Northwest Technical College, Sanford Health to Launch Cardiac Sonography Program in Bemidji

Northwest Technical College and Sanford Health – Bemidji are joining forces to train the next generation of cardiac imaging specialists in Bemidji, announcing a co-staffed cardiac sonography degree program set to debut in Fall 2026.

The program, also described as echocardiography, will be jointly staffed and coordinated by NTC and Sanford Health of Bemidji. NTC frames the collaboration as a two-pronged effort: improving heart care access and creating "pathways to rewarding careers in rural Minnesota." NTC Cardiac Sonography faculty Maggie Wolverton and Mindy Williams are already pictured at the college working with a Philips sonography machine, suggesting the program has been in development ahead of its fall launch.

Sanford Health brings significant cardiac infrastructure to the partnership. The Sanford Heart and Vascular Center completed a major expansion in spring 2024 that added a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab, new clinic space, and electrophysiology as a specialty offering. The Bemidji cardiovascular team has earned annual performance recognition from the American College of Cardiology's NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry every year since 2020, and the hospital provides 24/7 emergent STEMI care alongside cardiac rehabilitation, vascular surgery, and screenings.

NTC, which has operated for more than 50 years, serves more than 1,000 students annually across nearly 40 degree, diploma, and certificate programs in six career paths. The college maintains an open enrollment policy and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission as a member of Minnesota State, the third-largest higher education system in the United States.

Details on program length, credential type, admission requirements, cohort size, and clinical placement structure had not been released as of the announcement. Prospective students can contact NTC at (218) 333-6600 or toll-free at (800) 942-8324, or visit ntcmn.edu for updates as enrollment information becomes available.