Durham Tech is partnering with the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health Care to launch a new Anesthesia Technology program. It will be the only one of its kind in the state, and is expected be part of the 11 approved programs across the country.

“We’re very excited about this collaboration,” said Durham Tech president Bill Ingram. “Durham Tech’s new Anesthesia Technology program addresses a critical health care need in our region, prepares our students to meet industry needs, and provides upward economic mobility for our workforce.”

Once approved, the program will consist of 66 credit hours covering topics such as anesthesia technology, science and general education. Students who complete the program will earn an Associate in Applied Science degree and be eligible to take the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) National Certification Examination.

Dr. Chris Howard, Medical Director for Anesthesia Technology at UNC Health Care, helped establish the program after assessing the need for certified anesthesia technicians in the area’s local hospitals. According to Howard, he found that the anesthesia professionals “…struggled to grow with the rest of the department and hospital. We can train inexperienced people to become good anesthesia technicians, but nothing can replicate the training available through an ASATT-certified program.”

UNC Health Care will support the program at Durham Tech with donations of essential equipment and supplies, lecturing for students, and valuable input into curriculum development.

“The partnership with UNC Health Care reflects how, together, we can problem solve to not only address workforce needs but also contribute positively to the health of patients,” said Melissa Oakley Ockert, Dean and Department Head of Health Technologies at Durham Tech.

“This is a testament to how a community college and its valuable clinical partners can build vital, healthier communities,” said Ockert.

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