Jackson and Josephine counties (Feb 23, 2026) — One year after announcing a new Surgical Technology partnership to meet critical healthcare workforce needs in Southern Oregon, Rogue Community College (RCC), Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) and Providence Medford Medical Center are reporting strong early success and preparing to welcome a new cohort this fall.
The program, announced in 2025, brought an accredited Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology to Southern Oregon for the first time. Through the partnership, students complete prerequisite coursework at RCC before applying to the competitive surgical technology cohort. Once admitted, students complete online didactic instruction delivered by LBCC while participating in in-person labs at RCC and hands-on clinical training at Providence Medford Medical Center.
The inaugural cohort filled before last year’s deadline, underscoring significant community demand for local healthcare training. Students are now completing their first year, gaining experience through simulated surgical labs and immersive operating room clinical rotations.
“This program continues to demonstrate how powerful regional collaboration can be,” said RCC’s Dean of Health and Public Service Rusty Riis. “By working closely with our education and healthcare partners, we’re reducing barriers for students, expanding access to high-quality training and strengthening the healthcare workforce right here in Southern Oregon.”
Before applying, students must complete required prerequisite courses, which may include anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, writing, math and other foundational health sciences coursework. These courses are offered through RCC and are designed to prepare students for the rigor of the surgical technology curriculum.
Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort will open online May 18, 2026, at 9 a.m. and close June 18, 2026, at 4 p.m. Due to the program’s competitive nature and strong early interest, prospective students are encouraged to complete prerequisite coursework in advance and apply early within the application window.
For many students, the ability to train locally has been transformative.
“The partnership brings a real career pathway to people in Southern Oregon who couldn’t relocate for a program like this,” said Carl Nelson, a member of the inaugural cohort. “The faculty have been incredible; the more you invest in the program, the more you get out of it. It opens real doors at medical facilities in the area, and I think I can speak for my fellow students when I say it’s been an incredibly fruitful experience for all of us.”
Providence Medford Medical Center leaders say the program is already strengthening the local healthcare workforce pipeline.
“We are thrilled to see this program take hold in Southern Oregon,” said Providence Medford Medical Center RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Kate Kitchell. “Before this partnership, there was no local pipeline for surgical technologists. This collaboration allows us to grow our own workforce while maintaining the high standards of care our community expects.”
Graduates of the program are prepared to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam and enter a field with strong regional and national demand. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
“This partnership shows what’s possible when institutions work together toward a shared goal,” said LBCC’s Dean of Healthcare Division Rick Goranflo. “By leveraging each partner’s strengths, we’re able to respond quickly to workforce needs without duplicating resources.”
More information about prerequisites and the application process is available at www.roguecc.edu/SurgicalTech.
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Photo courtesy of Linn-Benton Community College: 2025–26 RCC, LBCC and Providence Medford Medical Center Surgical Technology cohort.