Surgical Technology Program | Trocaire College | Buffalo, NY Skip to content Complete your application for Fall 2026! Priority deadline is May 1, 2026 Apply Today! Academics Allied Health and Professions Division Diagnostic Medical Sonography Echocardiography Healthcare Management Program Massage Therapy Management Program Medical Assistant Radiologic Technology Surgical Technology Technology Professions Cybersecurity Data Analytics Healthcare Informatics Healthcare Informatics Student Spotlight The Catherine McAuley School of Nursing Nursing Nursing Entrance Exam for PN and RN Programs BS, Nursing at Trocaire: Commonly Asked Questions Online RN to BS in Nursing Program Why a BS in Nursing at Trocaire Veterinary Sciences Veterinary Technology Division of Arts and Sciences Biology General Studies General Studies – ASAC Track Trocaire Honors Program Workforce Development ChatGPT 101 CPR/BLS for Health Care Providers Critical Leadership Skills Development Customer Service Programs EKG Technician Financial Health and Education Healthcare Customer Service Healthcare Programs at Gerard Place IT Training IT Career Jump Start Plus Program IT Career Reboot Program IT Career Exploration Course Pharmacy Technician Program Phlebotomy Sterile Processing & Distribution Program Veterinary Assistant Program Academic Support Palisano Learning Center Tech Support Academic Resources Academic Catalogs Transcript Request Registrar Credit for Prior Learning Surgical Technology Associate Degree AAS Associate Program Division of Allied Health and Professions | Surgical Technology Surgical Technologists play a crucial role on surgical teams, working closely with surgeons, registered nurses, and anesthesiologists to provide the best possible care for the patient undergoing a surgical intervention. The primary role of the surgical technologist, or “scrub tech,” as they’re often called, is to prepare a sterile field and pass instruments to the surgeon during the surgical procedure. Surgical Technologists should possess a stable temperament, manual dexterity, physical stamina and the ability to integrate and prioritize a variety of activities. The surgical technologist’s professional role and concepts relating to patient need, surgical conditions, asepsis, surgical routines, human behavior, communication, and caring provide the framework for Trocaire’s AAS in Surgical Technology program. As the student progresses through the curriculum, classroom theory is applied to clinical practice in the operating room setting. A mix of laboratory practice and hospital operating room experiences during the first year introduces the student to the operating room environment, and the second year emphasizes clinical experience in a broad range of surgical specialties and settings to prepare the student for future practice as a surgical technologist. AAS:  Surgical Technology Program Format Time of Program: Day, Evening (In addition to the regularly scheduled evening experiences, selected clinical experiences may be mandated during the daytime and/or weekend hours. These clinical days provide a comprehensive experience of surgical cases which normally occur during the day). Mode of Delivery:  On-site/Seated Program Director: Leah Gilmer, CST, BS Email: Gilmerl@trocaire.edu Apply Now Visit Trocaire Request Information Accreditation Information The Trocaire College Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). CAAHEP 9355- 113th St. North #7709 Seminole, FL 33775 Email: mail@caahep.org On the web: www.caahep.org ARC/STSA 19751 East Main Street, Suite #339 Parker, CO 80138 Email: info@arcstsa.org On the web: www.arcstsa.org CAAHEP Requirement: Student Achievement Resources Surgical Technology Program Policy Handbook 2025–2026 Surgical Technology Program Outcomes National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Contact Gainful Employment Disclosures 2023 Program Requirements Admission Requirements: High School Diploma (minimum 85% average) or GED Diploma score of 165 or its equivalent. One (1) unit High School or College Biology 2.5 GPA average with minimum grades of “C” in laboratory sciences for current and transfer students Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate is required prior to acceptance into the program. Students applying for programs in the health professions are required to participate in two stages of academic preparedness. Initial admittance to a health science program places a student into a “pre-professional” component. Admittance into the “professional” component is not guaranteed. Students must meet established academic standards. Students should speak with an Admissions counselor or Program Director prior to registration to insure they understand all of the academic requirements for advancement in the program of their choice. Minimum Degree Requirements: A total of at least 60 semester hours with a GPA of 2.0 General Education Requirements: College Seminar (GS100) or College Success (GS102) Humanities (EN101) Mathematics (MA111) or (MA110) Natural Science* (BIO130/130L, BIO131/131L, BIO223/223L) Philosophy (PH103, PH205) Social Science (PSY101, and one, 3 credit social science elective) Medical Terminology for the Surgical Technologist (ST100) Program-specific Requirements:* ST101, ST103, ST104, ST106, ST201, ST202, ST203, ST204 *A minimum grade of “C” (2.0) is required Graduation Requirements: Mercy Action Project Technical Standards: Technical Standards Courses Semester 1 14/16 BIO 130 Anatomy and Physiology I An introduction to the general principles of human anatomy and physiology with emphasis on the structure and function of the cell, tissues, and the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, and lymphatic systems. Three lecture hours. (Fall, Spring and Summer Semester) BIO 130L Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory Laboratory experience coincides with lecture topics. Two laboratory hours. ST 100 Medical Terminology for the Surgical Technologist This course will present the student with a study of medical terminology mostly relating to the field of surgery.  Prefixes, suffixes, root words, combining forms, special endings, pleural forms abbreviations, and symbols will be included in the content.  A programmed learning, word building system will be used to learn word parts that are used to construct and/or analyze new terms.  This will provide the student with the opportunity to decipher unfamiliar terms and check their spelling.  Emphasis will be on pronunciation.  Abbreviations will be introduced as related terms are presented. (This course is taken prior to the beginning of the first semester.) GS 100 College Seminar* The College Seminar is a course designed to provide students strategies for successful learning in college and beyond. Topics in the course include: learning styles, learning and study strategies, cognitive strategies, time management, goal-setting, note-taking, test-taking strategies, overcoming test anxiety, cultural diversity, and other issues that focus on enabling students to become better achievers. The course is one credit with a one hour laboratory. Students are requires to take this course in their first semester at Trocaire College. (Fall, Spring and Summer Semester) *Students must receive a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher to pass this course. OR GS 102 College Success* The College Success is a course designed to provide students strategies for successful learning in college and beyond. It is part of the Transitional Studies curriculum. Central to the course is students’ intensive work in learning strategies and the use of the diagnostic tool, Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI). Topics in the course include: learning styles, learning and study strategies, cognitive strategies, time management, goal-setting, note-taking, test-taking strategies, overcoming test anxiety, cultural diversity, and other issues that focus on enabling students to become better achievers. This course is three credits and is open only to new Trocaire students who participate in Transitional Studies. They are required to take this course their first semester at Trocaire College. (Fall and Spring Semesters) *Placement is based on participation in Transitional Studies *Students must receive a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher to pass this course. ST 101 Introduction to Surgical Technology This course introduces the student to the role of the health care team. Operating room organization, medical terminology, aseptic technique, surgical supplies, basic instrumentation and basic surgical routines will be emphasized. Introductory surgical regional anatomy will be discussed, as well as surgical microbiology as it pertains to sterilization and disinfection. Beginning aspects of the ethical/legal aspects of patient care will be introduced. Learning activities will take place in the classroom, simulated on-campus operating room, a hospital operating room and the Central Service Department of the hospital. (Fall and Spring Semesters) ST 103 Clinical Education I This clinical laboratory experience takes place primarily in the simulated on-campus laboratory. There will be limited experiences in the hospital operating room setting during the course. Students are taught the basic skills necessary to begin practice in the surgical setting. Mandatory competencies of this course include scrubbing, gowning and gloving, gowning and gloving team members, back table and instrument setups, simulated draping, “opening of the abdomen,” sequence of instruments and equipment. This course must be taken concurrently with ST 101. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Sixteen clinical hours (2 days). Semester 2 16 BIO 131 Anatomy and Physiology II A continuation of Anatomy and Physiology I. Study of the respiratory, nervous, endocrine, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Fluid and electrolyte balance also studied. Three lecture hours. (Fall, Spring and Summer) BIO 131L Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory Laboratory experience coincides with lecture topics. Two laboratory hours. EN 101 English Composition The course seeks to aid the communication process by developing the ability to write clear, concise, expository prose, with emphasis on pre-writing and revision. It assists the student in finding a voice and an audience. A research paper is required, thus techniques of writing a formal research paper are reviewed. PSY 101 General Psychology An introduction to the basic concepts, research methods and applications of psychology. The major theoretical perspectives are presented through such areas as sensation, perception, intelligence, cognition, personality, and abnormal behavior. The course requires a research paper. (Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters) ST 104 Fundamentals of Surgical Technology This course focuses on the scrub duties and expanded instrumentation. Sterilization and disinfection will be continued as will further exploration of the ethical/legal aspects of surgical patient care and student accountability. Assisting with circulating duties and wound healing and closure concepts will be introduced. Wound closure materials and stapling devices will be explored in detail. Specialty equipment such as the use of electrocautery and the use of LASER equipment also will be introduced. Regional surgical anatomy will continue to be discussed. The care of the anesthetized patient will be included. Learning activities will take place in the classroom, in the simulated on-campus operating room and hospital operating rooms. (Fall and Spring Semester) ST 106 Clinical Education II Clinical experiences are provided in a hospital operating room. The student will be primarily assigned to the scrub technologist’s role performing and applying those skills learned in the first semester. This course is taken concurrently with ST 104. The evening students take this course over the Spring semester and into the Summer. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Sixteen clinical hours (2 days) Semester 3 17 BIO 223 Microbiology The study of scientific principles of Microbiology emphasizing the isolation and identification of pathogenic organisms to man in areas of bacteriology, mycology, virology and parasitology. The culture, morphology, general physiology, immunology and applied aspects of the representative micro-organisms will be studied. Three lecture hours. (Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters) BIO 223L Microbiology Laboratory Laboratory experience coincides with lecture topics. Two laboratory hours. MA 111 College Algebra and Statistics with Business Applications This course provides students foundations in algebra and statistics as preparation for the demands of quantitative reasoning in the field of business. Topics on algebra include: function, linear, quadratic, radicals, exponential, logarithmic, and inverse functions. Topics on statistics include: measures of central tendency, measures of variations, measures of positions, counting principles, probability, expected value, and regressions. Applications to business and finance problems are a focus. PH 103 Introduction to Philosophy This course is an introduction into the basic issues of philosophy: Being, God, Knowledge, Meaning, Self, Reality, Evil and Death as they are found and presented in the history of Western Philosophy. (Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters) ST 201 Advanced Surgical Technology This course will focus on an overview of the surgical specialties: general surgery which includes gastro-intestinal and biliary surgical procedures, gynecology, genitourinary surgery, ear, nose and throat surgery, and head and neck surgery. Surgical procedures will be discussed in relation to supplies, instrumentation and equipment. Surgical pathology, intraoperative patient care, the sequence of the surgical procedures, as well as potential complications will be presented. Clinical practice takes place in hospital operating rooms, as well as other intraoperative care facilities. (Fall and Spring Semester) ST 202 Clinical Education III Student clinical experiences are broadened in a hospital setting with the student expanding experience in the specialty surgical areas. The student will also begin to assist with circulating duties of the technologist. This course is taken concurrently with ST 201. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Sixteen clinical hours (2 days). Semester 4 13 PH 205 Ethics in Health Care Modern medicine and health care have created new human ethical problems. This course will explore a number of medical ethical dilemmas, such as end-of-life decisions, defining the concept of death, ordinary versus extraordinary means of treatment, reproductive issues, informed consent, confidentiality, truth-telling, withholding treatment, and the distribution of scarce medical resources, in the light of the principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. One semester of clinical experience is strongly recommended. (Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters) SOCEL Social Science Elective ST 203 Specialized Surgical Technology This course is a continuation of ST 201. It will focus on an overview of surgical specialties. Special consideration of the pediatric and older adult will be discussed. Transplant surgery including kidney, heart and lung will be explored. Clinical practice takes place in hospital operating rooms, as well as other intraoperative care facilities. During this last semester, as the student prepares for professional practice, further legal, and employment dimensions will be discussed. (Fall and Spring Semesters) ST 204 Clinical Education IV In this clinical course, students continue to gain experience in a variety of surgical settings with emphasis on more complex and specialized procedures. This course is taken concurrently with ST 203. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Sixteen clinical hours (2 days). The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 14,700 new jobs and employment growth of nearly 15 percent between 2014 and 2024. Surgical Technologists rank #24 in Best Health Care Support Jobs