Lisa Kempa, Co-Owner and Strategic Partner, Marlin Fokusorgbor, President and Kae Nussbaumer, Founder and CEO, Siham Wadiri, Program DirectorFor nearly three decades, The CURE Center has pursued a mission grounded in a clear concern about modern diagnostic practices. In many healthcare settings, radiative imaging methods such as CT scans have become routine because they require less operator-dependent skill. Yet these methods expose patients to ionizing radiation that can accumulate over time.
How does The CURE Center promote ultrasound as a primary diagnostic alternative?
Founder Kae Nussbaumer established The CURE Center with the belief that properly trained sonographers could help change that pattern by making ultrasound the first-line diagnostic tool whenever appropriate. Through high-standard, intensive clinical education and a mission centered on patient safety, the school aims to expand the use of ultrasound as a safer diagnostic alternative.
At its core, The CURE Center is committed not merely to educating students but to preparing sonographers capable of influencing clinical decision-making. Ultrasound is highly effective and non-radiative, but it demands strong technical expertise and critical thinking from the operator. By training professionals who can deliver accurate, high-quality diagnostic imaging, the school seeks to strengthen physician confidence in ultrasound and reduce reliance on radiative diagnostics. This mission shapes the curriculum, clinical partnerships, and expansion strategy that have guided the institution’s growth.
Marlin Fokusorgbor: Leading The CURE Center
Some leaders seek visibility. Marlin Fokusorgbor builds institutions.
As President of The CURE Center for Ultrasound Research and Education since 2018, she has guided operational growth, academic development, clinical expansion, and regulatory compliance—all while prioritizing student success. With over 30 years in multicampus career education, nursing programs, and higher education management, she brings rare operational depth, financial acumen, and strategic foresight.
Her leadership ensures The CURE Center balances growth with stability, fostering systems that uphold high standards, support faculty, and prepare students for precise clinical work. From managing multi-million-dollar budgets to strengthening accreditation, academic planning, and industry partnerships, Marlin’s focus has always been institutional integrity over recognition.
At The CURE Center, her disciplined, steady, and studentcentered approach safeguards the quality of education while shaping the future of ultrasound healthcare programs.
A Curriculum Built for Excellence
What training structure ensures technical proficiency and diagnostic judgment among students?
The CURE Center offers a comprehensive two-year program covering diagnostic medical sonography, vascular technology, echocardiography, musculoskeletal imaging, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and neuroscience applications. This multimodality approach ensures that graduates are versatile and highly employable, equipped to handle complex clinical scenarios across a range of specialties.
Students engage in 2,400 hours of intensive training, combining didactic lectures, hands-on lab work, and immersive clinical experiences. The structure is designed to build both technical precision and diagnostic judgment. Because ultrasound requires interpretation, problem-solving, and clinical awareness, the program emphasizes critical thinking alongside imaging skills. Graduates are trained not only to perform scans but also to understand the clinical context in which those scans guide patient care.
Admission into The CURE Center is selective, reflecting the school’s belief that compassion is as important as technical aptitude in healthcare. Applicants complete personal essays that assess empathy and commitment to patient care, helping the admissions team identify students who share the institution’s mission to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce medical errors.
Mission-Driven Impact
How does improved sonographer training influence diagnostic decisions and patient safety outcomes?
At the heart of CURE’s philosophy is a commitment to reducing unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation in healthcare. In many emergency and hospital settings, CT scans are frequently used because they produce consistent images regardless of operator skill. Ultrasound, however, offers a safer diagnostic option that avoids radiation entirely. When performed by highly trained sonographers, it can often provide the information physicians need without exposing patients to radiative imaging.
Nussbaumer founded the school with the conviction that improving sonographer education could influence how diagnostic decisions are made.
“We are not financially driven. We are mission driven, committed to preparing sonographers who improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation, and create rewarding, lucrative careers that change their lives and improve outcomes for the patients they serve.”
By equipping graduates with advanced skills and clinical confidence, The CURE Center aims to strengthen physicians’ trust in ultrasound. As more clinicians rely on well-trained sonographers, ultrasound can increasingly serve as a first-line diagnostic tool, helping reduce unnecessary radiation exposure for patients.
Leadership that Drives Excellence
Operational and educational leadership at The CURE Center reflects a complementary partnership grounded in vision, execution, and long-term strategy. Nussbaumer provides the driving philosophy behind the institution’s mission and its broader impact on healthcare diagnostics.
Supporting the leadership team is Lisa Kempa, co-owner and strategic partner, who brings extensive executive experience as the former COO and CFO of multiple Nike subsidiaries. As an early investor, she played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s operational strategy, financial structure, and long-term scalability. Her leadership is defined not only by operational excellence, but also by a deeply compassionate and values-driven approach that aligns with the institution’s commitment to patient-centered care and meaningful outcomes.
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If we don’t change how we diagnose disease, we will continue to see the same outcomes. Change begins with education.
Siham Wadiri, Program Director, plays a critical role in overseeing academic delivery and clinical training standards. She ensures that curriculum execution remains aligned with the institution’s rigorous expectations, supporting both faculty and students in achieving clinical excellence. With a strong focus on student development and diagnostic accuracy, Wadiri helps maintain the consistency and quality that define The CURE Center’s educational model.
Together, this leadership team has built a structure in which curriculum design, admissions standards, clinical partnerships, and operational systems align with a singular goal: preparing sonographers who can improve diagnostic care.
Proven Outcomes and Recognition
Graduates of The CURE Center are highly sought after in the healthcare workforce. Many secure positions at major medical institutions, including Mount Sinai, NYU Langone, and Northwell Health. In some cases, alumni advance into specialized roles or supervisory positions within a few years of completing the program.
The school’s training model emphasizes readiness for clinical environments from the beginning of a graduate’s career. By combining extensive classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience, the program prepares students to integrate quickly into hospital and outpatient diagnostic teams.
The New York campus has received repeated recognition as a School of the Year within its community since 2019, reflecting the institution’s commitment to maintaining strong academic standards and meaningful relationships with clinical partners. Accreditation through the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) further supports the school’s commitment to high-quality professional education.
Expanding the Mission
Building on the success of the New York campus, The CURE Center has expanded its mission through the Academy of Diagnostic and Osteopathic Medicine (ADOM Academy) in Connecticut. The hybrid program condenses core training into a 12-month accelerated structure designed for high-performing students.
The goal of the Connecticut campus is not simply institutional growth but increased capacity to train skilled sonographers more efficiently. By combining online learning with focused in-person clinical training, the hybrid model allows students to complete high-standard, intensive education within a shorter timeframe while maintaining the program’s academic standards.
Community Engagement and Clinical Readiness
One of the most distinctive aspects of the program is its community ultrasound screening initiative. During designated periods each year, students conduct supervised ultrasound examinations for members of the local community.
These screenings serve two purposes. They provide hands-on diagnostic training for students before they begin externships, and they offer accessible ultrasound services for individuals who might otherwise face long wait times for diagnostic imaging. Students perform complete scans, document findings, and prepare preliminary reports under faculty supervision.
This experience allows students to enter their clinical placements with confidence and practical experience. By the time they begin externships, many are already familiar with real patient interactions and diagnostic workflows.
A Continuing Mission
As The CURE Center continues to grow, its purpose remains closely tied to the motivation that inspired its founding: training sonographers who can influence how diagnostic imaging is used in healthcare. Through education, clinical partnerships, and the expansion of new programs, the institution continues to work toward a future in which ultrasound plays a larger role in safe and effective diagnosis.
By focusing on both educational excellence and patientcentered outcomes, The CURE Center demonstrates how specialized training programs can shape clinical practice while expanding opportunities for students entering the healthcare field.
