MELISSA SANTIAGO

• Partners with Surgeons, Surgical Assistants, Nurses and surgical team.
• Joined the Open-Heart Cardiac Team in 2014.
• Prepare sterile rooms and stock adequate supplies for surgeries.
• Scrub mostly Cardiac cases
• Assist Physicians during surgeries passing instruments, medications, sharps and holding retractors.
• Maintain an accurate count of instruments, sharps and sponges.
• Ensure strict compliance with protocols and procedures.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the vision and values of the hospital.
• Use Surgeons and team feedback to improve overall performance.
• Worked effectively in fast-paced environment

Completed high-performance travel assignments at numerous hospitals:

• Glens Falls Hospital
• Brigham and Women's Hospital
• UConn Health
• Piedmont Hospital
• Cape Cod Hospital
• Brought Cardiac, general, GYN, Ortho and vascular expertise to each assignment
• Returned to Yale New Haven full time in September 2024

• Performed scrub duties for General, GYN, Ortho, vascular, plastics, and Urology cases.
• Transitioned to Cardiac surgery after seven years based on performance and focus.
• Demonstrated steady growth autonomy and complexity of cases handled.
• Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.

• Developed foundation of medical knowledge, attention to detail, and workflow efficiency.
• Maintained patient confidence by keeping patient records information confidential.