Research Park News

October 6, 2016

Cardinal Tech reflects on success, seeks to grow

cardinal tech Student Kaylee Siriani practices using an ultrasound machine on fellow student Brock Hughes during an echocardiography course at Cardinal Tech Institute of Allied Health in the Purdue Technology Center at Purdue Research Park of Northwest Indiana. (Purdue Research Foundation photo/Curt Slyder) Download image

MERRILLVILLE, Ind.  – A small medical training school focusing on graduating qualified sonographers, Cardinal Tech Institute of Allied Health is looking to grow not only in types of training offered, but also in new locations beyond northwest Indiana.

Located in the Purdue Technology Center within Purdue Research Park of Northwest Indiana, Cardinal Tech began offering classes in January 2015. The growing school has already graduated students and is currently working with 16 students spread across several classes.

“We’re a young school,” said Jennifer White, Cardinal Tech president and co-founder. “We try to do four classes per year. We intend to keep our classes very small so that each student has a lot of one-on-one experience.”

Executive director and co-founder Marianne Moore teaches the classes. White is a partner at Advanced Imaging Inc. in Carmel, Indiana. Advanced Imaging provides ultrasound imaging services to physicians and hospitals in central Indiana.

According to White, the school was founded out of necessity.

“In over a decade of business we’d only hired one student straight out of school,” she said. “We saw a need to be able to prepare students for the workforce.”

A resident of Crown Point, Indiana, Moore has many years of experience in ultrasound training. To utilize Moore’s expertise, the duo decided to launch the training close to where Moore lived.

They chose the Purdue Technology Center, not only due to its nearby location, but also because of the guidance and assistance afforded by the building’s staff.

“You can’t work where you don’t feel comfortable,” Moore said. “Purdue Technology Center staff gives me that continual feeling of support and networking opportunity availability on a daily basis.”

According to Moore, Cardinal Tech’s ability to provide “hands-on” training sets it apart. “We offer ultrasound made easy and simplified. Bedsides, ultrasound has become a ‘must have’ skill for medical practitioners. We offer the kind of ultrasound training available at top hospitals and medical schools without the high prices and need for many prerequisites.”

The school’s teaching methods have proven successful for its students.

Therese Saxen attended Cardinal Tech from January 2015 through June 2016. She made the two-hour drive once a week from her hometown of Indianapolis to attend courses.

“It was well worth it,” she said. “The quickest way to a job as a sonographer in Indianapolis requires lots of prerequisites and radiology. I wanted to go to a place where I could focus on being a sonographer.”

Saxen was placed into an internship with Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis toward the end of her study program. Upon graduation, the hospital offered her a full-time position.

Saxen credits Cardinal Tech for giving her a competitive advantage upon graduation.

“With Cardinal Tech there’s no going through radiology first and then only getting a relatively quick ultrasound education before being thrown out into clinicals to observe and self-teach,” she said.

While the school currently only offers training in sonography, plans are in place to start offering electrocardiography training and perhaps more.

“Medical providers are requesting qualified technicians in other specialties,” Moore said.

“We’ve had amazing feedback from our local physicians and facilities that we work with throughout our clinical sites,” she said. “We plan on modeling the Merrillville operation in other areas of the state and perhaps even beyond.”

Moore said the Purdue Technology Center has given Cardinal Tech enough space to grow. “Being here gives us the space we need for that to happen.”

About Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana

Modeled after West Lafayette's Purdue Research Park flagship incubator that is owned and operated by Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana sits on 386 acres west of Interstate 65 in Merrillville. This laboratory and office facility serves as the anchor for the state certified technology park – Ameriplex at the Crossroads – under development by Purdue Research Foundation. The 60,000-square-foot center opened as Purdue’s first satellite technology center in January 2005 and currently serves many technology-based tenants and other tenants. It offers reasonably priced, flexible incubation space, including wet labs, to emerging technology firms. Information about the facility can be found at https://www.prf.org/researchpark/locations/northwest 

Writer: Curt Slyder, (765) 588-3342, caslyder@prf.org 

Sources: Jennifer White, (219) 525-1485, jennifer@cardinal-tech.com

Marianne Moore, (219) 525-1485, marianne@cardinal-tech.com

Therese Saxen, tsaxen86@gmail.com 


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