Remembering WCUI Co-Founder Dr. Neville Smith
Dr. Neville C. W. Smith was a Board Certified Radiologist, Co-Founder of WCUI, and Medical Director of Ultrasound Institute Medical Group (UIMG). His contributions and dedication to the healthcare field, have shaped and guided WCUI into the school and community we are today. Although today we mourn the loss of such an influential figure 12 years ago today September 23, we also remember the amazing work he put into his community, education, and our students, staff, and faculty. “Knowledge Builds Careers” resonates with every student who graduates. We miss you and you are with us in hearts and spirit.
Who Was Dr. Neville Smith
(Pictured above, Dr. Neville Smith WCUI Co-Founder)
Dr. Neville Smith was dedicated to enhancing quality education in the art and science of medical sonography, MRI, and nursing. In 1998, Dr. Smith and fellow co-founder Myra Chason, BS, BSN, RDMS, a well-known diagnostic medical sonography instructor, began WCUI in Beverly Hills, California. WCUI began as a medical imaging college specializing in ultrasound and MRI with the goal of providing advanced and high-quality education to the next generation of medical imaging professionals. With the support of a well-renowned staff and faculty from the community, Dr. Smith, and Myra Chason initiated the new training style of “edutaining” that is still in place in our programs today! This particular teaching style blended education & entertainment, which allows the learning process to be more entertaining, while students still learn the complex subject matter, skills, and protocols needed in the demanding medical field. In addition to understanding the important need of having an institution specializing in medical imaging, Dr. Smith recognized the great need for a top-quality nursing program as well. This led to the expansion of a truly outstanding nursing department and sister school, the Smith Chason School of Nursing which is still growing today!
Edutaining
With the support of a well-renowned staff and faculty from the community, Dr. Smith and Myra Chason initiated the new training style of “edutaining” that is still in place in our programs today! This particular teaching style blended education & entertainment. This allows the learning process to be more entertaining, while students still learn the complex subject matter, skills, and protocols needed in the demanding medical field.
A Commitment to Community
Along with the development of WCUI, Dr. Neville Smith opened the Ultrasound Institute Medical Group (UIMG), a low-cost ultrasound health center, which caters to patients who do not have medical insurance. Today, the clinic continues to offer low-cost diagnostic imaging to patients in need.
In Memoriam
Dr. Neville Smith’s mission continues to live on in WCUI and Smith Chason’s journey and development. Today, WCUI has four campuses located in Los Angeles, California, Ontario, California, and Phoenix, Arizona, and our newest opening this year is in San Marcos, California. We offer nine programs and counting, ranging from two Bachelor of Science degree programs in Sonography, three Academic Associate of Science degree programs in Sonography and MRI, and two advanced diploma programs in Pediatric Echocardiography, MRI, We’ve also expanded to include our new sister school the Smith Chason School of Nursing, named after our founder Neville Smith and Myra Chason, to honor their dream of improving nursing education. Our Smith Chason School of Nursing offers an Associate Degree in Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Practical Nursing program. In addition, WCUI and Smith Chason libraries are named the Neville Smith Library at each location honoring his commitment to learning.
We honor his memory and his contributions to WCUI and Smith Chason in maintaining quality education, curriculum innovation, and an effective course of clinical rotations. WCUI and Smith Chason is in perpetual gratitude for having been a part of his vision which still is viable today.