Introducing your Board of Directors
Our Board is made up of
1 President, 1 Vice President
1 Treasurer, 1 Secretary
5 Board Members
President
Jessica Brueggen, CST, FAST
Jessica has been a surgical technologist since 2007. She has worked at a level 2 trauma center till 2013 and an outpatient surgery center since. She has served on the WI AST Board for 6 years and on the CO/WY AST board since 2018. When she is not at work you can find her out hiking one of Colorado's many fine trails, paddleboarding on one of the beautiful lakes, or camping under the vast star-filled sky.
Vice President
Ryan Merchen, CST
Bio and photo coming soon!
Treasurer
Antoinette Trujillo, CST, CRCST
Antoinette is the Program Director of the Surgical Technology Program at Pikes Peak State College. Her journey, rooted in a disciplined military background with the Air Force, has been instrumental in shaping her approach to surgical technology. Antoinette's favorite specialty is orthopedics, a discipline where her skills and passion intertwine seamlessly. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BS), along with certifications as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), reflecting her deep commitment to her profession. Beyond her professional pursuits, Antoinette is passionate about teaching and fostering the next generation of professionals. Her personal interests include a love for reading and being an active part of a baseball family, where she enjoys spending quality time in her spare moments. Her multifaceted personality and diverse interests add depth to her role as an educator and mentor in the world of surgical technology.
Secretary
Julie Beard, CST
Julie loves her career at Denver Health as a Chief Surgical Technologist- currently in the Outpatient Surgery Center. Overall she's spent 18 years at DH, most of those in the main operating room as C-CST of multiple service lines. She recently completed an online course in medical coding and am working to become a certified medical coder in 2023. Born in Wyoming, raised in Colorado, married to Doug, loves camping, swimming, showing her horses, reading and have a passion for learning.
Board of Directors
Patty Lincoln, CST
Patty has been a CST for over 20 yrs. She is very passionate about our profession and doing what is best for our patients. She has been involved in state assemblies in ID, and serving as a Board of Director in MT and CO. She served in the US Air Force/ANG for 20 years. She has been on the education side of our profession since 2014, working as an instructor, clinical coordinator, and program director. Moved to CO in 2019 to be closer to family. She enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking and painting. Currently working as a clinical coordinator in Denver area, enjoying visiting all the many hospitals, overseeing students and watching them mature into great CSTs!
Board of Directors
Tara Christensen , CST
Tara has been a CST for 3 years and has 3 children, all born and raised here in Southern Colorado, and a wonderful husband of 12 years. She pursued her degree in surgical technology at Pueblo Community College, graduating in 2019. Her first job upon graduation was at St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs and now has the privilege to extend her acquired knowledge at Penrose Hospital. Tara likes to stay well rounded in the OR with all specialties including Robotics, however her main focus has been Neuro and Ortho including Ortho Trauma. She loves to go to work and feeling like she made a difference at the end of the day. Tara has also recently been accepted to San Jaun College of New Mexico for Surgical Assisting beginning August 2022.
Board of Directors
Stacey Pasco
Stacey Pasco, a Colorado native, has been a dedicated Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) for 15 years, working with SCL/Intermountain Health. She is currently based at Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton, where her expertise is primarily focused on ortho spine. In her impressive career, Stacey has previously led her department in Gynecology and Ophthalmology. Her academic journey culminated in 2008 when she graduated from Concord Career College, a milestone marked by her induction into the National Honor Society for the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). Stacey is enthusiastic about deepening her understanding of board operations and is committed to making significant contributions to the AST.
Board of Directors
Dawn O'Neill
Bio coming soon!
Board of Directors
Mandie Moeller
Bio coming soon!
Introducing your Board of Directors
Our Board is made up of
1 President, 1 Vice President
1 Treasurer, 1 Secretary
5 Board Members
President
Jessica Brueggen, CST, FAST
Jessica has been a surgical technologist since 2007. She has worked at a level 2 trauma center till 2013 and an outpatient surgery center since. She has served on the WI AST Board for 6 years and on the CO/WY AST board since 2018. When she is not at work you can find her out hiking one of Colorado's many fine trails, kayaking in one of the beautiful lakes, or camping under the vast star-filled sky.
Board of Directors
Patty Lincoln, CST
Patty has been a CST for over 20 yrs. She is very passionate about our profession and doing what is best for our patients. She has been involved in state assemblies in ID, and serving as a Board of Director in MT and CO. She served in the US Air Force/ANG for 20 years. She has been on the education side of our profession since 2014, working as an instructor, clinical coordinator, and program director. Moved to CO in 2019 to be closer to family. She enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking and painting. Currently working as a clinical coordinator in Denver area, enjoying visiting all the many hospitals, overseeing students and watching them mature into great CSTs!
Board of Directors
Tara Christensen , CST
Tara has been a CST for 3 years and has 3 children, all born and raised here in Southern Colorado, and a wonderful husband of 12 years. She pursued her degree in surgical technology at Pueblo Community College, graduating in 2019. Her first job upon graduation was at St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs and now has the privilege to extend her acquired knowledge at Penrose Hospital. Tara likes to stay well rounded in the OR with all specialties including Robotics, however her main focus has been Neuro and Ortho including Ortho Trauma. She loves to go to work and feeling like she made a difference at the end of the day. Tara has also recently been accepted to San Jaun College of New Mexico for Surgical Assisting beginning August 2022.
Secretary
Julie Beard, CST
Julie loves her career at Denver Health as a Chief Surgical Technologist- currently in the Outpatient Surgery Center. Overall she's spent 18 years at DH, most of those in the main operating room as C-CST of multiple service lines. She recently completed an online course in medical coding and am working to become a certified medical coder in 2023. Born in Wyoming, raised in Colorado, married to Doug, loves camping, swimming, showing her horses, reading and have a passion for learning.
Vice President
Ryan Merchen, CST
Bio and photo coming soon!
Treasurer
Antoinette Trujillo
Bio and photo coming soom
Dawn O'Neill
BOD
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Mandie Moeller
BOD
Job title or function
Stacey Pasco
BOD
Job title or function
Board of Directors Roles and Responsibilities
Diversity should be made a priority to bring new perspective, backgrounds, and experiences to your board. The composition of a board should reflect a diversity of thought, backgrounds, skills, experiences, and expertise that, collectively, enable the board to perform effectively, The State Assembly Board of Directors shall consist of the executive officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five other elected Directors. [Proviso: State Assemblies with 250 active members or less shall elect the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and one Director in odd-numbered years and shall elect the Secretary and two Directors in even-numbered years.]