Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment Podcast
Welcome to "Sterile Processing Empowerment Podcast, the podcast dedicated to elevating the field of sterile processing and surgical services! In an industry where precision and care intersect, we believe that knowledge is power. Our mission is to empower, encourage, and motivate every professional engaged in the transformative world of healthcare.
Join us each week as we delve into enlightening discussions that shine a light on best practices, emerging innovations, and the critical role sterile processing plays in patient safety. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting your journey, our panels and expert guests will provide invaluable insights through engaging conversations and real-world stories.
From the nuances of instrument handling to the latest in sterilization techniques, we cover it all. Expect thought-provoking interviews, educational segments, and motivating content designed to inspire you to elevate your craft. Together, let’s foster a community that champions excellence in surgical services and celebrates the unsung heroes of healthcare.
Tune in to where expertise meets passion, and every episode empowers you to make a difference in the operating room and beyond.
Episodes
48 episodes
Disrupting Sterile Processing: How Shantel Berwald Transforms SPD Culture
Shantel Berwald, a trailblazer in sterile processing leadership, shares her journey from surgical tech to SPD director and reveals how she's transforming department culture. Through personal experiences and practical insights, she demonstrates ...
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22:12
Skills with Jill: Beyond Reprocessing- Sustainable Approaches to Modern Endoscopy
What happens when a patient needs an urgent endoscopic procedure at 2 AM? The answer might surprise you – and it's changing healthcare delivery across the board.Christian Escobar, VP of Marketing at Ambu USA with 30 years of experience ...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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30:13
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Confronting Toxicity in Sterile Processing
Toxicity in the sterile processing workplace damages not just team morale but also impacts patient safety, retention, and outcomes. HSPA President Arlene Bush joins the podcast to share strategies for identifying and addressing toxic behaviors ...
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41:14
Skills with Jill: Single-Use Endoscopes & How They Are Revolutionizing Healthcare Workflows
Christian Escobar, VP of Marketing for Ambu US, brings three decades of endoscopy expertise to this eye-opening discussion about how single-use endoscopes are revolutionizing healthcare delivery across hospital departments.The conversat...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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28:26
Experience Over Education: Leading Without a Degree in SPD
Cliff Russell, operations leader with 27 years of experience, shares insights on turning chaos into clarity and redefining leadership qualifications beyond traditional credentials. His journey demonstrates how experience, process implementation...
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Season 2
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Episode 30
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27:57
Skills with Jill: Parent Hacks with Infection Preventionist Jill Holdsworth
Jill Holdsworth, a certified infection preventionist with 15 years of experience, shares practical advice for parents on managing household cleaning and disinfection during childhood illnesses while maintaining a balanced approach to germ expos...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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19:54
Transforming SPD Education: Beyond the Classroom with Renee Moran Folds
Sterile processing educators shape the future of healthcare by developing skilled technicians whose work directly impacts patient outcomes and safety, often in ways that go unseen and unrecognized.• Successful SPD students demonstrate s...
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27:26
Trapped or Trained: Why Your Mindset Matters in Sterile Processing
Mindset is everything in sterile processing, where the difference between fixed and growth perspectives determines your ability to thrive amidst complex challenges and high-pressure situations.• Growth mindset believes abilities improve...
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15:36
Skills with Jill: Bridging the Gap with Sterile Processing and Accredidation
The critical but often overlooked realm of sterile processing comes to light through expert insights on building effective partnerships with healthcare accreditation teams. Regulatory professional Amy Asleson shares her 17 years of experience n...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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23:22
Tough Love & Tough Topics: What SPD Students Really Need to Hear
Sterile processing veteran Tameka Jones shares unfiltered insights about what it really takes to succeed in SPD, going beyond classroom theory to prepare students for real-world excellence.• SPD work requires deep understanding of instr...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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22:24
Skills with Jill: From Bedside to Leadership - Building a Culture of Excellence in Sterile Processing with Diana Anderson
Curiosity drives quality in sterile processing. That's the fundamental message from Diana Anderson, an 18-year healthcare veteran who transformed her career from bedside nursing to sterile processing leadership by constantly asking "why?" ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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15:38
SPD: Your Secret Weapon for Device Success
What if the key to your medical device success isn't in the OR, but in the basement? The Sterilization Station podcast uncovers a powerful but overlooked influence on device outcomes - the relationship between sales representatives and Sterile ...
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32:35
AI Meets SPD: Transforming Instrument Management
Etay Gafni, founder of LayerJot, shares how AI technology is transforming sterile processing by supporting technicians with instrument identification and tray management solutions. His company's innovations help SPD teams work more efficiently ...
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Season 2
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32:24
Every Tray Tells a Story: Why There Are No Routine Days in Sterile Processing
In this episode of Sterilization Station, we challenge the dangerous mindset of “just another day” in sterile processing and uncover the deeper purpose behind every shift. Behind every tray, scope, and instrument is a real patient...
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14:41
From Ego to Echo: Building a Lasting Impression in Sterile Processing
Every day in sterile processing, we're writing our legacy not with ink or on resumes, but through how we make people feel and the impact we leave on others.• The difference between ego and legacy: ego seeks personal recognition while le...
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18:49
Surgical Tech Spotlight: From Operating Table to Classroom with Hailee Ellison
Surgical technologists ensure every instrument is sterile and ready when surgeons need them, serving as vital team members in the operating room while also training future professionals in this specialized healthcare field.• Discovery o...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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47:59
Organization and Consistency: The Twin Pillars of Sterile Processing
Sterile processing excellence is built on two powerful habits: organization and consistency, which directly impact workflow, team culture, and patient safety. Carol Malone joins us to explore how these fundamental traits form the foundation of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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52:48
From Student to Standout: Conquering Your First Sterile Processing Interview
Standing at the threshold of your sterile processing career, that first interview can feel like a daunting challenge. But what if you could transform those nerves into your greatest advantage?This episode of Sterilization Station is ded...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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10:57
From the Operating Room to Art Studio: A Surgical Technologist's Creative Journey
Candice Plasan navigates the precision-driven worlds of surgical technology and tattoo artistry, bringing passion and creativity to both realms while drawing surprising connections between them.• Candice's path to surgical technology wa...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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36:05
Fighting Burnout in Sterile Processing
Burnout in sterile processing is a silent epidemic affecting the healthcare heroes who ensure every surgical instrument is safe for patient use. What causes dedicated SPD professionals to reach their breaking point, and how can we create more s...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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38:53
25 Creative Ways To Land Your Sterile Processing Externship
The externship drought in sterile processing education creates a significant barrier for students who've completed their coursework but can't find clinical placements to finish certification. Bill Rishell offers 25 proven strategies to break th...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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26:06
The Power of Coaching in Sterile Processing
Sterile processing coaches provide essential support for SPD professionals navigating increasingly complex medical instruments and heightened patient safety standards in 2025. A coach serves as your guide through the journey from basic memoriza...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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14:05
Your Hands Matter: The Art of Assembly and Inspection in Sterile Processing
Cliff Russell from SterisIMS takes us through the "Y" in our CYCLE mini-series, focusing on "Your Hands Matter" - the critical assembly and inspection phase where precision becomes patient protection.• Assembly and inspection as the las...
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47:20
Surgical Guidelines to Soccer Goal Lines: Balancing Two Fields with John Huaco
John Huaco shares his journey as both a surgical technologist and soccer coach, revealing how passion, precision, and teamwork create success in both the operating room and on the field. His dual career path demonstrates that skills developed i...
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27:59
