Senior Department Chair for the Surgical Technology programs at South College, Chris Blevins, is an accomplished Certified Surgical Technologist and a passionate advocate for the surgical technology profession. “Being a Certified Surgical Technologist is not just a job,” she says. “It’s a calling.”
In addition to her work as chair and running the Surgical Technology program at South College, Knoxville, Ms. Blevins serves on the Tennessee Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) Board of Directors and as Chair of the AST National Education and Professional Standards Committee. She has edited several chapters in AST’s newest textbook edition and spoken about the surgical technology field at conferences around the country.
Ms. Blevins is also known for being the creator and host of The Scrub Life, a podcast on surgical technology. Since starting the podcast in 2018, she has produced over 6 seasons of The Scrub Life. The podcast’s episodes have been played over 25,000 times. Additionally, Ms. Blevins was recently interviewed on First Case, an operating room podcast, in an episode titled Chasing Your Passion: Educating and Advocating for CST Success. The interview covers the national shortage of surgical technologists, as well as includes advice on how to educate about the profession and advocate for better pay for this vital role.
Ms. Blevins has been in the medical field since 2003 and in surgical technology since 2007. She has extensive operative experience working in locations across the US and in Germany. In addition to her surgical technology certification, she holds phlebotomy and nursing assistant certifications. She’s been a member of the Association for Surgical Education since 2018 and at South College since 2021. Ms. Blevins is also a mom to four children and a Goldendoodle.
For current students and those considering the field, Ms. Blevins says, “You will have the opportunity to advocate for patients who cannot do so themselves. Developing your surgical conscience is imperative to success in the program and I will support you all the way!”