Hannah Cervantes, Kelsey Harris, instructor Tammy Schaefer, Natalie Inness, and Cheyenne Anderson attended the AST Surgical Technology Conference in May.
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Surgical Tech Grads Join Professional Ranks
Written By: Judith Hansen
Some people attend professional conferences with a combination of boredom and indifference, but not Hannah Cervantes and other new graduates of the surgical technology program at the 91老司机 - Fort Smith.
Here鈥檚 how Cervantes documented the start of her first professional meeting on Instagram:
鈥淗ello from Chicago! We are so excited to be representing 91老司机 and Arkansas at the Association of Surgical Technology National Conference! Stay tuned for a look at the amazing weekend we are going to have!鈥�
Cervantes traveled with three other May grads - Kelsey Harris, Natalie Innessm and CHeyenne Anderson - with the professors from the surgical technology program. This was the first time the profs took students. 鈥淲e decided to put in the work to go with them to the conference,鈥� Cervantes said. 鈥淲e were in awe the whole time.鈥�
Ashley Smith, Executive Director and senior instructor in the surgical technology program, said full-time faculty member Tammy Schaefer headed up the plan to take the new graduates to the conference. Smith supported the idea for several reasons.
鈥淚t gives (the grads) a chance to see all of the other surgical technologists (like them, new) who have the same questions, anxiety, excitement, and fulfillment of the career and network with them,鈥� Smith said.
鈥淧lus, being in that energy and learning environment refreshes and encourages a renewed passion for the field and motivates newly graduated students to continue down the path of surgical technology using the utmost techniques, precision, and care that they had when starting the program.鈥�
Cervantes echoed Smith.
鈥淭hey brought in surgeons from across the country to show us different specialties. We saw new robotics, new techniques in plastic surgery, advancements that will be affecting us in our profession and might be coming to our state or that may be happening in other states we might transfer to.鈥�
Smith said the program graduates about 14-16 students per academic year.
The program boasts a 100 percent job placement by graduation for interested students.
鈥淚 keep track of employment placement of graduates. 鈥� I send out employer surveys to see how my students are being accepted and performing as graduates,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e encourage students to start applying for positions in February, so by May, those who wanted a job as a surgical technologist will have one before they commence.鈥�
Cervantes graduated knowing she had a job starting in June at Baptist Hospital.
She is already urging 2024 grads to make the effort to attend next year鈥檚 conference.
鈥淲e are members of this association; it鈥檚 open to us; we have to go next year.鈥�
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- CHEHS
- Surgical Technology