not always local.

Because of the college’s nationwide network of clinical partners, students may need to:

Travel outside the Inland Empire
Relocate temporarily within California
Occasionally complete externships in another state

While this requires some flexibility, it also opens the door to a wider range of experiences. Students may train in different types of facilities, from outpatient imaging centers to larger hospital systems, each offering a slightly different perspective on the profession.

Why This Experience Matters

By the end of their externship, students aren’t just familiar with imaging—they’ve lived it.

They’ve worked with real patients, navigated clinical environments, and developed the kind of confidence that only comes from doing the job itself. For many students, this phase becomes a turning point, helping them transition from student to professional with a clearer sense of direction.

How to Decide Between MRI, DMS, and CVS

Choosing between these three programs isn’t about which one is “better”—it’s about which one fits your interests and working style.

Here are a few guiding questions:

Do you prefer structured technology or active scanning?

MRI tends to be more structured and protocol-driven
DMS and CVS involve more hands-on scanning and real-time adjustments

Are you interested in a specialized focus?

CVS is highly specialized (heart and vascular system)
DMS is broader (multiple areas of the body)
MRI falls somewhere in between

What type of patient interaction do you want?

MRI involves longer, more controlled interactions
Sonography often involves more continuous engagement during exams

What These Programs Have in Common

While each program leads to a different role, they share several important elements:

Hands-on training: Students learn from experienced faculty by doing, not just observing
Clinical experience: Real-world practice is built into the programs
Technology-driven skills: You’ll work with advanced medical equipment
Patient-centered care: Every role involves helping patients through the imaging process

These programs are designed to prepare students for entry into the medical imaging field with a strong foundation in both theory and application.

Finding Your Path in Medical Imaging

If you’re considering a career in medical imaging, the good news is that you don’t have to choose blindly. MRI, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Cardiovascular Sonography each offer a distinct path, and both the Los Angeles and Ontario campuses provide access to all three.

Instead of asking, “Which program is best?” a better question might be:

“Which type of work do I see myself doing every day?”