Newsletter

Earlier this year, the Harvard Business Review reported on the increasing trend of surgeons leveraging social media to enhance their skills and share knowledge with others. As the surgical field grows in size and complexity, those in the profession are no longer relying on conferences and informal hallway conversations alone. And while the advent of online discussion forums is nothing new to medical professionals across the board, the pervasive nature and ease of access of social media is undeniable, making it an ideal choice for peer-to-peer learning.

Transitioning to an associate degree program can increase credibility and open doors for graduates. Learn how Kevin Craycraft helped pioneer this transition for Bluegrass Community and Technical College, with Kentucky Community & Technical College System.

The ARC/STSA Board of Directors held its fall meeting in September 2017. Programs will receive official notification of all actions in November 2017 via the Fall Notify. Here are a number of actions coming out of the meeting.

It seems like just yesterday that I stepped into my new role as the director of a surgical technology program. Like many of you, I had been a clinician and had to adjust not only to teaching, but the administrative duties required of a program director. The way the program was designed at the time, a part-time instructor and I had the students in class or clinical 40 hours a week. It was hard to even conceive of doing the administrative duties. As a mother of young children, I worked 10 hours a day, then spent most evenings at the dining room table preparing my next day’s lessons. In spite of coming into a program that was established and well organized, I was totally exhausted. Why did I do it? I felt I had a calling. I enjoyed working with learners in the OR, I liked passing on my knowledge to others and helping them apply that knowledge. I also felt I had some leadership skills that would assist me in managing the program.  I had no idea of all the work involved, but in the long run it was worth it. It didn’t take long for my job to become my third “baby” that I nurtured, developed and loved just as I did my two sons. So, how do you care for your new baby? And yourself?

The Accreditation Review Council on Education for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) welcomes Christy Baily-Byers as the Director of Education Services beginning November 2017. In this role, Baily-Byers will be responsible for the development and delivery of accreditation-related education programs and outreach activities of the ARC/STSA, including marketing and constituent communications. Baily-Byers previously served as the manager of training and [...]

In the June e-newsletter, we briefly discussed the revision process for the 2013 Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Surgical Technology, as related to current Guideline language under Standard I.A., “Projected for August 1, 2021, all sponsoring institutions should award a minimum of an Associate’s Degree at the completion of the program.” Let’s review in more detail [...]

By Dr. Joseph B. Long CST, FAST, EdD I worked for a number of years as a CST for two different health care institutions and served surgical technology students for two different post-secondary schools in the role of dean and program director. I only mention this to inform you that I have "been around the block", so to speak. During my [...]