We continue our celebration of Anesthesia Tech Week with another spotlight on one of our outstanding anesthesia technicians: Mary Grace Kalon from UPMC East. Mary Grace’s commitment to patient safety and her support in the operating room make her a valued member of the anesthesia care team. Her work exemplifies the skill and dedication that define the profession and inspire others to pursue anesthesia technician roles in healthcare.
What inspired you to pursue a career as an anesthesia technician?
I always knew that I wanted to work in a healthcare field. What inspired me to pursue a career as an anesthesia technician was getting to perform hands-on technical work and help anesthesia staff with the critical care of patients.
How did your anesthesia tech program prepare you for the role, and what aspects of the training did you enjoy the most?
What prepared me the most was the hands-on clinical environment in lab. My instructor gave us simulations. What I enjoyed the most were clinical rotations, because they exposed me to all the different aspects of the anesthesia culture.
Can you describe your journey to becoming an anesthesia tech and how you found your way to your current position? What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field?
My journey to becoming an anesthesia tech was a little difficult, especially learning all the drugs and their alternative names. The whole time I was in class learning about the gas machines and other equipment, I sometimes felt like I couldn’t do this. There were so many things to learn about, but our anesthesia tech instructor Ms. Wendi helped me step out of my bubble. She helped me a lot during class and clinicals. I have to thank her for where I am at today. Also, the tech who I followed during my clinical rotations made me feel more confident working as a tech.
My advice for people wanting to enter the field is that this field is constantly evolving, so be prepared to learn new things every day. Take charge of your own education while in clinical rotations. If you want to help an anesthesiologist or a CRNA, just do it! Do not hesitate.
Develop good communication skills. As an anesthesia tech, you’ll have to communicate with your providers to help them with their patients, so being able to collaborate effectively with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and nurses will help you thrive in this role.
What do you enjoy most about working as an anesthesia technician at UPMC?
I enjoy everything about what I do as an anesthesia technician. I get to see awesome and sometimes intense surgical procedures. I got to hold a heart in plastic bag during my clinical rotation. I was completely stunned.
What skills do you think are most important to succeed in this field?
Critical thinking, taking initiative, multitasking, and communication.
Why did you decide to work at UPMC, and what stood out about the opportunity?
I did my first clinical rotation UPMC East while I was a student. They people made me feel welcome. I learned a lot from not just the anesthesia staff, but the OR staff as well. The anesthesia technicians here at UPMC East made me feel prepared for my other clinical rotations.
Outside of work, is there something interesting or unique about you that you'd like to share?
I play video games, and I when I have the time, my partner and I try to do some ballroom dancing.