"As the population grows older and baby boomers reach retirement age, the volume of surgical procedures is bound to increase.
Therefore, certified surgical technologists, who are integral to the teams that provide surgical care to patients, will continue to be in demand at healthcare facilities locally and nationwide.
The week of Sept. 17-23 is National Surgical Technologist Week, and the Surgical Technology Program at Amarillo College is taking this opportunity to inform would-be students of the merits of pursuing this particular career choice at AC.
Surgical technologists use their knowledge of anatomy, surgical procedures, tools and technologies to help facilitate a physician’s performance.
“Surgical technology is a demanding profession with great responsibility, but it’s a satisfying and rewarding one, too,” Lisa Townsend, program director, said. “Our graduates work under the supervision of surgeons to ensure a sterile operating environment and to maximize patient safety. It’s exciting and vital work.”
The Surgical Technology Program at AC is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Students who successfully complete the 12-month program at AC earn certificates of completion in surgical technology and, thus, become eligible to take the national certification exam given by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for surgical technologists will continue to grow in the next decade right along with the number of U.S. retirees. According to Career Coach, the median starting salary for surgical technologists is $32,340 per year.
For additional information about AC’s Surgical Technology Program, contact Lisa Townsend at 806-356-3663 or leholdaway@actx.edu."
-Amarillo College
