A Schoharie High School teenager has a job, a plan for the future and employability skills in a burgeoning industry thanks to Capital Region BOCES.
Senior Joseph Lawyer is in his second year of the Sterile Processing Technology program at Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School where he is learning the skills to prepare for careers in hospitals and other healthcare settings disinfecting surgical instruments.
As part of his training at BOCES, Lawyer has spent countless days at Albany Medical Center working hand-in-hand with sterile processing technicians preparing medical instruments. This recently led to a job offer at the hospital, said teacher Jeff Landry, who is also a former manager in the Sterile Processing Department.
“Besides being offered a job at Albany Med, I have also been accepted into (Hudson Valley Community College’s) radiologic technology program,” said Lawyer. “I am going to work at Albany Med in Sterile Processing while going to college at HVCC and that will help out a lot.”
Lawyer said he enjoys the camaraderie and the work.
“Sterile Processing program is fun. You are always up. You are always doing something. But it also has a great culture and you learn so much that translates into career skills,” he said.
Lawyer said his experiences at Albany Medical Center have been by far his favorite part of attending BOCES.
“At Albany Med you are learning what real life is about. It is something completely different than what you learn in a traditional classroom and it’s not only important, but it is fun,” he said.
Teacher Jeff Landry, a former supervisor in the Albany Medical Center Sterile Processing unit, said Lawyer is a “perfect fit” for Albany Medical Center.
“He is a good student willing to work hard and learn,” he said.
The two-year Sterile Processing Technician course is open to high school students in the Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Schoharie county region who send students to Capital Region BOCES. The program prepares students for careers on the front lines in the war against germs and is essential in keeping health care environments safe for patients.
Learn more about the Sterile Processing Technician program at https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/sterile-processing-technician/