Q&A with Surgical Technology Student Stephany Mendez Traslavina

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I grew up in a small town in Mexico that is close to the border. My parents and I are very close because I’m an only child. They have always been supportive and say they’re proud of me. I have an 8-year-old Siberian husky and I love dogs. I enjoy being with my family, hanging out with friends, playing the piano, reading, and watching movies. When I was younger, I used to go to my little town’s hospital as a volunteer to help the doctors and nurses care for the patients. I’ve always been interested in the medical field. I decided to attend medical school in Mexico and graduated in 2015 as a medical doctor.

Eventually, I decided that I wanted to have different life experiences. So, I came to the USA where I decided to become a surgical technologist. My parents decided to support me even when it was hard for us to be apart. We figured out how to handle the distance, so I can accomplish my dreams and goals.

What motivated you to choose Surgical Technology at Carrington College?

After a long time of searching for the perfect program, I found it at Carrington College in Phoenix. I liked the organization of the program, and how everything was so fast and focused on my future career. The most important thing is we practice with real patients under the direct supervision of experts.

What has been your favorite part of your Carrington program?

I think my favorite part of my program is that our instructors are very patient with us. They also show us how to do things in real life, not just examples that are based on books. I appreciate that our instructors are surgical technologists because they can share with us some of their real-life experiences and they can teach us more accurate information.

What has been the most challenging part of your program?

I think that the most challenging part of my program is that English is not my first language. So, it is hard sometimes to interact with my classmates and teachers. I would like to share some of my experiences in Mexico as an MD, but I can’t always express myself well enough to communicate the exact idea. Thankfully, they had been very comprehensive in the way they do things, which has allowed me to learn and improve my English.

Are there Carrington instructors or staff members who you would like to acknowledge?

I would love to acknowledge my instructors. I am so thankful for them because they make me feel safe to ask questions. If I’m struggling with understanding something, they are always there to show and explain things.

Benson Bradley is an instructor and the director of the program. He has been very supportive. He is always encouraging us to keep going, and when he is talking about the field, he infects us with passion for his career.

Then, there is Miss Jana Pike. She has been our instructor ever since we started. She is a kind, cheerful, and very intelligent woman who has been scrubbing for more than 20 years. She is always sharing her experiences and giving us helpful tips for our future jobs.

We also have Timothy Huff who answers our questions with patience and kindness. He has been supporting us in our externship and lab practice, serving as a very strong link between the hospitals and Carrington.

Kaylea Needelko is our instructor for lab, and she is always confident with her classes and kind.

Do you have any advice for people interested in going into your field?

Never give up. Sometimes we have a perfect plan for our life, but we must keep in mind that we are always changing, and that’s okay. We must not be afraid of trying new things. We must never fear the unknown. If you never try, you’ll never know.

Is there anything that we have missed that you would like to add?

The hardest part of everything is starting. Once we start, things begin to fall into place. And if you have a curiosity about the medical field, I think the surgical technologist program is a wonderful place to start. You will be in contact with real patients, involved in interventions that improve their health, and able to observe the wonder of human anatomy. It’s amazing!