Newsletters

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Congratulations to Programs Earning Initial and Continuing Accreditation ARC/STSA would like to congratulate the surgical technology programs that have received awards of initial and continuing accreditation 2024. Please join us in acknowledging the dedication and hard work put forth by these programs to reach these critical milestones. Congratulations! The Accreditation Process Programmatic accreditation for surgical technology and surgical assisting is [...]

The ARC/STSA team welcomed Amy Lawrence as education coordinator in early November. In her role, Lawrence assists with the development, promotion, and implementation of educational services and outreach activities of the ARC/STSA, including gathering and creating content for eNews and website updates, supporting the administration of webinars and workshops, and overseeing social media engagement and web optimization. “I consider [...]

The ARC/STSA Board of Directors recently welcomed three new members: Alicia Buck, MS, BAAS, CST; Jeff Feix, LVN, CSFA, CST, FAST; and Antionette Trujillo-Fergus, MBA, CRCST, CST; and new member of the board’s Subcommittee on Accreditation for Surgical Assisting (SASA), Lydell “Dale” Powell, AAS, Th.A., CSFA, CST, to serve on the SASA. Learn more about these individuals below!Alicia Buck, MS, [...]

The ARC/STSA is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 scholarship awards. This year, ARC/STSA awarded six student scholarships of $500 each. Join us in celebrating these accomplished recipients and read what has inspired them to pursue a career as a surgical technologist. Stacy Iannarone Triton College, River Grove, Illinois       I found that surgical technology is [...]

The ARC/STSA welcomed a new education manager, Gabrielle “Gabby” Muzina, AS, CST, in August. Muzina will be responsible for developing educational programming for our educators, as well as planning and coordinating webinars and events, such as AFE workshops and the AccredX conference. Muzina brings a passion in education and exceptional communication and customer service skills to her work. Prior to [...]

ARC/STSA and EdAccred’s 3rd Annual AccredX Conference revved into high gear in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 3 - 5 with workshops, hands-on learning labs, roundtable discussions, and individual and panel presentations by nationally respected speakers, all focused on accreditation standards. This year’s event was fueled with creativity, possibility, and empowerment - one for the leader’s podium! This year's demographic. Wednesday [...]