Friends and family members, along with representatives from CareerSource NEFL and hospital personnel, all joined together at UF Health Flagler Hospital in November for a celebration for the second group of five surgical technologist apprentices to graduate from the program.
The 2025 graduates included Aubrey Brazeale, Lavarius Clark, Samantha Davison, Faith Green and Kathryn Hamling.
To meet the need for more surgical technologists, UF Health St. Johns coordinated with CareerSource NEFL to receive state approval and launch the first apprenticeship program for surgical technologists in Northeast Florida in 2022, graduating its first group in October 2023.
As with the first group, the five participants received classroom and on-the-job training over 12 months, with three of the apprentices already employed by UF Health at its hospitals in Saint Augustine and Jacksonville working in other areas before entering the program — all interested in moving into a new career. Apprentices did not need any required education above a high school diploma or GED and were considered full-time employees during training, receiving full benefits and pay increases as they learned new skills.
Surgical technologists prepare operating rooms and assist physicians during surgery. By establishing an apprenticeship program, participants earned money while they were in training and learned new skills, providing another method for the hospital to fill those needs in the future.
“It’s such a great program for these people who really need to continue to work and continue to provide for their families while they’re going through the program,” said Brandy Hopkins, manager of education services at UF Health St. Johns. “Two of the participants are single mothers, and one is a father who worked at our hospital in Jacksonville.”
The father, Lavarius Clark, was working as a pharmaceutical technician at UF Health Jacksonville and has already accepted a new position as a surgical technologist at UF Health Jacksonville.
“They all worked so hard and had an incredible work ethic, but I would have to say that I’m very impressed with Lavarius because he lived and worked in Jacksonville and would commute every day over the last year,” said Michelle Bejo, surgical services educator at UF Health St. Johns. “As with all the graduates, they continued to support their families while they doubled with both work and training over the entire year.”
Bejo said the five apprentices were selected among 150 applicants.
“This program also proved life-changing for each of them when it comes to their earning capability,” Bejo said. “Upon completion of the program, participants began earning up to 50 percent more per hour than when they began, so training they received will have a big impact on their earning potential as they move on in their careers.”
In addition to their full-time apprenticeship roles, the apprentices had to complete 2,150 hours in the program, with 2,000 hours involving hands-on experience in the operating room.
Bejo said they provide the apprenticeship program on “an as-needed basis,” so there are no immediate plans for a new cohort at UF Health St. Johns. However, based on its success, UF Health Jacksonville recently registered its own surgical technologist apprenticeship program.
UF Health St. Johns initially worked with CareerSource NEFL, which provided introductory information and case-managed the program through development and approval at the state level with the Florida Department of Education. CareerSource NEFL also secured funding to offset the cost of apprenticeship training. Bejo added that all of the apprentices from the first cohort in 2023 are still employed and working in their positions, giving the program a strong retention record.