Casey Glassburner, an instructor in the Surgical Technology program at Southeast Community College, was presented the Fellow of the Association of Surgical Technologists award by the Association of Surgical Technologists at the national conference in Denver this spring.

The designation is awarded to recognize individuals who have upheld the highest professional, ethical and moral standards and traditions of the surgical technology profession, and whose professional activity has been devoted to the advancement of the profession toward improving the quality of surgical patient care.

“I was truly honored to receive the F.A.S.T. award and to be among the members of the Association of Surgical Technologists who have helped advance the profession of surgical technology to the level it is at today,” Glassburner said. “I have been involved in the Association of Surgical Technologists since prior to graduation from the Surgical Technology program at SCC, and I was humbled to receive this award for my service to my professional organization and a profession that I love.”

AST awards F.A.S.T. only to those surgical technologists whose professional activities have been devoted to the practice of surgical technology and who abide by the AST Code of Ethics and standards of practice. Individuals awarded the F.A.S.T. will commit and adhere to these ethics and standards of practice.

“As I continue to teach the future of the profession of surgical technology, I attempt to instill in our students the importance of professional involvement and promoting your own profession to the level you desire,” she said. “We continually tell our students that you cannot expect others to treat you as a professional if you don’t see yourself as one and act as one, which includes being involved in your professional organization and helping to mold the future of your profession. If you love your profession, you have to do everything to protect it and keep it moving forward. No one else is going to do it for you.”

Persons interested in enrolling in SCC’s Surgical Technology program are asked to call Sharon Rehn, program chair, at 402-437-2785.