Mikel Harsch
Certified Surgical First Assist
Georgetown,TX
Summary
Certified surgical technologist and CSFA with extensive experience in high-pressure environments at Ascension Seton Hospitals. Recent graduate of the Surgical First Assist program at Meridian Institute, bringing two decades of scrubbing and second assisting experience. Proficient in robotics, gynecology, orthopedics, neurology, and trauma surgeries, ensuring seamless transitions to first assisting roles. Proven track record in enhancing operating room efficiency and mentoring associates to maintain high standards of patient care.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
CSFA
1
1
CST
Work History
Certified Surgical First Assistant
Ascension Seton Medical Center Williamson
Round Rock, TX
05.2008 - Current
- First assist in GYN, Orthopedics, General, and Peripheral Vascular.
- Work as Lead Technician in Robotics and Trauma.
- Perform leadership duties: oversee the handling and inventory of Robotic equipment, collaborate with vendors for specialty items, creating and organizing surgeon preference cards and provide onsite technical support for robotics and laparscopic equipment.
- Train new staff and students.
Certified Surgical Technologist
Mcallen Medical Center
McAllen, TX
05.2005 - 05.2008
- Continued to learn and grow into a seasoned technician scrubbing more trauma orthopedic.
Certified Surgical Technologist
Seton Medical Center Austin
Austin, TX
06.1999 - 05.2005
- Worked mid-shift for many years which consisted of giving lunch breaks and then afternoon reliefs.
- Because of the nature of my shift I learned to be highly adaptive as I was working with or taking over someone else's room.
- Continued to first scrub many of the cases I have throughout my years however with more efficiency and effectiveness.
Surgical Technologist
Las Palmas Del Sol West
El Paso, TX
10.1997 - 05.1999
- First scrubbed a variety of orthopedic cases such as Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacements, and ACL reconstruction.
- First scrubbed neuro cases which included spine fusions, craniotomies for tumor resection and aneurysm clippings.
Surgical Technologist
Presbyterian Hospital of Plano
Plano, TX
09.1995 - 10.1997
- This was my first civilian hospital employment after I was Honorably Discharged from the Army
- While at Presbyterian of Plano I continued to first scrub many of the I did in the Military.
- Additionally because Plano was the site Texas Back Institute (TBI) I learned to scrub more complex spine cases such as 360 fusions, Anterior Cervical Fusions, and ALIFs.
Surgical Technologist
US Army William Beaumont Med Ctr
El Paso, TX
04.1993 - 08.1995
- Started my career as a Surgical tech in the US Army where I was first placed in Central Processing for roughly 18 months.
- While working in Central Processing I maintained reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment, including decontamination, cleaning, sterilizing, storing and distributing.
- Inspected instruments post-operatively for proper function or damage before returning them to their respective sets.
- Ensured all necessary supplies and instruments was available for each procedure.
- Eventually transferred to the Operating Room where I scrubbed variety of cases in ortho, neuro, general, and vascular.
Education
Surgical First Assisting
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Nashville, TN05-2026
Diploma - Surgical Technology
US Army OR Specialist Program
San Antonio, TX02-1993
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
Austin Community College
Austin, TXSkills
- Robotic surgery
- Trauma/Poly-trauma surgery
- Total Joints
- Craniotomies
- Spine Fusions
- Rib Plating
- Preference card management
- Mentoring new associates
- Reliability
- Competency
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Setting up and operating equipment
Certification
- CSFA Certification #97249 (Expiration 5/22/2028)
- CST Certification #97249 (Expiration 1/12/2028)
- BLS Certification (Expiration 9/30/2026)
Timeline
Certified Surgical First Assistant
Ascension Seton Medical Center Williamson
05.2008 - Current
Certified Surgical Technologist
Mcallen Medical Center
05.2005 - 05.2008
Certified Surgical Technologist
Seton Medical Center Austin
06.1999 - 05.2005
Surgical Technologist
Las Palmas Del Sol West
10.1997 - 05.1999
Surgical Technologist
Presbyterian Hospital of Plano
09.1995 - 10.1997
Surgical Technologist
US Army William Beaumont Med Ctr
04.1993 - 08.1995
Surgical First Assisting
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Diploma - Surgical Technology
US Army OR Specialist Program
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
Austin Community College