Alumna Louise Vandiver Named to Lead Surgical Technology Department

CONTACT: LOUISE VANDIVER, EXT. 2225

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/4/2001
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Louise Vandiver sees her new position as Surgical Technology department head at Tri-County Technical College as a challenging opportunity that allows her to remain working in the field she loves.

Since graduating from the Surgical Technology program in 1974, Vandiver has worked as a certified surgical technician in the operating room at Anderson Area Medical Center (for 14 years) and at Bearwood Ambulatory Surgery Center in Anderson (for 12 years). "I fell in love with surgery the day I began the program," said Vandiver. "That's why I never moved on. It's my calling. It's a career that continues to be different and exciting. It's a challenge every day, especially with the new techniques. You have to learn something every day to keep up and to be accurate."

Vandiver was asked to teach part-time classes for the College years ago, but she had small children and declined. With her children grown, she says the time is right.

"Surgical Technology is a growing and demanding field. We can't produce enough graduates to fill the existing jobs. My goal is to have a 100 percent of my students to pass the certification exam and to have them prepared to work anywhere (doctor's offices, hospitals, clinic)," she said.

Vandiver, who has been filling in as department head since January, began full time for the summer term. "I really enjoy the students because I can identify with them. I've been there and have worked jobs with long hours while trying to maintain school and family responsibilities."

Vandiver is a member of the National Association for Surgical Technologists and the local Tri-County chapter. She also has served on the College's Surgical Technology Advisory Committee for years.

She has great respect for her former teacher/department head Margaret Thomas, who retired earlier this month. "I secured a job before I graduated back in 1974 because Mrs. Thomas taught me to be professional. The curriculum prepared me to work in both the hospital and the office setting," said Vandiver.

Vandiver lives in Anderson with her husband, George, and they have three children.
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