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.
With the onset of fall 2020, our surgical technology and surgical assisting program communities continue to adjust to the reality of providing education in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Didactic, lab and clinical coursework has begun with the fall term, albeit much differently than the fall of 2019. What has not changed are the students entering their programs, enthusiastic and idealistic, and wanting to make a difference in a healthcare environment unlike any other. They are excited to be starting this new chapter in their lives. The fall semester was my favorite when I was in the classroom — it gave me the opportunity to shape future surgical technologists early in their education and to embrace their enthusiasm as if it were my own.
In light of the need for social distancing, ARC/STSA asked instructors to share their solutions and protocols for lab rotations and other activities that usually involve hands-on instruction. We also asked for suggestions on how to obtain protective personal equipment (PPE) for students when it is not made available at clinical sites. What follows is a compilation of ideas and tips we received.
Several years ago, enrollment for the surgical technology program was down at the University of St. Francis (USF). In need of new avenues to recruit students, Surgical Technology Program Director Theresa Sorgen-Burleson, MBA, CST, turned to her admissions team. But rather than ask to increase their efforts, she sought to help them understand the profession.
In 1992, Becky Larson was a young mother of three, looking for a job that allowed her to work remotely. Because options for virtual work were limited at the time, she found herself in the world of medical transcription, which ultimately led her to a variety of roles in medical simulation. She quickly became passionate about the work and the technology’s ability to allow students to practice their skills in a safe environment.
Earlier this year, ARC/STSA was pleased to announce its 12 scholarship recipients, including 10 students and two educators. Get to know a few of these individuals and what drives their passion for the profession in this roundup with images and quotes.
Welcome to the ARC/STSA July/August eNewsletter. We are eight months into 2020, where addressing extraordinary challenges and making difficult decisions happen almost daily. None of us signed on for this, yet here we are. Along with the challenges, there are shining examples of caring and a profound sense of community among our educators. We are clearly better together. With so much happening, my update will provide a brief summation on a number of pertinent topics related to activities at the ARC/STSA.
