While running a baking business in her home state of Maryland, Johnessa Heller felt the pull toward something more stable — and more aligned with her longtime interest in medicine.
“I was looking for a more stable lifestyle,” she said. “I went back to my roots. I’ve always been interested in medicine. I thought going into medical imaging would be interesting and fun, with great job security.”
In December 2025, Heller graduated from Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Advanced Medical Imaging with a Diagnostic Medical Sonography discipline. Today, she works as an ultrasonographer at Atlantic General Hospital and Chesapeake Healthcare in Ocean City, Maryland.
“I got my first job with the hospital I did my clinicals at immediately with graduation,” she said. “The second my ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) went through, I was good to go.
“I recently left that position because it was such a far commute, but I’ve been able to put this degree in motion very quickly.”
Boise State Online was the ideal place for Heller to earn a degree in advanced medical imaging — especially because of the program’s Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) standing.
“I was dead set on going into sonography,” she said. “I wasn’t going to do X-ray or CT; I wanted to do ultrasound. I was Googling online sonography programs, but none of them were ones I could do because they all wanted X-ray first.
“Finally, Boise State’s program popped up. I did my research and messaged an academic advisor. Every academic advisor, registrar, every person I met with Boise State was super-fast, super easy to get in touch with and very helpful. It was great.
“Being able to contact people and get answers quickly was a good sign from the start. All of my credits transferred, so I was able to get the degree relatively quickly.”
A foundation in science
Heller gained an early appreciation for the healthcare field while growing up in Westover, Maryland.
“When I was in high school, we had a biomedical program that sparked my interest in medicine,” she said. “By the time I was 15, I was working in a lab and doing anatomy and physiology. It was a great experience. That’s where I learned that I loved physiology and biochemistry.”
She earned her first bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2023 before enrolling at Boise State later that year.
“Boise State’s online format worked well — especially with my prerequisite classes,” she said. “It was super simple and easy. The ultrasound is rigorous coursework because it’s an accelerated program, but I got my first undergrad during COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was used to the online format and okay with it. Boise does a good job with having a lot of online resources. I had a good experience doing it that way.”
In addition to the normal online coursework, Heller took advantage of an opportunity to work with one of her professors in person.
“I flew out to Washington to see a Boise State adjunct professor and do a maternal fetal medicine rotation with her,” she said. “She recommended me for the trip. It was an amazing experience. I like obstetrics more than the other specialties we went through, which is why I am doing maternal field medicine now.”
Earning a degree online was a great experience for Heller — especially since she lives two time zones away from Boise.
“Boise State went all out in making sure that we had a good education,” she said. “My program director made sure we got on Zoom calls and got live feedback from our instructors about what we need to improve. I feel like I got a great education.”
Support along the way
While earning her second bachelor’s degree, Heller had plenty of encouragement from her family and friends along the way.
“My parents have always been supportive,” she said. “I had been thinking about it, but I just told them one day that I was going back to school to earn another degree. My husband was my rock throughout my time earning my degree! I couldn’t have done it without him.
“It was worth it. I definitely got good value out of the online Bachelor of Science in Advanced Medical Imaging program.”
Now that she has a degree in medical imaging with a diagnostic medical sonography discipline, Heller looks forward to a long career in the field, while still indulging in her love of baking in her free time. She also enjoys spending time at the beach with her three dogs.
“Now that I have gotten into maternal field medicine, I would like to dedicate my time there and get my field echocardiography and continue helping out those high-risk moms,” she said. “Eventually, I would like to get into a lead tech role or management.”
Heller believes that doing research and preparing before enrolling in an online program are essential steps.
“You definitely have to understand what you’re getting yourself into and that online degrees take a lot of self-motivation,” she said. “Be ready to put in the work.
“Ultimately, it gives you the flexibility and freedom to pursue that dream you thought would be almost impossible. Now you have that at your fingertips. You are able to do it as long as you’re willing to put in that extra work.”
Learn more about the advanced medical imaging program
Earning an online Bachelor of Science in Advanced Medical Imaging from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.