Apr. 14, 2026
South College Asheville offers pregnant members of the community a chance to see a three-dimensional image of their developing fetus, while also providing students in the Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program valuable hands-on learning with patients.
“We embrace any opportunity to offer our students real-world experience in patient care,” said Dr. Samantha Sircey, president of South College Asheville. “It’s also a great way to bring joy and engage with the community by offering free 3-D scans that aren’t traditionally covered by health insurance.”
Students are overseen by faculty members as they demonstrate each facet of patient care, from changing bed linens and getting patient histories, to taking measurements and providing estimated fetal weights.
South College has been offering this service each Tuesday in Asheville for nearly four years, and demand has consistently increased over time. The clinic has capacity for 12 patients a day with the first appointment at 8:30 a.m. and the last slot at 3:30 p.m.
“This ongoing community service offers students applied experience beyond training at clinical sites, such as comprehensive practice scanning pregnant patients, including taking measurements, documenting organs, evaluating the placenta, looking at echotexture or tissue characteristics and learning how to scan a moving target as babies don’t always cooperate,” said Natasha Casada, DMS program director at South College Asheville.
The ultrasound scans are provided for educational and engagement purposes and are not designed to be diagnostic or to replace prenatal ultrasounds recommended by an obstetrician.
The clinic does not see patients with high-risk pregnancies, and expectant mothers are asked to provide their 20-week anatomy report. Participants must be at least 18 years old and at or beyond 20 weeks of gestation. However, repeat scans are welcome.
“As soon as expectant mothers receive their anatomy report, they can book all the way until they deliver,” Casada said. “It’s a great experience for students to see the different structures as the baby develops as you can see much more at 32 weeks than scans at 22 weeks.”
Interested individuals can schedule an appointment online by visiting https://calendly.com/south-college-ultrasound/3d-ob-ultrasound-appointment-1?month=2026-04.
“We have had such a great response from the community, and we frequently receive baby pictures from participants after they deliver,” Casada said.
The Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is designed to develop essential skills in ultrasound procedures, medical sonographic equipment, patient care and professional communication. DMS concentrations include abdominal-extended, obstetrics and gynecology and adult echocardiography.
The Asheville campus offers the program fully in-person or through a hybrid delivery model combining online learning activities with hands-on, campus-based labs. Upon successful completion, graduates are eligible to take the certification exam administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) to receive licensure.
The Asheville campus is located at 140 Sweeten Creek Road. Interested students may call the admissions team at 828-630-8104 or visit south.edu/asheville.
About South College
South College serves more than 20,000 students and is proud of its more than 20,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.
