highlights ealth care - Owens Community College

Surgical Program First class to graduate from the Owen’s Surgical Program in 1979.
The Surgical Program was first introduced
to the community in 1978. Operating Room
Technician (ORT) was first recognized as
a career in 1967 under the auspices of the
Association of Perioperative Nurses (AORN).
During WWII, a shortage of nurses prompted
the beginnings of necessary ancillary help in
the operating room (OR). The local hospitals
began their own on-the-job training programs,
but soon recognized that a formal education
would be valuable. As a result, in 1978,
Michael J. Owens Technical College initiated
the first ORT class as a certificate program
under the direction of Dr. Peggy Bensman,
Dean, Health Technologies.
Changes in the certification process prompted
the change from a certificate program
to an associate degree in 1979. Leadership
provided by Annette Jones, Chairman, and
Dr. Bensman provided the expertise to
successfully convert and rename the program
to Surgical Assisting Technology. In July
1980, after graduating the first class with an
Associate Degree and successful completion
of the certification process, the College
submitted its request for accreditation. The
name of the program was again changed
to better reflect the career and certification
process to Surgical Technology in the Fall of
1980. Initial accreditation was obtained after
the site visit in February 1981.
The Surgical Program continued to flourish
with the help of the hospitals in the community
during the 1980s under the direction
of Annette Jones and Peggy Bensman.
Ms. Jones was active in the Association
of Surgical Technologists and often reviewed
new textbooks. In 1991, Annette Jones left
the College and the program came under the
direction of Janell Lang and Kris Flickinger.
During the 1990s, they steered the program and
maintained its reputation in the community.
The Sterile Processing Certificate Program
was developed in 2003 to meet the increasing
demand for trained personnel in vital areas of
the health care community.
“Current facilities allow students
to gain critical skills in a more
realistic setting.”
Renovation of the laboratory facility occurred
under the leadership of Dawn Wetmore and
Kris Flickinger in 2003. Current facilities
allow students to gain critical skills in
a more realistic setting. Students are active
today in the community participating
in the Relay for Life and Blood Drive
held annually on campus. Students and
graduates of our program are recognized in
the local community
for their expertise in
the surgical field.
Surgical Program students Kris Shake and Toby Bean volunteering for the Bloodmobile.
Kris Flickinger
health care highlights 9