Tricia Good, ‘19, fell in love with surgery while doing a rotation through the operating room during her time at the Indiana County Technology Center in the Health Occupations Technology program. She got to watch an orthopedics case, and found the tools and techniques the surgeons were using to be interesting.

Now, Tricia is a surgical technologist at the Punxsutawney Area Hospital. She is responsible for helping to prep the operating room for surgeries and for assisting the surgeon during procedures. Tricia knows all the tools and techniques for a variety of surgical procedures.

“With my job, every day is different, challenging, and rewarding,” Tricia said. “I get to work with some of the best people in the profession.”

Her coworkers have become like family to her, and she says that they’re her favorite part of the job.

“They make my days worth the early mornings, late nights, and midnight calls. I don’t really get to see much of my patients after their operations.”

Tricia says that in order to become a good surgical technologist, it’s important to study hard, learn as much as possible, and listen to the professors and clinical instructors.

“Sometimes, constructive criticism is needed to succeed,” she said. “Continue to learn something new every single day of your career. That’s what makes you a good surgical tech.”