More than 20 staff and students from American Career College’s Ontario Surgical Technology program participated at the California State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists conference this October in Universal City, California.
The experience was filled with learning activities and social opportunities for the 23 staff and students attending. Additionally, ACC Ontario surgical technician instructor Brittany Kitchens was elected into CASA’s board of directors, representing surgical technologists across California along with ACC Ontario.
ACC Ontario surgical technician instructor Brittany Kitchens recently was elected to California State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists board of directors.
Kitchens said CASA-AST is working hard to change state legislation and make certification mandatory for surgical technicians in California.
She said changes to the law will provide job security for students, and better benefits and wages for professionals already in the field.
“I absolutely think it’s an honor to be named to the board because it will help increase student awareness, student involvement in our association, that backs us up and helps us create these laws,” Kitchens said. “When everyone takes surg tech as seriously as they do nursing or other specialties, then we’ve made it.”
Kitchens was nominated to be a board member to CASA-AST by ACC Ontario Surgical Technician Program Director Susan Flanagan
“I foresee ACC being a huge part of CASA-AST and national AST, getting involved in the certification exam and review; increasing pass rates and retention and placement — not just in our company but in the field — and I’m really exited to be a part of that,” Kitchens said.
This conference started out with the Hollywood High School ROTC Color Guard and Pledge of Allegiance. Following an introduction from the CASA-AST officers and board of directors, Association of Surgical Technologists Vice President Holly Falcon presented the keynote address on professionalism.
Other educational and networking opportunities included Gabriel Zada, M.D. presenting “Endoscopic Neurosurgery in 2015,” Dennis R. Maceri, M.D. presenting “Operative Management of Head and Neck Surgery,” Uttam Sinha, M.D. presented “Changing the Paradigm in Cancer Management: Nanotechnology, Stem Cell and Green Juice,” Mitchell M. Rabbi, M.D. presented “History and Evolution of Hysterectomy,” Stella Marie Javier, RNFA, MBA presented, “Teamwork and Collaboration: Clinical and Fiscal Implications,” John Springer, CST presented “Past Present and Future of Surgical Technology.”
