Helga Olson, MA, MSc, CSA, CSFA, earned her Bachelor’s in Counseling Psychology and Master’s in Liberal Sciences from the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. She began her career in outpatient mental health services before returning to the classroom to obtain a degree in Surgical Assisting from Eastern Virginal Medical School in Norfolk, VA. Upon graduation from EVMS, she was hired at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, in the division of cardiovascular surgery. Olson continued her education and completed an additional Master’s in Clinical Anatomy from Northeast College of Health Sciences in Seneca Falls, NY.
Olson currently serves as the clinical coordinator and didactic instructor in the Surgical First Assistant Program at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Rochester, MN. She teaches in a variety of courses including operative techniques and procedures, clinical surgical practice I/II, advanced topics in surgery, and applied surgical anatomy. She has also participated in clinical research initiatives and resident training within the Department of Anatomy and Mayo College of Medicine.
Olson is an active member of the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA), currently serving as the executive board Vice President. She has been the chair of the NSAA Professional Development and Education Committee board for the past 8 years. Olson also served on ARC/STSA’s Subcommittee on Accreditation of Surgical Assisting (SASA) board from 2016-2022.