Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings.
The laboratory portion of the program, which reinforces concepts learned in class, is held in operating suites at area hospitals or the surgical technology lab at Kirkwood. Students have clinical experiences in hospitals and actively participate on operating room teams during surgery while clinical preceptors oversee their work.
To get into the Surgical Technology program, you must meet the following additional standards. These steps/requirements are in addition to Kirkwood's steps to become a student.
If college-level placement is not met, students are recommended to meet with an advisor. Kirkwood and Surgical Technology admissions policies and procedures are subject to change at any time. After all admissions criteria are met, students are accepted or placed on the waitlist to the Surgical Technology program.
The Surgical Technology program is also implementing a change in the delivery of classes starting fall 2024. All ST lecture courses will be presented in a self-paced online learning format that aligns with the principles of competency-based education (CBE). CBE offers flexibility for you to complete the course requirements based on your knowledge and skills. Labs will continue to take place either at Kirkwood or nearby hospitals. Organization of clinics (and being held in hospitals within our region) will stay the same.
If you have any questions regarding these changes or, to determine if competency-based education sounds like the right learning model for you, please email the Allied Health office at Allied.Health@kirkwood.edu or Program Director Melissa Carnahan at Melissa.Carnahan@kirkwood.edu.
The mission of the Kirkwood Community College Surgical Technology Program is to provide students with the opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills to become employed as surgical technologists and become contributing members of the health care team.
Allied Health
2164 Linn Hall
319-398-5566
allied.health@kirkwood.edu