ACTC celebrates National Surgical Technologists Week
September 23, 2021
ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) is honored to celebrate National Surgical Technologists Week.
National Surgical Technologists Week is celebrated each year on the third week of September.
The surgical technologist is an allied health professional and an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients.
The surgical technologist performs under direct supervision of a surgeon to provide the highest standard of care to surgical patients from the operating room to various medical settings.
Many of the students graduating from the Surgical Technology program at ACTC go on to work at regional hospitals.
Two of those graduates are Eve Simmons and Amber Barker.
Simmons graduated from ACTC in 2008 and is a current Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) at Cabell Huntington Hospital. She says she chose ACTC because of the many degrees offered along with the convenience of the campus location.
She says she plans to continue her education by completing a Surgical First Assist program.
“My advice to any students coming into the program is to make sure you study and don’t give up,” she says. “This career choice is rewarding and is a learning experience for the rest of your life.”
Amber Barker graduated from ACTC’s surgical technology program in December 2019, and she is also a current CST at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
“I chose ACTC because I decided to go back to college later in life,” she says. “I am married with three kids and I also worked full time, so I needed to stay close to home and take classes that were flexible. ACTC was able to provide that for me. When I was accepted into the Surgical Technology program, it wasn't as flexible, but I was still able to manage my work and the classes pretty well.”
She says in a few weeks she will complete her orientation at Cabell Huntington Hospital and then she will work independently. Like Simmons, her goal is to become a first assist.
Heather Cantrell, program coordinator for the surgical Technology program, says she is proud of the success of these two graduates.
“I graduated this very program with Eve and had the pleasure of working with her at Cabell Huntington Hospital,” Cantrell says. “She is one of the best surgical technologists that I have ever had the pleasure to work with. She is a true patient advocate.”
She added, “Amber was one of the first groups that I taught at ACTC. She has proven herself to be a wonderful addition to any operating room.”
The Surgical Technology program at ACTC runs from January to December. The application deadline is October 1.
For more information, contact Cantrell at hcantrell0013@kctcs.edu.
