Kathy Cabai Receives ASATT 2016 Region 4 Educational Award

Kathy Cabai, Coordinator and Professor of the Surgical Assisting and Anesthesia Technology programs at College of DuPage, has received the 2016 Region 4 Educational Award from the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians.

ASATT annually presents the award in recognition of outstanding continued dedication in sponsoring, promoting and/or furthering education for anesthesia technicians and technologists. Because anesthesia technologists are now required to earn an associate's degree in order to sit for the national certification exam, College of DuPage launched the Anesthesia Technology degree program in 2015, the first in the state of Illinois.

The program then was only the third program of its kind in the country to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

"The new Anesthesia Technology program at College of DuPage provides high-quality training for future anesthesia technologists," Cabai said. "I am humbled by this recognition and thank both ASATT and the College for understanding the need to offer this degree."

The program trains students to assist licensed anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists in providing safe and quality care to surgical patients. Classes are delivered entirely online for the classroom component. Upon completion, students can sit for the CAAHEP National Certification Examination to become certified as an anesthesia technologist. COD also is developing a bridge program for certified anesthesia technicians wanting to become certified anesthesia technologists.

In addition to the ASATT award, Cabai was named College of DuPage's 2016 Overall Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year.

The Anesthesia Technology associate's degree program requires a separate admissions application in addition to the general COD application. For more information, call (630) 942-2259, email healthcareadvising@cod.edu or visit www.cod.edu/programs/anesthesia_technology.

College of DuPage is an accredited community college that serves more than 27,000 students each term. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, College of DuPage will host a series of on- and off-campus events throughout the year to highlight the institution's history and service to students and District 502 residents over the past half-century.

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