admin

Since 2013, the master of surgical assisting program at Eastern Virginia Medical School has offered the minimally invasive surgery lecture and skills lab. This course is designed to give the surgical assistant student a broad look into minimally invasive surgery while introducing the techniques involved. The content includes numerous sub-specialties and how minimally invasive techniques are utilized, the history of these techniques, as well as hands-on learning to help facilitate the student’s learning curve once they are in their clinical year. This course is aligned with the guidelines suggested by the Association of Surgical Assistants for minimally invasive and robotic surgery techniques.

There are many ways to prepare students for their clinical experience. Some programs have started using SynDaver, a detailed synthetic cadaver that gives students the ability to participate in mock surgeries. ARC/STSA reached out to Stephanie Kanupp, AAS, CST, and Michelle Diaz, CST, to talk about how their programs use SynDaver and their thoughts on the investment.

ARC/STSA would like to congratulate the surgical technology and surgical assisting programs that have recently received grants of initial and continuing accreditation. Please join us in acknowledging the dedication and hard work it took for these programs to reach these critical milestones.

Ron Kruzel, MA, CAE, CST From Ron Kruzel, MA, CAE, CST, ARC/STSA Executive Director  “You say goodbye, and I say hello…” —Paul McCartney GOODBYE 2020! As 2020 draws to a close, what is there left to say? We have tried to make sense of it all, memes have flowed freely and we are all exhausted. 2020 really was [...]

  In a year full of challenges, being able to give back to the community feels even more meaningful this holiday season. We are so proud to share details of how some of our educators and students are reaching out to safely support their communities. School: Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences, Reading, PAShared By: Davina Foster, BSN, CST, Surgical [...]

The world has gone virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic, and site visits are no exception. Jennifer Lloyd, BS, CST/SFA, director of surgical technology at Trine University, Fort Wayne, IN, shares her experience and tips for preparing for her program’s very first virtual site visit.

With winter break around the corner, it’s important to give students a sense of continuity and ensure they retain the information they have learned. Connie Bell, CST, FAST, shares tips for supporting students as they return to clinicals after an extended break. Plus, Theresa Sorgen-Burleson, MBA, CST, discusses how her program at the University of St. Francis keeps students engaged over longer summer breaks through a retest program.

Advances in technology have made surgical simulation a powerful teaching tool, and there are many options that can apply to surgical technology. Terry Herring, surgical technology division chair at Fayetteville Community College, spoke to Amy Broussard, program director and lead instructor at SOWELA Technical Community College, about one such simulation technology, PeriopSim.

Applications are now open for the ARC/STSA 2021 Student and Chris Keegan Memorial Educator Scholarships! Learn more about the process and requirements on the ARC/STSA website’s scholarship page. All completed applications must be received by Friday, February 19, 2021.

ARC/STSA would like to congratulate the following surgical technology and surgical assisting programs for receiving grants of initial and continuing accreditation. Please join us in acknowledging the dedication and hard work it took for these programs to reach these critical milestones.