NMRTC Bethesda Celebrates Surgical Technologist Week

by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alec Kramer

BETHESDA, Md. — Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bethesda is recognizing Surgical Technologist Week by celebrating its Hospital Corpsmen assigned to the command and working in the Main Operating Room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

In the Navy, surgical technicians are Hospital Corpsmen who have completed additional specialized training for the operating room. This qualification is recognized through a Navy Enlisted Classification, or NEC, a designation that identifies specialized skills beyond a Sailor’s primary rating.

For the Hospital Corpsmen assigned to NMRTC Bethesda and supporting surgical care at Walter Reed, the specialty is an opportunity to grow as Sailors, support a unified surgical team and contribute directly to patient care.

Surgical Technologist Week provides an opportunity to recognize the behind-the-scenes professionals who prepare for each procedure, support their teammates and help create a safe, organized environment for patients throughout their surgical experience.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Shridat Parsuram, leading petty officer for NMRTC Bethesda’s Main Operating Room team at Walter Reed, said his path to becoming a surgical technician began with building a strong foundation in the Hospital Corps.

“My Navy career began as an E-1 Hospitalman, where I developed a strong foundation in the Hospital Corps and committed myself to learning the responsibilities of my rate,” Parsuram said. “That foundation led to the opportunity to serve alongside the Marine Corps, an experience that sharpened my professionalism, broadened my perspective, and remains among the most formative periods of my career.”

Inspired by those experiences and a continued commitment to professional growth, Parsuram pursued surgical technician training to expand his clinical knowledge and contribution to patient care.

For Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jonathan Landrum, enlisted clinical coordinator for NMRTC Bethesda’s Main Operating Room team at Walter Reed, serving as a surgical technician has provided meaningful opportunities for professional and personal development.

“Serving as a surgical technician at NMRTC Bethesda has challenged me in new and meaningful ways,” Landrum said. “Each experience has helped me become more adaptable, broaden my clinical skills, and grow into a more confident and capable leader.”

The preparation and teamwork involved in surgical care reinforce the importance of each technician’s role. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Andrew Banaszkiewicz, a surgical technologist assigned to NMRTC Bethesda and working in Walter Reed’s Main Operating Room, said the work gives purpose to the training required for the specialty.

“Seeing the surgical process come together reminds me that every hour devoted to training as a surgical technician has prepared me to make a meaningful difference,” Banaszkiewicz said. “It motivates me to bring my best each day, knowing that my knowledge, skill and commitment directly support the team and the patients who depend on us.”

The team’s commitment extends beyond individual procedures. Army Sgt. Jose Zamora, enlisted clinical coordinator for the Main Operating Room, said daily check-ins allow team members to discuss successes, challenges and concerns before beginning the next day.

“These conversations are more than a routine debrief, they ensure every team member feels heard and supported,” Zamora said.

Hospitalman Denero Knowles, a surgical technologist assigned to NMRTC Bethesda and working in Walter Reed’s Main Operating Room, said patients, colleagues and the Walter Reed community should understand that surgical care is a collective effort.

“I want our patients, colleagues and the Walter Reed community to know that our surgical care staff approaches every day as one unified team,” Knowles said. “From the moment we begin, we remain focused on providing safe, compassionate and patient-centered care, ensuring that every patient feels supported throughout their surgical experience.”

During Surgical Technologist Week, NMRTC Bethesda celebrates the surgical technicians assigned to its command for their professionalism, specialized expertise and commitment to the patients and teams they support at Walter Reed every day.

NMRTC Bethesda’s mission is to maximize warfighter performance through optimized medical readiness tailored to operational requirements; enhance the readiness of the medical force to sustain expeditionary medical capability; and train and develop the Navy Medicine Force.

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