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Total Success

The National News caught up with Catherine Wood, who recently graduated from the Dayton Area Campus with her associate degree in surgical technology, while she was in the midst of her clinical rotation last spring.

”I’ve seen some amazing cases…I’ve actually delivered several babies via C-section, that was exciting,” she says. “Wednesday I delivered twins, emergency C-sections…and then the next morning I delivered another baby!”

Wednesday I delivered twins …and then the next morning I delivered another baby!

Delivering babies isn’t the only thing that makes her externship experience memorable, according to Catherine. “I really like getting my hands in there and helping the doctor with what he needs to do,” she explains. “It’s really amazing the things that they can do to fix something wrong in your body, it’s awe-inspiring.”

Equally awe inspiring, some would say, is the dedication Catherine demonstrated in completing her program and making a career change. Employed by a large computer database company for 10 years, Catherine grew weary of the direction in which the company was heading and became unhappy. “It just felt like they kept piling on the work and piling on the work,” she says. “You know, downsizing and right-sizing, they had a different name for it every two years.” After getting some exposure to the medical field through a subsequent job in a medical office setting, and encouraged by a friend who attended National College, Catherine decided to check into the Dayton Area Campus’s programs for herself.

I went through the classes and really liked it, so here I am!

”I walked around [the campus] and looked at all the different programs,” she said of her visit. Surgical technology seemed to beckon to her. “I’m going to try it and see how I like it,” she decided. “I went through the classes and really liked it, so here I am!”

The single mother of a 12-year-old son credits her family, along with National’s flexibility, with helping her make it through. “[My son’s] been really patient with me…he’s been very supportive of me,” Catherine says, as she juggled a part-time work schedule and full-time course load with parenting duties. “I did night classes, day classes…whatever it took to get me through.” Catherine is also thankful for the support of her parents as she has worked to complete her education.

Catherine’s hard work has certainly paid off, as she earned plaudits from instructors, doctors, and clinical personnel during her externship. Her excellent performance earned her the opportunity to assist on a major surgery, a total shoulder replacement. “Normally students don’t actually get to scrub in on totals, but I got to,” she explains proudly. Catherine, congratulations on your success and best wishes in your future career!