Real-world insight from real-world experts: Surgical Technologists in the operating rooms at AHN

Part of our mission as educators is to help students learn from notable practitioners in their field. There’s nothing like hearing, first hand, the opportunities and challenges that exist in a healthcare career—or in this case, the operating room (OR).

PTC’s Surgical Technology and Nursing students recently attended an eye-opening event on campus by Allegheny Health Network (AHN) on the role surgical technologists play in the operating room, among other topics. Dr. Magovern, Chair of the Allegheny Health Network Cardiovascular Institute, was the guest speaker. He explained the critical role nurses and surgical technologists play in the OR and how specialization occurs in careers of surgical technologists. He also explained how important the surgical technologist is to the OR team; Diana, the AHN OR Manager, echoed the sentiment that the surgical technologist has to anticipate what the team will need during the procedure to lower the time the patient is under anesthesia.

The evolution of open-heart surgery in the Pittsburgh area was also discussed, including the open-heart surgery team at AHN. Images of operating rooms, equipment, and instrumentation used during open-heart surgery were shown, too.

PTC graduate and AHN Surgical Technologist Justin Shipton also shared his experiences on how his education prepared him for his career and the hiring process at AHN. Students got a good look at some of the surgical equipment he brought in and is responsible for in the OR.

With their questions answered and interest peaked, our students were guided through the sign up process in AHN’s recruitment portal so that they could receive job announcements. What a smart way to end the event. Not only did our students learn about careers in the OR, they learned how to begin them at AHN.