Surgical Technology Program - Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz.

Program Description
Students enrolled in the GateWay Community College Surgical Technology Program may complete surgical rotations in general surgery at Mayo Clinic during the final phase of their education.

Mayo School of Health Sciences (MSHS) coordinates this training experience in conjunction with GateWay. The length of the rotation is flexible and depends upon GateWay program guidelines and requirements.

Also see:

• GCC Surgical Technology Program

Accreditation
Mayo Foundation is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission.

Higher Learning Commission
30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602-2504
(800) 621-7440
(312) 263-0456
Fax: (312) 263-7462
www.ncacihe.org

Affiliated institution
To complete a rotation with Mayo School of Health Sciences, you must be enrolled in the Surgical Technology Program at GateWay Community College in Phoenix. For more information or to enroll in the program, please contact:

GateWay Community College
108 North 40th Street
Phoenix , AZ 85034
(602) 286-8177 or (602) 286-8000
www.gatewaycc.edu

Facilities
Mayo Clinic Arizona opened in 1987 as a premier academic medical center in the southwestern United States, where advanced programs in medical research and education support the highest-quality patient care.

The Scottsdale Campus is centered around a beautiful five-story outpatient clinic. This modern facility contains 240 exam rooms, an outpatient surgery center equipped for general anesthesia, a full-service laboratory, a pharmacy, a patient-education library, an endoscopy suite and a 188-seat auditorium for patient, staff and student education programs. Services in more than 66 medical and surgical disciplines are provided, including programs in cancer treatment and organ transplantation.

The Scottsdale Campus offers excellent education facilities, including classrooms, lecture halls, an extensive library and computer lab. The Samuel C. Johnson Research Center, a 75,000-square-foot building, houses scientists, trainees and students focused on molecular genetics, molecular immunology, molecular and cell biology, molecular chemistry and surgical research.

On the Phoenix Campus, the state-of-the-art 205-bed Mayo Clinic Hospital, which opened in 1998, is the first hospital entirely designed and built by Mayo. It has been recognized as "the Best Hospital in Phoenix" several times by Phoenix magazine.

Graduation and Certification
Upon successful completion of your Surgical Technology Program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, School of Health Sciences. After completing your surgical technology rotations, you will receive a certificate or degree from Gateway Community College , depending upon the program in which you are enrolled.

You may obtain voluntary professional certification from the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist by graduating from the GateWay Community College Science Surgical Technology Program, which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), and passing a national certification examination. You then may use the designation Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).

Continuing education or re-examination is required to maintain certification, which must be renewed every six years. Certification may also be obtained from the National Center for Competency Testing. To qualify to take the exam, candidates follow one of three paths:

•   Complete an accredited training program
•   Undergo a two-year, on-the-job training program
•   Acquire seven years of experience working in the field

After passing the exam, you may use the designation National Certified Technician O.R. This certification may be renewed every five years through either continuing education or re-examination. Most employers prefer to hire certified technologists.

Hours
For the majority of the rotation, your learning schedule will include eight-hour days, two to five days per week.

Class Size
Each year, Mayo School of Health Sciences accepts two to three students from GateWay for their Surgical Technology rotations at Mayo Clinic Hospital. This ensures you will receive close one-on-one instruction and a comprehensive educational experience.