The Surgical Technology program at Gateway Community College received accreditation in September from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The peer review conducted by the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) and CAAHEP’s Board of Directors recognizes the program's substantial compliance with the nationally established accreditation Standards.
 
Surgical Technologists are integral members of the surgical team who work closely with surgeons, registered nurses, and anesthesia personnel. Surgical technologists are also responsible for assembling and organizing all the specialized instruments, equipment and tools needed for a wide variety of surgical procedures.
 
"We are so pleased with the news that the GCC Surgical Technology Program attained national accreditation," said Angel Pickett, program coordinator, Surgical Technology Program. "This venture was the result of a lot of hard work by many individuals who were committed to ensuring the success of the program. We're proud to be the third accredited program in the state of Connecticut, and I'm looking forward to graduating new Surgical Technologists to meet the ever-growing workforce needs of the local hospitals and surgical centers."

The Program Advisory Committee (PAC), which met regularly to assess the program’s goals and learning domains, was led by Pickett. Other PAC members are: Sheila Solernou, division director, Gateway Allied Health & Nursing; Mark Kosinski, dean of Academic Affairs at Gateway; Mary Beth Banks, enrollment services assistant, Gateway; Alice Pandolfi, administrative coordinator, Allied Health & Nursing Division, Gateway; Dorothy Connolly, instructor, Gateway Surgical Technology Program; Christopher Rose, regional manager, Talent Acquisition Human Resources Department, Yale New Haven Hospital; Maxwell Laurans, vice president of Surgical Services, Yale New Haven Hospital; Christina Colby, business manager, CRM Management; Laurence Bromell, certified surgical technologist, Yale New Haven Hospital; and Matthew Rully, certified surgical technologist, Yale New Haven Hospital; and James Marra, Gateway student, Surgical Technology Program.
 
"The PAC is comprised of a diverse group of community professionals that meet at least annually to review program performance outcomes and provide feedback in response to those outcomes to ensure excellence and compliance with accreditation standards," Pickett said. "I look forward to continuing to ensure that this program consistently remains at the forefront of educational excellence."

The accreditation standards are established by CAAHEP, ARC/STSA, American College of Surgeons (ACS), and Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). 
 
To learn more about the Surgical Technology program, visit https://www.gatewayct.edu/Allied-Health/Surgical-Technology.