Featured photo: Graduating student Jodi Davenport poses in the Health Sciences Center. (Photo by Emily Gill, Marketing and Communications Dept.)
Emily Gill
Marketing and Communications Dept.
Jodi Davenport’s interest in surgery began with the popular television show, Grey’s Anatomy.
“I never found it gross, though I see now that it’s a little unrealistic,” Davenport joked.
Unrealistic or not, it is one of the pieces that led her to where she is now: preparing to graduate with an associate degree in applied science with a certificate in surgical technology.
A much more important piece of her journey was caring for her aunt.
“I used to work as a preschool teacher. Then my aunt was in an accident and became paralyzed,” Davenport said. “It was really hard and our family cared for her until she passed. I felt like I had a void in my life, so I became a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and began working in a facility for mentally and physically handicapped adults. It was so fulfilling.”
Davenport worked as a CNA for a few years before deciding to take her career to the next level. She began studying full time at Blue Ridge in the spring of 2021, on top of working full-time and parenting. Despite a packed schedule, Davenport is proud of her decision to go back to school and become a Surgical Technologist.
“We are kind of a surgeon’s right hand,” she said. “We’re responsible for setting up their field to make sure they have the correct sterile instruments. During surgery, we pass the surgeon’s instruments and sometimes have to retract, cut sutures and dress the wound. It’s a lot more involved than I thought it would be, but it’s really awesome”
Davenport spoke highly of Blue Ridge’s program in both equipment and connections.
“We have a really great lab where we’ve gotten really good practice,” said Davenport. “I’ve had a lot of good clinical experiences through the affiliate hospital systems. We get to build relationships with those people, and then they want to hire you as soon as possible.”
In fact, Davenport is already working for Pardee and will complete her transition into her position after graduation.
“I’m so glad I decided to go back to school, especially to have the opportunity to change things, because I felt very stagnant in life. It’s a good way to show my kids that it’s never too late,” said Davenport. “No matter what you have going on in life you can absolutely go back to school.”
Learn more about the Associate Degree Surgical Technology program at www.blueridge.edu/healthcare.