Korrine Anderson, CST, BSAS, MHHS, is the Program Director for Surgical Technology and Sterile Processing at Lorain County Community College (LCCC), where she proudly began her academic and professional journey. A graduate of LCCC’s Surgical Technology program, Korrine went on to complete both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the college’s University Partnership program—an opportunity that shaped her commitment [...]
Surgical Technology Sequencing for Student Success By Melanie Graves, MBA, CST In surgery, precision isn’t optional — it’s vital. Every member of the operating room team must be efficient, alert and disciplined. Surgical technologists play a key role in this critical environment, and the way they are trained matters. Our program uses a step-by-step, sequential training approach that gives [...]
By Michele Romero, CER, CIS, CRCST, CST, MEd Peer mentorship plays a critical role in the education and development of students, particularly in fields like the surgical sciences. For surgical technology, where precision, skill and knowledge are paramount, peer mentorship in the classroom can help bridge the gap between theory and practice. While many programs implement peer teaching to some extent, [...]
What Role Does the Site Evaluator Play?Have you ever considered serving as a site evaluator or wondered what it’s like to participate as a peer reviewer during an accreditation visitation?To shed light on what it means to serve in this role, we sat down with current ARC/STSA site evaluator Libby (Mary) McNaron, MSN, RN, CNOR, CSFA, CST, FAST, to gather [...]
Navigating the Annual Report Annual Reporting is an essential accreditation process to record Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting program status and monitor compliance with the Standards between site visitations. The ARC/STSA reviews program compliance using specific Annual Report (AR) protocols, and this year we have made several changes to the Annual Report platform to further streamline the process. We know [...]
Dr. Margie Crowe, Ed.D., Executive Director of Leadership and Professional Development, South College, Knoxville, TN Distance education has transformed instruction and become a mainstream modality of learning. While this shift has made learning more accessible for students, it has also posed significant challenges for faculty members. Substantive interaction is crucial in distance education because it fosters meaningful engagement between [...]
The ARC/STSA is honored to welcome Kathie-Ann Joseph, MD, MPH, to its Board of Directors. Dr. Joseph is Professor of Surgery and Population Health at NYU Langone Health. She is also Vice Chair for Diversity and Health Equity for the NYU School of Medicine Department of Surgery/Transplant Institute and Co-Director of the Welters Breast Health Outreach and Navigation Program. [...]
ARC/STSA educators play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of surgical technologists and surgical assistants, ensuring they are prepared to meet the demands of the operating room and advocating for their patients. Professional development is essential as it not only enhances skills and knowledge but also contributes to the overall success of their programs. By staying current [...]
By Ron Kruzel, MA, CAE, CST, FAST As we come to the close of a successful 2024 and analyze our Annual Report data, we reflect upon the growth in our community and all that we have to be thankful for. Program enrollments are increasing, and placement rates are at a three-year high! With the increase in post-pandemic enrollment, more graduates [...]
Annual reporting is conducted in the spring to collect and review evidence that our currently accredited programs continue to maintain compliance with the Standards, and meet outcomes benchmarks, between full site evaluations. When this year’s Annual Report data was aggregated and reviewed, some exciting trends regarding program growth and graduate outcomes were collected. Post-pandemic program growth is [...]
