SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
The Committee Program on Allied Health Education and Accreditation accredits this 2-year Associate degree program in Surgical Technology. Upon graduation, the Surgical Technology graduate will be able to write the National Certification Examination, become certified nationwide, and become employed as a staff technologist in clinics, hospitals, physician's offices and medical industry. For application and detailed information, contact: Marietta McDuffy, Program Director at 312 850-7343 or mmcduffy@ccc.edu.

Program History
The Surgical Technology Program at Malcolm X College began in September of 1993 under the auspices of the Cardiopulmonary Practitioners Institute. It was traditionally offered under the Continuing Education Division.  In January of 1999 the program was moved to the credit division of the college. The very first class that formed under the credit division in the program started out with a total number of fourteen students, which used the six-course curriculum. In an effort to remain in compliance with the accreditation status, investigations into the program’s structure were made.  Using information received from the Association of Surgical Technology’s (AST) Curriculum Committee, changes were instituted, and the program curriculum was revised. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Currently Malcolm X College is the only City College in Chicago that offers this program.  Therefore we want to continue to offer this service to this community and remain on the cutting edge of the profession. 
About the Occupations

Surgical technologists, formerly called operating room technicians, perform many different responsibilities in the operating room. They act as the scrub person, the circulator, and as the first assistant on the surgical team. Their responsibilities include preparing the operating room and instruments, equipment and supplies that will be needed for the procedure. The technologist helps prepare the patient for surgery and passing instruments, sponges, and sutures to the surgeon.

Surgical technologists are the surgical team's expert in aseptic technique, being constantly vigilant for any break in the technique that could endanger the sterile field necessary for a successful outcome of the operation. Surgical technologists belong to a separate non-nursing profession of highly skilled, credentialed allied health professionals that possess specialized education and training to work specifically in the operating room. The preferred entry level education for the surgical technologist is the associate degree. However, Malcolm X College offers the advanced certificate for Surgical Technologist.