Sailor Finds Dream Job in O.R.
Surgical technologist now helps save children’s lives at Inova Health System
by Matthew Pavelek

As a kid, Victor Sarmiento watched surgeons in movies and on TV and wanted to help people when he grew up. Sarmiento enlisted in the Navy after high school to pursue the skills and education he needed to land his dream job.

But Sarmiento still wasn’t sure which career path was right for him. He was offered numerous options for his military occupational specialty, including X-ray technician, pharmacy technician or surgical technologist. Although he didn’t know exactly what a surgical technologist was, he was intrigued by the prospect of working with a surgical team.

“I thought surgery was really cool and interesting,” Sarmiento said. “I had watched TV shows and was always interested and I thought, ‘if the military is willing to offer me the schooling to do this, then maybe I’ll look into it.’ I thought, ‘Wow, how cool would it be to work in medicine and especially surgery?’ And I did. I’m thankful to the service for giving me that training and that experience.”

Surgical technologists, also called scrubs and surgical or operating room technicians, help prepare the operating room and get patients ready for surgery. They observe patients’ vital signs during surgery, pass instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgeons’ assistants, and may operate sterilizers, lights, or suction machines, as well as help operate diagnostic equipment.

The Satisfaction of Saving Lives
Sarmiento served in the Navy from 1997 to 2002, leaving with the rank of petty officer third class. He leveraged his skills and training to land his civilian job as a certified surgical technologist for Inova Health System, based in Falls Church, Va., where he works in the Cardiovascular Operating Rooms (CVOR).

Sarmiento said infants and young children who were born with congenital heart problems comprise the bulk of the patients seen by the surgeons in the CVOR. He and the CVOR team work to mend these patients, giving them a better shot at a long, rewarding life.

“I love my job,” he emphasized. “It makes me feel good to know that I’m helping the surgeons to give these people a better life. It’s really rewarding to see some of the babies years later when they are 2 or 3 years old and they are running around and being happy. It’s so good to see that we have the capabilities and the technology to do these kinds of amazing things.”

Smooth Sailing
Sarmiento said his military experience placed him ahead of the pack of many other civilian job-seekers and eased the burden of his post-military career search.

“There were numerous opportunities for me out there,” he said. “At the time, I really felt that Inova offered me the best option and gave me a clear vision of what I could expect and what they expected of me.”

Sarmiento’s civilian job is similar in many ways to the work he did for the Navy. “The work is the same,” he said. “Surgery is still surgery. That aspect really hasn’t changed all that much.” But there are some significant differences. He said the overall organizational structure is much different at Inova. Plus, he doesn’t have to worry about uniforms.

He strongly recommends other veterans and those who are thinking about leaving the military consider a career in health care.

“I know things are a little different and the economy is tough right now, but anything in medicine – and especially in the field I’m in – there is work out there,” he said. “We are very hard to replace. It’s not like a robot or a computer can replace us. It’s a skill that can be taught.”

About the Organization
Daniel Nichols, director of system recruitment and human resources information systems for Inova, said military talent accounts for nearly 25 percent of the 16,000 strong work force. Nichols said Inova is currently recruiting for positions in three major c ategories: clinical, non-clinical and clinical support. While the majority of the openings are clinical in nature – nurses, therapists, medical technicians – the organization also needs to fill logistics positions, security, transportation, customer service, technology and financial positions. To check the available postings, visit www.inova.org/careers.

“Recently we have launched a new Military to Medicine program that initially provides entry-level training for military personnel interested in transitioning into health care jobs,” Nichols said. “For those with some health care background, we offer scholarships and will soon be offering online refresher courses to help address gaps between military experience and civilian certifications.”

Information about Military to Medicine can be found at www.militarytomedicine.org.