Robin Lowe
Travelers Rest,SC
Summary
I am a sincere, loyal, and dedicated individual with over 24 years of experience and knowledge in the operating room as a CST and CSFA. I have worked in numerous specialties including cardiac, ortho trauma, spine, total joints, neurology, urology, cystoscopy, otolaryngology, orthopedics, robotics, colorectal, trauma services, gynecology, reproductive services, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. I have also worked for several years in organ donation services and transplant. In August 2014, I became a certified surgical assistant. Becoming a surgical assistant has given me the opportunity to broaden my surgical technician skills and move into a higher roll. The skills and techniques I have learned as a CSFA are invaluable. I love to have more hands on involvement with our patients to improve their comfort and quality of care. I love to learn and teach. It is very true that in the health care field, everyday is something new and the opportunity to learn is plentiful. I love the fact that everyday is a new day and a chance to profoundly change the lives of the patients we care for. I cannot imagine my life anywhere other than working in the OR, it is my true passion.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
CST And CSFA Travel
Prisma Greenville
Greenville
03.2024 - Current
- Weekend staff for trauma services - all specialties. Specialties - ortho trauma and general, vascular, thoracic, robotics
- Weekend member of the new transplant team as a CSFA.
- Assisted with dissecting and removing diseased tissue under direction of surgeon.
- Provides assistance during emergency situations requiring immediate intervention or resuscitation efforts.
- Positioned patients properly to alleviate physician obstruction during surgeries and procedures.
- Prepared operating rooms by setting up necessary equipment, instruments, and supplies.
- Closed skin injuries with sutures or staples after conferring with surgeon.
- Participated in pre-operative planning meetings with surgeons and other medical staff member
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
Travel CSFA
Health Carousel - Mission Hospital
Asheville, NC
03.2025 - 02.2026
- Specialties - ortho trauma, ortho and neuro spine, robotics, sport medicine, total joints
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
Travel CSFA Through Aya Healthcare
Anmed
Anderson, SC
11.2023 - 03.2024
- All specialties including ortho trauma, general, robotics, ENT, urology, cysto, total joints, sports medicine, spine, plastics, vascular, and cardiovascular.
- Operated specialized equipment such as electrocautery devices under guidance of supervising surgeon.
- Assisted with dissecting and removing diseased tissue under direction of surgeon.
- Closed skin injuries with sutures or staples after conferring with surgeon.
Travel CSFA Through Aya Healthcare
Spartanburg Regional
Spartanburg, SC
08.2023 - 11.2023
- Level one trauma services, ortho trauma, robotics, ENT, plastics, general, neuro and ortho spine, total joints, cardiac and vascular services.
- Operated specialized equipment such as electrocautery devices under guidance of supervising surgeon.
- Assisted with dissecting and removing diseased tissue under direction of surgeon.
- Closed skin injuries with sutures or staples after conferring with surgeon.
- 13 week contract through Aya
Travel CSFA With Aya Healthcare
Prisma Richland
Columbia, SC
08.2021 - 08.2023
- I was a traveler with Prisma for two years
- I worked in all surgical services including general and orthopedic level one traumas, general, ENT, Neuro and ortho spine, sports medicine, vascular, robotics, plastics, Free flaps...all service lines and weekend trauma.
- Closed skin injuries with sutures or staples after conferring with surgeon
- Controlled bleeding with hemostatic clamps and suture ligatures
Certified Surgical Assistant
Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group (PREG)
Greenville, SC
12.2017 - 02.2021
- Private CSFA for Dr. Travis McCoy and Dr. John Nichols of Piedmont Reproductive
- With Piedmont Reproductive, I traveled to various hospitals, including Saint Francis Eastside and Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, as a Surgical Assistant assisting in robotic procedures for female reproductive issues.
- I also assisted with office procedures such as IVF, egg retrievals, intrauterine inseminations, surgical vasectomy reversals, tubal reversals, and testicular aspirations.
- Assisted surgeons during various surgical procedures, ensuring patient safety and sterile environment.
- Monitored patient vital signs and informed surgical team of any significant changes.
- Positioned patients properly to alleviate physician obstruction during surgeries and procedures.
- Prepared procedure rooms by counting sponges and setting up surgical tools and medical equipment.
- Documented all relevant information regarding surgeries in patient records accurately.
- Sterilized surgical instruments according to established guidelines and hospital policies.
- Closed skin injuries with sutures or staples after conferring with surgeon.
- Reviewed patient health histories and documented medications and medical conditions.
- Educated patients about pre-and post-surgical care instructions, answering questions.
- Verified identity of each patient and expected surgical site to prevent operating room errors.
- Performed surgical counts for sponges, needles, and instruments before and after procedures.
- Assisted with dissecting and removing diseased tissue under direction of surgeon.
- Operated specialized equipment such as electrocautery devices under guidance of supervising surgeon.
- Prepared operating rooms by setting up necessary equipment, instruments, and supplies.
Certified Surgical Assistant
Bon Secour Saint Francis, Eastside Campus
Greenville, South Carolina
11.2012 - 12.2017
- As an employee at Saint Francis Eastside, I worked in a wide variety of specialties including total joints, robotics, gynecology, otolaryngology, general, orthopedics, urology, bariatrics, and plastics
- I was also the coordinator and team lead for the robotic surgery program and have earned my certification as a robotic first assistant.
- Prepared operating rooms by setting up necessary equipment, instruments, and supplies.
- Closed skin injuries with sutures or staples after conferring with surgeon.
- Maintained aseptic techniques throughout surgery to prevent infection or contamination.
- Performed surgical counts for sponges, needles, and instruments before and after procedures.
- Attended professional development workshops to stay current on new advancements in field of surgical assisting.
- Operated specialized equipment such as electrocautery devices under guidance of supervising surgeon.
- Assisted surgeons during various surgical procedures, ensuring patient safety and sterile environment.
- Mentored new surgical assistants through shadowing experiences and hands-on training opportunities.
Certified Surgical Technician
The Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
09.2009 - 11.2012
- As an employee at MUSC, I had the opportunity to learn and experience the many advancements in today's medical field
- I primarily worked within the plastics and reconstructive services
- I was a team lead for the plastics service specializing in head and neck cancer performing vascular surgery and free flaps
- At MUSC, I also received a certification as a 'Trauma Specialist', my true love of the OR
- I was also introduced at this time to robotic surgery which has been my passion for over twelve years.
- Passed instruments and sponges to nurses and physicians during surgeries.
- Consulted with physicians regarding patient care plans before surgeries commenced.
- Anticipated needs of surgeons during surgeries, enabling smooth and effective processes.
- Cleaned rooms following procedures and restocked supplies and materials.
- Provided technical assistance to surgeons, nurses, and other medical staff as needed during surgery.
- Transported patients to and from operating room, ensuring their comfort and safety.
- Prepared operating rooms by setting up surgical instruments and equipment according to requirements.
- Assisted with training new Surgical Technicians on department policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Scrubbed in properly for all procedures and assisted staff with gown and glove placement.
- Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to maintain clean, organized operating room environment.
- Set up and maintained sterile field and proper aseptic techniques throughout procedures.
Certified Surgical Technician
The Atrium Plastic Surgery Center, Centennial Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee
08.2005 - 08.2009
- The Atrium Plastic Surgery Center specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery
- I served as a surgical technician, as well as, a surgical assistant
- During my time at The Atrium, I gained numerous skills such as preparing patients for surgery, postoperative care, and suturing under the observation of board certified plastic surgeons
- Our cases ranged from breast augmentations, tummy tucks, face lifts, brow lifts (both open and endoscopic), breast reductions, upper and lower blepharoplastys rhinoplasty, full body lifts, liposuction, and gender reassignment surgery
- I gained vast knowledge in the plastic surgery field under the guidance of wonderful surgeons.
- Assisted surgeons with various surgical procedures, ensuring sterile and efficient environment.
- Assisted with training new Surgical Technicians on department policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Passed instruments and sponges to nurses and physicians during surgeries.
- Prepared surgical suite with appropriate supplies, tools and equipment.
- Kept current on industry trends through continuing education opportunities and professional development activities.
- Handled necessary instruments to surgeons during procedures in timely manner.
- Provided technical assistance to surgeons, nurses, and other medical staff as needed during surgery.
Certified Surgical Technician
Vanderbilt Medical Center - Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
Nashville, Tn
12.2001 - 08.2005
- Vanderbilt Medical Center provided a wonderful experience starting out in the surgical field where I was involved in every surgical specialty
- I was very fortunate to also do an internship at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in 2001 during my clinical rotation and was part of the opening and movement of the new Children's Hospital.
- Kept current on industry trends through continuing education opportunities and professional development activities.
- Vanderbilt was an excellent learning experience that shaped me into a very skilled and knowledgeable surgical technician
- I also became a team lead in the pediatric plastic surgery department working with Dr. Kevin Kelly assisting in craniofacial surgery in 2003
- I was also team lead for pediatric transplant surgeries.
- Assisted surgeons with various surgical procedures, ensuring sterile and efficient environment.
- Contributed to ongoing quality improvement initiatives within department or facility.
- Assisted with training new Surgical Technicians on department policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Participated in pre-and post-operative patient care activities such as wound dressing and specimen collection.
- Consulted with physicians regarding patient care plans before surgeries commenced.
Education
Certified Surgical First Assistant - Surgical Assisting
NBSTSA Program
New Springs, CO02-2014
Degree in Surgical Technology - undefined
Nashville State Community College
Nashville, TN08-2002
High School Diploma - undefined
Travelers Rest High School
Travelers Rest, SC01-1993
Skills
- Cultural Awareness
- Multitasking
- Self-Directed
- Problem Resolution
- Verbal Communication
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Flexible and adaptable
Certification
- Certified Surgical Assistant, 169230, 11/2024
- Certified Surgical Technologist, 111724, 11/2024
- CPR, BLS, and PALS certified, 2024
Timeline
Travel CSFA
Health Carousel - Mission Hospital
03.2025 - 02.2026
CST And CSFA Travel
Prisma Greenville
03.2024 - Current
Travel CSFA Through Aya Healthcare
Anmed
11.2023 - 03.2024
Travel CSFA Through Aya Healthcare
Spartanburg Regional
08.2023 - 11.2023
Travel CSFA With Aya Healthcare
Prisma Richland
08.2021 - 08.2023
Certified Surgical Assistant
Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group (PREG)
12.2017 - 02.2021
Certified Surgical Assistant
Bon Secour Saint Francis, Eastside Campus
11.2012 - 12.2017
Certified Surgical Technician
The Medical University of South Carolina
09.2009 - 11.2012
Certified Surgical Technician
The Atrium Plastic Surgery Center, Centennial Medical Center
08.2005 - 08.2009
Certified Surgical Technician
Vanderbilt Medical Center - Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
12.2001 - 08.2005
Degree in Surgical Technology - undefined
Nashville State Community College
High School Diploma - undefined
Travelers Rest High School
Certified Surgical First Assistant - Surgical Assisting
NBSTSA Program