The first class of surgical tech graduates were recently recognized for their work in the program.
Marie Nielsen hadn’t even heard of being a surgical technologist when she first took classes at Schoolcraft College. But now, after two years of studying, she’s ready to join five of her classmates as the first graduates of the health care program.
The first class of surgical tech graduates were recognized Dec. 12 during a pinning ceremony held in the DiPonio Room inside the Vistatech Center. The pinning marks the end of coursework for the students, who became the inaugural students in the program back in 2022.
Nielsen said she first began in the nursing program at the College. She later learned about the surgical technology program and decided to make a change.
“This just sounded more interesting to me,” she said.
The Surgical Tech program provides students with the opportunity to learn the skills to become a surgical technologist. Those roles are responsible for assisting surgeons in operating rooms before, during and after surgery. Students in the program who complete all requirements earn the Surgical Technology Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree.
Throughout the program, students learn how to properly identify current instruments needed during an operation, a crucial skill in a field that has thousands of different tools. Being able to learn in the skills needed in a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Center – a building that has two operating rooms for students to learn in – has properly prepared students for their clinicals.
Students spent several hundred hours working their clinicals, getting real-life experiences in health care facilities operated by providers such as Trinity Health and Corewell Health. Those hundreds of hours help get the students prepared for a career after graduation, with many of them having work already lined up once their studies wrap.
With their pinning ceremony complete, the students now turn their focus to studying for the national Certified Surgical Technology exam to earn their credential. That is expected to take place sometime in early 2025.
Surgical technologists are needed in the health care field: the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics states the field is growing at a faster-than-expected rate of 6%. Schoolcraft College students are well-prepared to enter the job market, thanks to the in-depth training, number of clinical hours and state-of-the-art facilities students are taught in during their academic career.
“There’s no better place for our Surgical Tech students to learn the skills they need than right here at Schoolcraft College. With two fully-functional operating rooms and many of the instruments used by surgeons, our students learn what they need to know in order to be successful as soon as they begin working,” said Mary Jo Nowicki, the program’s director who helped develop the curriculum. “Health care providers can be confident in hiring Schoolcraft graduates because of the extensive preparation our students receive during their time here.”
Those looking to enroll in Schoolcraft College’s Surgical Tech program can learn more by visiting schoolcraft.edu.