CFCC Grad Begins Career in the Operating Room

Jubenal Ramos just graduated from Cape Fear Community College’s Surgical Technology program and is preparing to begin his career at McLeod Seacoast Hospital in Little River, South Carolina.

But getting there took persistence both inside and outside the classroom.

After graduating from Heide Trask Senior High School in 2019, Ramos attended a university for a year. Then the pandemic hit, and his plans changed.

“I started working as a cashier at an independent pharmacy,” Ramos shared. “That’s where my interest in the medical field really began.”

Ramos now works as a pharmacy technician at Novant Health, but said surgery had interested him long before he ever entered the program.

“It’s kind of something I’ve always thought about as a child,” he said. “Surgery is cool, and I’ve always talked about it. It’s funny now, looking back, that I’m actually here in the operating room.”

Staying the Course

While adjusting to the demands of the program, Ramos also faced a major personal challenge when his mother suffered a stroke last year.

“It was a very, very challenging time,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to make it through the program.”

As an only child living at home with his mother, Ramos was suddenly balancing school, work, and helping care for her during her recovery.

He credits his family and the support of CFCC’s faculty and staff for helping him through that time. Today, he says his mother is doing well and was able to watch him graduate.

“I thank God she’s here,” he said. “I am very grateful she was able to watch me graduate.”

Clinicals That Hit Close to Home

One experience during clinicals especially stayed with him.

During a craniotomy procedure, Ramos assisted in the surgery of a patient who had previously suffered a stroke and needed part of her skull replaced after brain swelling.

“The patient pretty much went through the same thing as my mom,” he said.

Even with the emotional connection, Ramos said moments like that reminded him why he wanted to work in surgery.

“You’re just so focused on what we’re doing right now to help the patient,” he said. “When we finished the surgery, and she woke up, it was a very rewarding feeling because you know she’s going to be better now.”

After completing rotations at six clinical sites, Ramos accepted a job with McLeod Seacoast Hospital after connecting with the environment and staff there during clinicals.

As Ramos begins his career in surgical technology, he says he is focused on building his future while also spending time with the person who supported him most throughout the journey.

“My plan now is to work and help as many patients as I can, but still enjoy life, travel as much as I can and treat my mom,” he said.

To learn more about CFCC’s Surgical Technology program, visit cfcc.edu/surgical-technology.