MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College is pleased to announce that for the third year in a row, 100% of the graduates from the Surgical Technology program passed the national board exam on the first attempt.
“This is a great accomplishment and we’re very proud of the students, our program director and her team,” said MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein. “The national board exams are not easy, so to have every student pass on the first attempt speaks volumes about the quality of education you get at MCC.”
The Surgical Technology program at Mohave Community College graduated seven students in 2019, and those graduates are now beginning their careers at hospitals and surgery centers.
A surgical technologist is a key member of the surgery team and ensures the operating room sterile field is prepared, assists with patient positioning and prepares the operation site. Technologists also assist surgeons with medical equipment during surgery.
“We’ve worked really hard to create an environment for the students that mimics the operating room so that when they get to their clinical sites they’re well trained and they’re well prepared for what they are going to be dealing with in the operating room,” said Michelle Diaz, Director of Surgical Technology.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, students graduating from the MCC program are entering a career field in which they can earn up to $72,810 annually. Students can also finish the program debt free by receiving Pell Grants, scholarships and other forms of college financial aid.
The program is based at the MCC – Lake Havasu City campus, and draws students from as far away as Prescott and Yuma. For the first two semesters students are required to be in class two days a week. In the summer students will have an online class and two weeks of observation at their clinical sites. During the last two semesters the students will be at clinical sites for four days a week, almost always based in the city where they live.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in cooperation with the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology. The program provides the knowledge necessary to take the national certification examination for surgical technology.
For more information on the program visit www.mohave.edu/surgtech, or email Michelle Diaz at mdiaz@mohave.edu.
Pictured: MCC Surgical Technology students Samantha Engels (left) and Yolanda Penry (right) using high tech equipment in the operating room classroom at MCC. Both graduated from the college and are currently enjoying careers as surgical technologists.
