(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Representatives from Driscoll Children’s Hospital visited with some students and graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Surgical Technology program during a recent employer spotlight at TSTC’s Harlingen campus.
Derek Perales and Norberto Solis talked with attendees about job opportunities and work culture at the Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley that will open in Edinburg next year.
“There is a large demand for surgical technicians in the Rio Grande Valley,” Solis, who will be the surgical services manager for the new hospital, said. “Our team is looking to hire experienced surgical technologists and recent graduates because there is a demand.”
Solis added that the hospital helps employees if they are interested in professional development.
“A college tuition reimbursement program is available, including a nursing program for ancillary staff who are interested in pursuing that field of health care,” he said.
Yolanda Ramirez, TSTC’s Surgical Technology program director, said her students showed interest in the new hospital coming to the area.
“The students had several questions about how soon they might get hired, where job training would take place, and pay,” she said.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology at the Harlingen campus.
Jerid Harms and Tatum Medina, both recent graduates of the program, attended the employer spotlight.
“I was happy to hear how we can get experience working in a variety of specialties,” Harms said of the presentation.
Medina appreciated how the hospital’s representatives focused on its work culture.
“For me, the work environment is important,” she said. “I would like to be comfortable in my job and improve professionally — especially when career growth is available.”
According to onetonline.org, surgical technologists earn a yearly median salary of $53,460 in Texas, where projected job growth for the profession was forecast to increase 18% from 2020 to 2030.
Registration for TSTC’s spring semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.
