“Who you are and what you’re capable of is up to you…no one else gets to decide that,” said Emily Lynch, Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus graduate.
Lynch first noticed the work of cardiac sonographers by accompanying her mom at her cardiology appointments.
“Something clicked,” said Lynch. “For the first time in my life, I felt a sense of purpose for my career.”
From there, she took the necessary prerequisites and applied for the cardiac sonography program at Arkansas Tech-Ozark. She was accepted and enrolled in the program in 2024. Lynch described the program as “one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life.”
During her final semester in summer 2025, she moved to Little Rock to begin training and pursuing a full-time job after graduation. When that job opportunity fell through, she returned to the drawing board. What she thought was a major setback welcomed several opportunities.
Lynch began researching top cardiology hospitals in the country and received multiple job offers, ultimately accepting a position at Duke University Hospital.
“If it weren’t for the setback I experienced this summer, I wouldn’t be where I am now…at one of the top institutions in the nation, and even the world, for my field,” said Lynch.
Lynch credits her ATU-Ozark instructors for providing students with a strong foundation and professional network to start a career and they note her dedication.
“Emily demonstrated exceptional grit and determination through her time in the cardiac sonography program, so it comes as no surprise that she has earned a position at Duke University,” said Kristen Wendling, ATU-Ozark cardiac sonography program chair. “We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and look forward to seeing the positive impact she will make on her patients and the future of the cardiac sonography profession.”
Lynch said she feels incredibly grateful for the opportunities she has at Duke University Hospital.
“The experience and training I’m gaining here are truly once-in-a-lifetime,” she said.
Discover more opportunities through ATU-Ozark at www.atu.edu/ozark.
