Curriculum
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time spent in the classroom
time spent in the lab
time spent in clinical settings
Trainee experiences
Trainees in the program learn in the lab, the classroom, and the clinic.
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SFA 2100 | Applied Surgical Anatomy | 3 |
| SFA 2200 | Clinical Surgical Practice I | 4 |
| SFA 2300 | Clinical Surgical Practice II | 4 |
| SFA 2500 | Bridge Surgical Rotation: Clinical I | 4 |
| SFA 2600 | Bridge Surgical Rotation: Clinical II | 4 |
| SFA 2700 | Bridge Surgical Rotation: Clinical III/IV | 1 |
| SFA 2900 | Advanced Topics of Surgical First Assisting | 4 |
Hands-on clinical rotations
The clinical rotations offered as part of the Surgical First Assistant Bridge Program require experience in a minimum of 140 cases and include these surgical areas:
- General
- Orthopedics
- Neurosurgery
- Trauma
- Gynecology
- Urology
- Plastics
- Ambulatory
- Robotics
- Vascular
- Cardiothoracic
Clinical rotations will primarily be conducted at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, with options in the Mayo Clinic Health System sites. These rural facilities are all located within 70 miles of Rochester and have on-site parking for incoming learners.
Hours
Hours will vary depending on phase of the program. Didactic will incorporate online coursework with an in-person lab once a week. Online coursework plus in-person lab day will not exceed 20 hours per week. Clinicals will be worked into individual schedules.
Outside work
This program is designed to allow learners to work while attending the program.
Grading and evaluation
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences uses these evaluative tools: online quizzes and examinations, online self-assessment exercises, lab and clinical activities, investigative projects and assignments, competency assessment and demonstration of skills, faculty reviews, and affective-behavior evaluation.
Mayo's system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance. This allows faculty and administrative staff to direct students who are experiencing academic difficulty to the appropriate support resources, including tutoring programs and counseling opportunities. A competency-based evaluation system is used to assess clinical performance.
Graduation and certification
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a certificate of completion from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. The program requires a grade of 70 percent or greater to pass a course. All courses and clinical work must be completed consecutively; deviation from scheduled coursework is not permitted.
During the last course of the program, you are required to take national certification exams:
- Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) offered through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
- Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) exam from the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA)