Nartey Defined by Service to Others

From her native West African country of Ghana to Nashville, Cecilia Nartey is leaving her mark through service to others and an optimistic attitude that challenges the sun’s brightness. 

To hear and meet Cecilia, you can’t help but smile. 

The Nashville State Surgical Technology program graduate recently spoke with the current cohort of students to share her story and offer words of encouragement. 

Cecilia’s mantra “Keep Going, Don’t Stop,” was the theme of the discussion she led.  

After graduating from Hillsboro High School in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, she was working in a healthcare environment and had ambitions to serve in a patient-facing role. Using a tuition reimbursement program offered by her employer, Cecilia set her eyes on getting an education at Nashville State.   

While juggling the life of a mom with two small children and working full time, Cecilia graduated and became a certified surgical technologist.  

“Nashville State prepared me in ways I didn’t realize while in school. It is the best place to be.”

Her love of helping others has been passed on to her children. Her oldest son, Charles, works as a Sterile Processing Technician at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, having graduated from Nashville State’s Central Sterile Processing Technology program in 2017. Her older son Gabriel is a former Nashville State student who is studying at TSU. 

Everyday at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Cecilia strives to make a difference through the quality of her work, the understanding that she is helping people during a vulnerable time and being a good colleague. 

But, her service doesn’t stop in Nashville. She is actively building and continuously raising funds for a surgical technology school back in Ghana. 

Cecilia’s care for others knows no bounds. We couldn’t be more proud of her. 

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