FSCJ, Baptist Health and Memorial Hospital Partner to Advance Careers of Hospital Employees

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida State College at Jacksonville’s (FSCJ) Surgical Technology Workforce Certificate program has created a unique partnership with Baptist Health and Memorial Hospital to train incumbent hospital workers to become surgical technologists. This partnership provides hands-on training for 12 incumbent hospital workers who currently hold positions in various departments at the hospitals, including billing and insurance clerks, floor technicians and nursing assistants.

Through FSCJ’s Surgical Technology program, students will learn about anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, microbiology, pharmacology and anesthesia. Students will be trained in creating and maintaining a sterile environment for surgical procedures.

The program is designed to allow students to continue as full-time employees at the hospital, maintaining their pay and benefits, while completing the program to further their careers. Classroom instruction and laboratory sessions are held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, allowing the program participants to work their regular positions the rest of the week. When the students complete the program and earn their certification, they will be promoted within their facility.  With these certificates, the graduates will earn significantly more than they are in their current positions.

This partnership addresses the shortage of well-qualified, certified surgical technologists within the local community. The partnership has been led by Dr. Sandy L. Robinson, executive chair for the School of Social, Behavioral and Health Sciences, Dr. Neal Henning, dean of health sciences, Dr. Monica Franklin, academic director of health sciences, Ms. Shannon Baum, with Baptist Health and Mr. Scott Brown, with Memorial Hospital.

The first cohort of 12 students began in October 2016 and will complete the program this October. A second cohort of 12 Baptist Health and Memorial Hospital incumbent workers will begin the surgical technology program in November 2017.

About FSCJ

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is a public, nonprofit higher education institution that offers more than 150 degree and certificate programs to meet the education and training needs of more than 50,000 students per year.