College of Health Science and Human Service : Faculty

Program Director

Suzanne Wambold PhD, RN, RDCS, FASE
Chairman, Department of Health Professions
Director, Cardiovascular Technology Program

Dr. Wambold is the Director of the Cardiovascular Program and has been at the University of Toledo since 1989. Under her direction the program received CAAHEP Accreditation in 1993.  She has worked in in-patient and out-patient health care settings and brings her experiences into the classroom.  Dr. Wambold is a Registered Nurse, and holds a Bachelor of Education, Master of Education and Doctorate in Health Education from the University of Toledo.  She holds credentials as a Certified Cardiovascular Technician (CCT), Registered Cardiovascular Technologist (RCVT), and Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS). She is also recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE).  She is currently the Chairman of the Department of Health Professions and serves on the College of Health and Human Services Alumni Affiliate and University of Toledo Alumni Board.  Dr Wambold also works with the Medical Technologies students in local high schools involved with Tech Prep.  She encourages students interested in math, science and the medical field to visit the UT campus and view the cardiovascular labs.  

Medical Directors

Mohammad M. Maaieh, M.D., Echocardiography Medical Director
Dr. Maaieh provides lectures to the echocardiography students. 
He is currently in practice with Northwest Ohio Cardiology Consultants. 

Mohammad Farooq Afridi, M.D., Peripheral Vascular Medical Director. 
Dr. Afridi provides guidance to the peripheral vascular students. 
He is currently in practice in Maumee Ohio.

     Nicole Ritter, RDCS, Faculty

Nicole Ritter  is an alumnus of the University of Toledo.  She completed her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and the Cardiovascular Curriculum. She is responsible for the first year Cardiovascular Technology students labs with emphasis on ECG interpretation, cardiac stress testing and ambulatory cardiac monitoring. Nicole is currently employed in a hospital setting and brings current technology into the classroom.

Students practice EKG hook-up on one another in the lab with supervision

Christine Ferguson, RVT, Faculty

Chris Ferguson is an alumnus of the Cardiovascular Program and is responsible for the non-invasive peripheral vascular curriculum.  She is a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) and has taught at the University of Toledo since 1995.  Chris has worked as a Vascular Technologist for over 16 years. Her knowledge and expertise have been utilized in both hospital and private office settings.  She has also written and co-authored articles relating to vascular technology. 

 
Career in Vascular Technology

Vascular technologists assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of disorders affecting the vascular system (excluding the heart). Ultrasound instrumentation is most commonly used, transmitting high frequency sound waves into the body and reflecting off the vessels of interest. The reflected sound waves are processed to form high resolution, two dimensional images of the blood vessels and/or measure the speed and direction of the blood. Segments of the vascular anatomy typically examined include the cerebral, peripheral, and abdominal circulation.

Peripheral Vascular Technologists use a variety of instrumentation.
They acquire and record information related to blood vessel anatomy and physiology in the lab under supervision.

 Echo and Vascular students are all required to take an ultrasound physics course

Echo and Physics instructor

Vicky Delaney, BS, RDCS, RVT, FASE, Faculty

Vickie Delaney has been in the ultrasound field since 1985. She holds a Bachelor of science degree from the University of Toledo, along with an Associate in Applied Science in Cardiovascular Technology from Schoolcraft Community College. Registries/Certifications include: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Cardiovascular Technologist (RCVT), Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) and Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT). The American Society of Echocardiography also recognizes her with the Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography honor (FASE).

She currently teaches Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation which is also offered as a Distance Learning/Registry Exam Preparation course. This is an instructor-lead, web-based course developed for the practicing cardiac or vascular technologist. The 8 week course covers the physics of ultrasound, interaction of sound with tissue, instrumentation of image generation, transducers, Doppler physics, artifacts, bioeffects and safety. For course descriptions, access the Distance Learning website at www.dl.utoledo.edu

      Students work on lab and clinical competencies in the lab.

       Lisa Cumming, RDCS, Faculty  
                       
Lisa is an instructor for the Echo program.  Her responsibilities include classroom as well as lab instruction and communication with preceptors in the clinical sites.  She is a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer and comes to us from Illinois where she received her training through William Harper Community College and Advocate Health through Illinois Masonic Center in Chicago.  She is concurrently employed in the hospital setting as well as performing contingent work at various locations in Ohio and Indiana.

Gwen Armour, RDCS works as an echo lab instructor.

The Cardiovascular Program employs part-time Cardiovascular Technologists to assist students in the laboratory setting.  These individuals are employed locally in health care facilities and offices which provide clinical internships for the students.

CME INFO -

For graduates attempting the ARDMS exam and in need of CME's to qualify for the 12 clock hours of education specific to the credential exam - remember the University of Toledo offers the course Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation CARD:2380 as a Distance Learning option.

The SDMS Continuing Medical Education (CME) Guidelines include a program in which CME credits are awarded for specific college courses.  This option is free for SDMS members.

Cardiovascular Conference

To assist Registered Technologists in maintaining CME credits, The University of Toledo's Cardiovascular faculty have helped sponsor a Cardiovascular Conference.  In 2004, it was held on the Flower Hospital campus. Of interest to the attendees was a discussion of the importance of ergonomics and muscle skeletal injuries.

In 2005, the conference was held in the College of Health and Human Service.  Along with educational topics, a demonstration of Pilates and Body Positioning was discussed.

The proceeds from the conference are used to support a cardiovascular scholarship.  The G. Norb Wambold Memorial Cardiovascular Scholarship is housed in the College of Health Science and Human Service and is awarded annually.  For information on contributions, contact the University of Toledo Foundation at 419-530-7730 or access the web page at http://utfoundation.com/index.html.  For information on scholarship opportunities, please contact the Student Services office in the College of Health Science and Human Service at 419-530-5360.

Cardiovascular students may also qualify for the Alan D. Waggoner, MHS, RDCS Sonographer Scholarship through the American Society of Echocardiography. Information is available at their website www.asecho.org