MATC Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Program

05/23/2025

I spy 👀 some Invasive CVT graduates!
Congratulations class of 2025!!!!

This group will do amazing things and we wish them all the best

04/07/2025

🌟🚨STUDENT OF THE WEEK 🚨🌟

Introducing: Sabrina Samitz-Mabry

❓ Tell us a bit about yourself.
🌟 I grew up in a family of seven so life has always been hectic. I love traveling, trying new things (food, new places, etc.) & going to concerts! I travelled to the Grand Canyon back in 2022 and it was breathtakingly beautiful! I also love to laugh because life can be too serious sometimes!

❓What were you doing before starting the Invasive CVT program?
🌟 Before the Invasive CVT program, I switched majors 3 times (Marine Biology, Psychology, Echo) and took a gap year in between before I stumbled upon this program! I was working at a Sally Beauty Supply store and then ended up getting a job at a plasma center for entry level healthcare experience!

❓What led you to apply for the Invasive CVT program?
🌟 The heart has always fascinated me. At first, I was leaning toward the Echo program, thinking that was what I wanted to do. We were introduced to the Invasive CVT during one of our EKG classes and when I didn’t get into the Echo program, I knew it was because I was supposed to be in the Invasive program!

❓Where are you currently doing clinical?
🌟 Currently I am at Froedtert Menomonee Falls for my final clinical rotation! I’m having so much fun and learning A LOT!

❓What do you enjoy most about working in the Cath Lab?
🌟 I enjoy seeing the teamwork aspect when working in the cath lab. Everybody has a role and all those individual roles come together to create the team! I also enjoy all the exposure I’ve been getting from the other roles a CVT performs in the cath lab, such as panning and monitoring 🙂

❓What has been the biggest surprise that you've encountered during your clinical rotations?
🌟The biggest surprise I’ve encountered during my clinical rotations would either be putting everything we’ve learned in class together or how similar yet different each cath lab can be. During my fall clinicals, I was able to put all the skills we’ve learned together by scrubbing in for the first time, but it took a lot longer for me to get the hang of it than I thought. I do however love seeing how cath labs differ and how I’ve been able to take something I’ve learned from all three of my sites with me.

❓What's your favorite kind of procedure to be involved in?
🌟 I love being apart of PCIs! Depending on the situation you’re dealing with, the procedure can take an hour or 3+ hours! You get to bounce off solution with the physician and it showcases that teamwork aspect I love. I love seeing the end result, knowing that I helped save someone’s life.

❓What kinds of things do you like to do during your spare time?
🌟 During my spare time, I love to read! Currently I am reading “Better Than The Movies” by Lynn Painter. My favorite book currently is “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros. When I’m not reading, I’m hanging out with my friends or family, usually trying new things or going to a concert haha.

❓What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
🌟I’m looking forward to jumping into a new career and getting to focus solely on my growth in the CVT role. It feels like I’m entering a new chapter in my life and I can’t wait to see what’s in store.

03/10/2025

🌟🚨STUDENT OF THE WEEK! 🚨🌟

Introducing: Mechele Okrent-Simonis

❓Tell us a bit about yourself.
🌟I enjoy animals, motorcycles, classic cars, sports, music, history, and crocheting. I have four dogs, three cats, four sugar gliders, two fish, and a leopard gecko. My favorite color is pink. I ride a 2009 Harley-Davidson Nightster which is black with pink flames. My favorite sports are football (Packers and Saints), basketball (Bucks), and baseball (Brewers). I listen to pretty much any type of music. My favorite place to travel is New Orleans.

❓What were you doing before starting the Invasive CVT program?
🌟Prior to the Invasive CVT program, I worked selling first aid supplies, PPE, and AEDs to businesses to meet ANSI OSHA standards. I worked there for almost 10 years until I left to work nights as a telemetry tech.

❓What led you to apply for the Invasive CVT program?
🌟 When I was 18, I had an echocardiogram done and found out I have a PFO. It piqued my interest in the cardiovascular system. In my early 20’s, I decided to go to school to become an echo tech but had to stop due to personal reasons. After about 15 or so years of consistently thinking about going back to college to finish, I finally did so and am one semester away from graduating. Except I made the switch from echo to CVT because it interested me more.

❓Where are you currently doing clinical?
🌟Currently, I am an Aurora Kenosha Medical Center. I was at Ascension Elmbrook for my summer and fall clincals.

❓What do you enjoy most about working in the Cath Lab?
🌟It’s not boring! It’s very hands-on and the patients are sedated and sometimes say hilarious things. The best part is performing minimally invasive surgeries.

❓What has been the biggest surprise that you've encountered during your clinical rotations?
🌟The biggest surprise is that everyone does everything differently, but each way is correct.

❓What's your favorite kind of procedure to be involved in?
🌟My favorite procedure so far is any left heart cath, especially if it leads to intervention. I would like to be a part of a PFO closure at some point.

❓What kinds of things do you like to do during your spare time?
🌟In my spare time, I am usually playing with my dogs, crocheting, working, sleeping, or on a motorcycle (weather dependent).

❓What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
🌟After graduation, I am looking forward to getting a job in a cath lab and traveling more again. I am planning on taking my husband on an Alaskan cruise for all the support he’s given me through this process.

01/28/2025

🌟🚨 STUDENT OF THE WEEK! 🚨🌟

Introducing: Jonah Brahm

❓Tell us a bit about yourself:
🌟I am 20 years old and a huge Buffalo Bills fan. I grew up in the Milwaukee area, and I love living here.

❓What were you doing before starting the Invasive CVT program?
🌟I joined the CVT program one year after graduating from high school. During that time, I was working at Meijer.

❓What led you to apply for the Invasive CVT program?
🌟I have always been fascinated by the heart and how it keeps our bodies functioning. I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, particularly with the heart, so when some of my family members suggested this program, I looked into it and found it was a perfect fit—and I love it.

❓Where are you currently doing clinical?
🌟For my summer clinicals, I was at Froedtert Main Campus. For my fall and spring semesters, I have been at St. Luke’s Medical Center.

❓What do you enjoy most about working in the Cath Lab?
🌟What I enjoy most is the ability to save lives. Many people think you need to do something big to help others, but the work we do in the Cath Lab is equally important and impactful.

❓What has been the biggest surprise that you’ve encountered during your clinical rotations?
🌟The biggest surprise has been seeing how quickly we can move through cases and how efficiently we can get a balloon into a vessel during an intervention.

❓What’s your favorite kind of procedure to be involved in?
🌟My favorite type of procedure is a right heart cath because of the amount of information we can gather about how the patient’s heart is functioning. I think it’s fascinating how we can identify problems just by analyzing a few numbers.

❓What kinds of things do you like to do during your spare time?
🌟In my spare time, I enjoy watching sports like football, baseball, basketball, and WWE. I also love golfing with my friends at Lux Golf or on different courses. Additionally, I enjoy playing a variety of video games on my Xbox.

❓What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
🌟After graduation, I’m most excited about starting my first major career and building a life of my own.

01/21/2025

🚨 NO CLASSES (or clinical) TOMORROW! 🚨

Please stay warm

🚨 WEATHER UPDATE 🚨

Our campuses are closed Tuesday, January 21 due to weather. Online, online-virtual, blended and hybrid classes continue. No other classes will be held and no services will be available due to weather. Stay safe, Stormers!

10/01/2024

Students had fun today learning the intricacies of snaring foreign objects!

09/13/2024

🚨 Exciting News! 🚨

The petition window is now OPEN!
Submit your petition today to join the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program and begin your career in Interventional Cardiology and/or Electrophysiology saving lives!
🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀

The petitioning window will remain open through September 30 and acceptance emails will be sent in late October.

Classes begin in January.

Enroll in MATC's invasive cardiovascular technology program to become a cardiac catheterization technologist.

06/24/2024

🚨 ATTENTION 2023 GRADUATES!!! 🚨
Please check your email for some very important surveys!

06/20/2024

I 👀 some MATC graduates!!!!

05/16/2024

🎓INTRODUCING THE CLASS OF 2024 🎓

On Sunday, our students will cross the stage as graduates of the Invasive CVT program!

This group has received high praise from their clinical sites and provided valuable mentorship to the junior class.

We have no doubt they will do great things!

Pictured (left to right): William Guillen, Mya Savage, Kelly Richards, Leena Mahmoud, Sheri Scott, Julie Luczak

05/02/2024

🌟🚨 STUDENT OF THE WEEK! 🚨🌟

Introducing: Kelly Richards (pictured left)

❓Tell us about yourself
⭐️I was born and raised in Chicago and have been in Milwaukee for the past seven years. I have three sisters and two cats 🙂
❓What were you doing before starting the CVT Program?
⭐️Before the CVT program, I went to the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee where I got a bachelors degree in Kinesiology. I originally wanted to do physical therapy but decided last minute I didn’t want to pursue that route. I took a year off working as a personal trainer and an anesthesia tech and eventually found the CVT program at MATC and was really interested.

❓What led you to apply for the Invasive CVT Program?
⭐️I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, I just wasn’t certain what that was for awhile. While I was looking online at different schools and majors, I came across the CVT program at MATC and it sounded really interesting to me so I decided to apply. I liked the idea of only having to go to school for 1.5 years!

❓What do you enjoy most about working in the Cath Lab?
⭐️What I enjoy the most about being in the cath lab is how many unique cases I get to see everyday. You never know what you’re going to see or find and I’m always learning something new.

❓What has been the biggest surprise that you’ve encountered during your clinical rotations?
⭐️I think the biggest surprise that I encountered was how different every patients anatomy is and that you never know what you’re going to find once the case gets started.

❓What’s your favorite kind of procedure to be involved in?
⭐️My favorite kind of procedure to be involved in would be a PCI. I like being able to help put stents in and being able to see instant results. It’s always nice to see how much it helps the patient too.

❓What kinds of things do you like to do during your spare time?
⭐️During my spare time I like to workout, travel, read, go to concerts, and hangout with my family and friends.

❓What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
⭐️
What I’n looking forward to the most after graduation is taking a few weeks off and traveling ☺️

05/01/2024

👀👀👀
I spy….some CVT Students!