AccredX 2026 Speakers
Chris Blevins, MBA, BS, AAS-ST, CST, FAST
We’re All in This Together: Strengthen Your Program Through Institutional and Community Support
Discover how to effectively harness the support of administration, sponsors, PACs, and Communities of Interest to improve the strength of your program and secure resources.
Ron Kruzel, MA, CAE, CST, FAST
ARC in Action: Update on Continuous Improvements to Support Programs
Join ARC/STSA staff as they share information on accreditation process improvements, outreach initiatives, collaboration with partners and expanded educational opportunities.
Melanie Graves, MBA, AAS, CST
Curriculum Mapping with Purpose: Aligning Objectives, Syllabi, and Student Success
Learn how to effectively connect curriculum standards to classroom instruction and clinical application while maintaining consistency across courses and instructors.
Matthew LaPorta, DO, FACS
Accreditation Advocacy With the ACS: American College of Surgeons Panel on the Value of Accredited Education
Learn about the Committee on Interprofessional Education and Practice’s current work and the ACS's efforts to advocate for surgical technologists and surgical assistants.
Mona Bourbonnais, MSc, BSEd, CST, FAST
Technical Standards, Accessibility and Accommodations: The What, Why and How
Examine reasonable accommodations in higher education and learn how to develop Essential Functions, Qualifications, and Technical Standards that support both student success and the entry-level requirements of surgical technology and surgical assisting careers.
Alicia Buck, MS, BAAS, CST
The Clinical Continuum: Bringing the Community and Classroom Together
Explore ways to build strategic alliances that support the community, the hospital, and your educational program.
Krista M. Vylasek, MHS, CST, FAST
Skills Are Just the Start: Professionalism & Accountability in the OR
Learn how to utilize different behavior-based tools to effectively prepare students for professionalism and accountability in the OR.
Kathie-Ann P. Joseph, MD, MPH, FACS
Accreditation Advocacy With the ACS: American College of Surgeons Panel on the Value of Accredited Education
Learn about the Committee on Interprofessional Education and Practice’s current work and the ACS's efforts to advocate for surgical technologists and surgical assistants.
Crystal Shea, BA, CST
Compliance Is a Byproduct. Culture Is the Work.
Explore how intentional relationship-building with internal and external constitutes can help create a program culture that produces continuous improvement and accreditation readiness.
Antoinette Trujillo-Fergus, MBA, CRCST, CST
ARC in Action: Update on Continuous Improvements to Support Programs
Join ARC/STSA staff as they share information on accreditation process improvements, outreach initiatives, collaboration with partners and expanded educational opportunities.
Jamey Watson, BAS, CST, FAST
The Clinical Continuum: Bringing the Community and Classroom Together
Delve into ways to develop strategic alliances to support the community, hospital, and your educational program.
Pre-Conference Workshop Speakers
Kristie Cole, EdD(c), M.Ed., BAS, CST, FAST
Paul Landsman, AAS, BAS, CST
Gabrielle Muzina, AS, CST
Christy Baily-Byers, MBA, APR
Ron Kruzel, MA, CAE, CST, FAST
Kristy Pierce, BS, CST
Jamey Watson, BAS, CST, FAST
Jerad Claytor, MSHE, CST
Shea Coleman, CST, BS, FAST
Alicia Buck, MS, BAAS, CST
Melanie Graves, MBA, AAS, CST
Roundtable Sessions
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Tiffany Howe, MBA, CSFA, CST, FAST
Learn how to strengthen partnerships and elevate the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) member role from annual participant to year-round advocate.
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Jerad Claytor, MSHE, CST & Trudy Riehl, BUS, CST, FAST
Learn how to develop a clear and effective response to findings letters, including a focused narrative, relevant documentation, and well-organized formatting with bookmarks.
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TC Parker, BS, CST, FAST
Join this roundtable discussion to develop and expand sterile processing pathways that strengthen the surgical technology pipeline.
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Amy Goracke, BS, LSFA, CSFA, CST, FAST
Assess key resources and strategies to develop and expand Surgical Assisting programs, including curriculum design, clinical partnerships, faculty development, and accreditation considerations, to support sustainable program growth.
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Jori Bottorff, AAS, CST
Join us for a practical roundtable on remediation strategies that build stronger, more confident test-takers, from test autopsies and dissecting question stems to speed drills, learning-style approaches, and game-based review. We’ll also tackle test anxiety and share test-taking strategies you can put to work with your students right away.
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Shea Coleman, BS, CST, FAST
Discuss program director responsibilities, tips for staying on top of deadlines and timeframes, and managing student outcomes.
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Heather Bieske, MHA-ED, CST & Rob Blackston, MET, CSFA, CST, FAST
AST updates and Q&A
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Robin Jenkins, CAE, ICE-CCP & Vanessa Rivera
NBSTSA updates and Q&A
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Amy Dykens, EdD
Preview features of our new Annual Reporting platform under development by Weave Education. This platform provides user-friendly walk-through guides and tool tips within the streamlined report, and a dashboard to highlight program data.
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Kristy Pierce, BS, CST
Preparing for a site visit? Learn the process, what is required, how to complete the new self-study report, how to upload documentation, and more.
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Erin Monroy
Explore tips and strategies for effectively tracking student achievement, ensuring compliance, and using data to drive program improvement.
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Ron Kruzel, MA, CAE, CST, FAST
Questions about program expansion, compliance, or new initiatives at the ARC/STSA? Meet with the Executive Director to discuss how the ARC/STSA can support your program.
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Christy Baily-Byers, MBA, APR
Explore diverse ways that innovative program designs can be applied to provide more flexibility for your students, including part-time and employee.
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Gabrielle Muzina AS, CST
Tips to track students’ clinical requirements and ensure case logs are aligned with the core curricula, Standards, and ARC/STSA policies.
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Gina Scarboro DBA, CAA
CAAHEP Updates and Q&A