Newsletters

Surgical professionals from across the country gathered for the second annual Joint Conference of the Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA) and National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA), April 23-24 in Orlando, FL. The two-day event included hands-on learning experiences, inspiring speakers, legislative insights, and an opportunity to network with colleagues and exchange ideas.

The ARC/STSA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2021 scholarship awards. This year, ARC/STSA awarded 10 student scholarships of $500 each and one $1,000 educator scholarship. Join us in celebrating these accomplished recipients, shared below, and stay tuned for more information about their stories throughout the summer.

ARC/STSA would like to congratulate the surgical technology programs at Wallace Community College, Marion Technical College and Blackhawk Technical College for receiving initial accreditation, and Augusta Technical College for receiving continuing accreditation. Please join us in congratulating these programs for achieving this accomplishment and acknowledging the dedication and hard work it took to reach such important milestones.

From virtual simulation to synthetic cadavers and more, surgical technology and surgical assisting programs are incorporating the very latest in innovative, hands-on training activities into their curricula. The Cut Suit is a simulation tool that is worn by a live human and replicates the look and feel of traumatic injuries. Designed by surgeons for surgeons, the Cut Suit allows students to practice for high-pressure situations with room to safely make non-life threatening errors.

Southeast Community College (SCC) in Lincoln, NE, recently launched a certificate program for students looking to become surgical first assistants (SFAs). Hear from Program Director Cynthia Kreps on what drove this decision and how launching the certificate has benefitted their college and community.

How do we get students out of their seats and actively engaged in the classroom? Most instructors ponder this question for course content outside the laboratory setting. At Trine University’s Surgical Technology Program, flyswatters are a key to successfully helping student better engage in their learning experience. This common household item is useful for not only test review sessions, but also for team bonding amongst the students.

It is with a profound sense of loss that ARC/STSA says goodbye to Karen Ludwig, BA, a beloved member of the surgical education community, who passed away on February 11, 2021. Ludwig was born on October 24, 1945, near Chicago and received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Colorado. She worked at AST for more than 20 years in various capacities, primarily serving during that tenure as director of publications.

The second annual Joint Conference of the Association of Surgical Assistants and National Surgical Assistant Association will take place on April 23-24 in Orlando, Florida. The conference will offer a range of workshops, exhibitions, discussions and more on emerging trends in the world of surgical assisting.

The February and March Virtual AFE Workshops were a roaring success! Co-presented with ARC/STSA’s education initiative, EdAccred, the events drew a range of new and seasoned program directors, clinical coordinators, instructors and administrators. Interested in a future workshop and wondering where you fit in? Take a glance to learn who’s who at the February AFE.

ARC/STSA would like to congratulate the surgical technology program at East Mississippi Community College in Mayhew, MS, for achieving initial accreditation. Please join us in celebrating their hard work and hear from Surgical Technology Program Director Alicia King, BS, CSFA, CST, on what this means for their students.

As we settle into a new year, I expect you are all off to an incredibly busy 2021! I hope you have an escape mechanism in place, something you can focus on that relaxes and rejuvenates you so you can better handle your incredibly busy schedules. My mechanism is music. I have been thinking a lot lately about the following lyric…

The Da Vinci Surgical System offers an advanced set of instruments for surgeons to use in performing robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery. This cutting-edge technology is already making its way into operating rooms (ORs) across the country, which affects the job of the surgical technologist. To ensure students are provided with greater marketability when they enter the workforce, the surgical technology program at Reading Hospital has incorporated the Da Vinci Surgical Certification program into its coursework. ARC/STSA spoke to Gwendolynn Jackson, AAS, RN, CST, surgical technology faculty at Reading Hospital, to learn more about the certification.

At Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, CO, David Provost, MA, BS, CST, surgical technology department chair and program director, has developed a mentorship program where his first cohort of students, who are in clinicals, mentor the incoming cohort. ARC/STSA spoke to Provost about his inspiration for the program and how it has benefitted the department. Plus, hear from mentors and mentees about how the program helped boost their confidence.

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 [...]

  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, [...]

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.

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.