Jacob Schwartz
MATC helped Jacob Schwartz get on-the-job training toward becoming a surgical technologist with Froedtert Hospital
Deep down in his gut, Jacob Schwartz felt he’d end up working in healthcare one day. Schwartz’s interest in the field started at Greenfield High School, where he participated in a medical career club. He joined the U.S. Army in 2020 and trained to be a combat medic. He left the service after 10 months and returned to Wisconsin. In the fall of 2021, he enrolled at MATC and took several classes. Then he became interested in the college’s Surgical Technologist program.
“Those lingering feelings I had about healthcare never really went away,” Schwartz said.
At MATC, he learned the theory of surgical technology. He received practical experience at Froedtert Hospital thanks to a job placement program called JobUp Milwaukee, a work-education program that connected employers with MATC students interested in paid, on-the-job training in their field of study. Schwartz said he responded to an email about the program and the Froedtert placement. He attended classes two days a week and worked one day a week at Froedtert as a sterile processing technician. He disinfected, decontaminated, sterilized, and inspected surgical instruments, and put together trays of equipment for the upwards of 90 surgeries that Froedtert personnel perform each day.
“I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to dip my toes into the field,” Schwartz said. “This has been 100% valuable. It’s the kind of opportunity that has set me up for success. It has given me real-world experience, challenged me to balance work and classes, and taught me how to manage my time.”
He earned an associate degree in May 2024 and started working at Froedtert in June. Surgical technologists like Schwartz ensure operating room environments are sterile, that equipment functions properly, and that the procedures are conducted as safely as possible. He plans to continue his education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, studying either neuroscience or healthcare administration.
“My MATC classes have done a great job preparing me,” Schwartz said. “I feel confident in my abilities. MATC has been nothing but a positive experience for me. Getting this position at Froedtert was a long process and the college really went the extra mile for me.”
Discover careers in healthcare at matc.edu.