ceo, chief academic director, pD & CC

Julie is the founder and CEO of SVSTI. She has successfully developed SVSTI from the ground up including but not limited to the logo, website, clinical relationships and curriculum. She is very passionate about the field and student success. She started the Sterile Processing & Surgical Technology Programs in hopes to bring the two departments together as a team. She is extremely passionate about educating students to be successful members of the medical community. She has over 2 decades in the field and almost a decade on the education side of the field. Her motto is "Stay hungry, stay humble". She enforces the standards and best practices to her students and has high expectations from them. She also ensures that her instructors are teaching the students to meet her expectations. Even with all the hats she wears she tries to find time to teach in the lab whenever she can. "Where there is a will there is a way". 

In Julie's free time she enjoys traveling to other Countries as well as going on medical mission trips. She is not only the owner but the Chief Academic Director, Program Director, Clinical Coordinator as well as an instructor. SVSTI was founded in 2018. 

Davina is the General Education Coordinator and Instructor at SVSTI. She has over 13 years in Education with experience as a General Education instructor, Program Director, Student Success Center Manager, and Campus Lead at Carrington College.  

Prior to this, Davina served as a Senior Contracts Compliance Analyst for Intel Corporation.  Davina has a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Devry University, and in Sociology from San Jose State University. She's been a wonderful addition to SVSTI.

Hi, my name is Mikayla Bassett CST and I’m excited to be working with SVSTI. I started my training back home in Texas in a Sterile Processing department where I became certified and started working as an SPD traveler. I traveled to several hospitals all over the country, but fell in love with the Bay Area when I got here and decided to stay. I worked for a total of 5 years in SPD up until the day I graduated the Surgical Technology program at Mt. Diablo Adult Education. I graduated with a certification from NBSTSA, and a full-time job where I currently work as a CST at Stanford’s Outpatient Surgery Center in Redwood City, specializing in orthopedics, sports medicine, hands and podiatry. I have a Sterile Processing certification with CBSPD, and am a member of The Association of Surgical Technologists. I’ve loved teaching new coworkers and students at all my past hospitals, and I’m so excited to continue to share what I’ve learned with the students of SVSTI. I truly believe SPD is the heart of the hospital, and having great team work between SPD and the operating room gives our patients the best possible outcomes. When I’m not working, you can find me at the gym, shopping at Target, or eating good food with friends.

Certified Surgical Technologist, Suzanne Duran joined SVSTI with 5 years experience in the field of Surgical Technology. Having experience in many areas, Suzanne’s specialties include GYN as well as Plastic and reconstructive Surgery. Suzanne entered healthcare with a passion to provide patients with the best possible care. Suzanne has a high regard for Surgical integrity and strongly believes that being part of the peri-operative team is a privilege that’s not to be taken lightly. Suzanne is passionate about sharing her experience with our students so that they may enter the field of surgical technology equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to not only be successful but to provide patients with the best care. This means, demonstrating excellent aseptic technique. After all, patients safety beings with the Surgical Technologist.
In Suzanne’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her Two Children, and takes time for herself to practice self-care by writing and painting. This can be a physically and mentally exhausting field to work in, self care is key to maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. 

Gina Little has over 5 years of surgical experience (scrubbing most specialties not including cardio vascular) Prior to teaching, Gina worked at the Stanford 300P Main Hospital and worked closely with Julie Hamrick at Carrington College of California in San Jose. Currently she is still an employee as a Certified Surgical Technologist III at Stanford’s Outpatient Surgical center in Redwood City where she specializes in Sports Med, Orthopedics, Minimally invasive Neuro spine, as well as surgical hand and foot. 

Gina is a graduate of the Carrington College of California Surgical Technology program she with a certification from NBSTSA and currently working towards her AS degree. She is certified as a CST and is a member of the Association of Surgical Technologists.

She has over 20 years experience in the OR. Currently working at Good Samaritan Hospital. She's been a Neuro coordinator for almost 10 years. She has been fully trained in all specialties. Marsha has taught with SVSTI previously and is back as a part time lab instructor. She also loves taking students into the OR with her whenever she gets the opportunity. We are excited to have her back on the team.