Lasell University and Newton-Wellesley Hospital partner to create a new surgical technology education program

(Newton, Massachusetts) – Lasell University and Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH), a member of Mass General Brigham, today announced a collaboration designed to diversify the health care profession, create a pathway to professional-level jobs in the medical field, and help address the national shortage of skilled surgical technologists. This new, innovative initiative—an extension of Lasell’s Health Sciences degree program—will combine classroom and lab-based learning with hands-on clinical experience at NWH. It is also designed to support career advancement for a diverse student population, providing flexible scheduling, significant philanthropic support for tuition and fees, and a clear path to a Bachelor of Science degree.

NWH is currently recruiting a diverse cohort of students for the new Surgical Technology Program, a one-year, 36-credit certificate program slated to launch on May 17, 2022. Additionally, Lasell will assign a full-time program director who will join the faculty of Lasell’s School of Health Sciences.

“This partnership was forged during a conversation I had with hospital president, Dr. Errol Norwitz, one year ago,” said Michael B. Alexander, President, Lasell University. “And from the outset, our ideas for this new academic model were perfectly aligned. Members of our senior teams shared our vision and worked closely together to develop a rigorous curriculum that will give students the tools they need to succeed.”

While the inaugural year will focus on NWH, both organizations hope to expand the program’s reach and impact by partnering with other hospitals across the Mass General Brigham system in the years ahead.

“This program is a unique collaboration between healthcare and higher education that will ultimately provide great benefit to patients and our community, while helping those who may not otherwise have such an opportunity,” said Errol R. Norwitz, MD, President and CEO of NWH. “It will also help advance the careers of those committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care and fill a critical staffing need inside operating rooms at our hospital and across the region.”

These healthcare professionals play an essential role in hospitals, assisting surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses and keeping operating rooms sterile, stocked, and organized. Depending on the region, the starting salary for a surgical technologist can range from $60,000 to $70,000 annually.

“At Lasell University, students are immersed in experiential and collaborative learning,” said Dr. Cristina Haverty, Dean of Lasell’s School of Health Sciences. “Students enrolled in the Surgical Technology Program will complete laboratory-based coursework in our state-of-the-art Science and Technology Center and will complete 500 hours of supervised clinical work at NWH, including sessions in their Shipley Medical Simulation Center where students will practice and hone their skills.”

As part of the program curriculum, students will prepare for the certification exam offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Tuition for this program is set to align with other certificate programs at Lasell. To support the students who will take part in the roll-out of this new academic partnership, NWH leadership has secured philanthropic funding and will provide full scholarships for all its employees who participate in this program, in exchange for a commitment to work at NWH for three years.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Lasell University on such a creative endeavor,” said Kevin Whitney, DNP, RN, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at NWH. “Surgical technologists are essential members of our Newton-Wellesley family, and this program will provide other aspiring caregivers with the resources and tools they need to pursue fulfilling careers in healthcare. Our hope is that it provides people with a tremendous opportunity that helps shape a new path for their careers.”

NWH will focus initial outreach efforts on current employees including those not currently in clinical roles, as medical experience is not required. Those who choose to continue their education can apply the credits earned through the Surgical Technology Program toward a Bachelor of Science degree at Lasell University.

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About Lasell University

Lasell is an independent coeducational University that emphasizes a combination of immersive learning and social and civic responsibility in both its graduate and undergraduate programs. Established in 1851, the institution is located on a 54-acre campus adjacent to a hub of professional and educational opportunities in Greater Boston. The school’s faculty practitioners offer rich industry expertise across more than 50 academic programs in areas including athletic training, business, criminal justice, health sciences, information technology, fashion, and hospitality management. A model for intergenerational learning, the campus includes two early learning centers and Lasell Village, the first-of-its-kind, college-sponsored continuing care retirement community with a learning mandate that has drawn international attention.

About Newton-Wellesley Hospital

Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH) is a full-service, comprehensive medical center and community-based hospital providing direct, high-quality inpatient and outpatient care in the Greater Boston community. Named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades for three consecutive years, and with a 140-year history of serving our community, NWH places the patient and their family at the center of everything it does. NWH excels at prevention and wellness along with acute care and disease treatment. The hospital provides a wide range of services, including medical, surgical, including robotic and bariatric, primary care, obstetric and gynecological, cardiovascular, emergency, orthopedic, neonatal, pediatric, hematology/oncology, and psychiatric care—with a medical staff of more than 1,200 physicians. NWH is a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system. NWH is also a major teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine and has established post-graduate training programs for residents of Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.