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 in one profession can significantly enhance performance in another, creating a positive feedback loop of continuous improvement.

• Found his calling as a surgical technologist after experiencing surgery as a patient
• Has dedicated 15 years to surgical technology, helping build his facility from the ground up
• Balances work at two different hospitals—one unionized, one non-unionized—with very different cultures
• Coaches multiple youth soccer teams as a volunteer, bringing the same dedication to the field as the OR
• Views patience and positive reinforcement as essential in both surgical mentoring and youth coaching
• Believes creating confidence is the foundation for success in both medical and athletic environments
• Emphasizes that finding joy in your work is crucial—"why be there if you're not going to have fun?"
• Defines success as staying "rich in happiness" rather than focusing solely on financial rewards
• Recommends maintaining discipline, proper sleep, and nutrition to balance multiple passions
• Advises those torn between different interests to "spread it out, give both some love"

Join us next time as we continue exploring the hidden heroes of healthcare and the diverse passions that drive excellence in our industry.

Transcript

Meet John Waco: Surgical Tech & Coach

Speaker 1 0:00

Welcome to the Sterilization Station, the podcast where precision meets passion. And today do we have a story that brings both life? Yes, it brings life. In the heart of every operating room is a team that keeps it running safely, and behind that team are people whose dedication often goes unseen. Well, today we shine the spotlight on one of those unsung heroes, john Waco. He's a surgical tech who doesn't just take pride in surgical technology, he lives it. And when he's not making sure instruments are ready for life-saving procedure, he's out on the soccer field showing that focus, teamwork and discipline that transcends the scrub room and the stadium. So why highlight someone like John? Because recognizing the people who make a hospital function isn't just good practice, it's essential. When we celebrate passion and purpose, we are inspiring excellence, and when employees feel seen, the whole system thrives.

Speaker 1 0:54

So today we explore how the mindset of a soccer player strengthens a surgical team, and how one man's passion for both has made him quite a powerhouse in the OR.

Speaker 2 1:04

Welcome to the show, john. Thank you, bill. Thank you, I'm glad to be here.

Speaker 1 1:08

Yeah, we're really glad to have you on today. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to been working with you for the past couple of years and it's been great. We've had some great conversation. We've had lots of laughs. Sorry, y'all, you couldn't be there to hear this, but John is a great, great coworker, someone that you enjoy being around, and he's quite the funny guy. He's going to make you laugh all day long. So this is great. So glad to have you on the show, john, and I'm looking forward to diving into today's episode. So, john, you've got two careers that demand total focus. What first drew you to both surgical tech? And then, you know, coaching and soccer.

Speaker 2 1:43

I actually like telling my surgical tech story. I myself have had a colectomy and I was a college graduate, divorced home with my parents.

Speaker 2 1:53

you know we're hitting rock bottom and my mom is like you're coming home with your hands dirty every day and you're a college graduate. Why do we put all this money? Just you can walk around. You need to go get training now and I'm like going into surgery. I'm like I'm supposed to have good vibes right now, but going in there, all I could think about was what am I going to do with myself after this?

Speaker 2 2:13

and rolling into the room there was a surgical tech ended up having a conversation with a surgical tech ended up knowing them and changing jokes, and I don't remember anything else except waking up, thinking I want to be a surgical tech, and once I set my mind to something in life, I do it. Now I'm a surgical tech and it's been 15 years. You're at my facility that I helped build from the ground up. I think it's been like 10, 11 years now that that building's been there and I remember from when they were placing every bolt in every place. I was getting to walk through there with those racks with all the instruments on it and me telling them that there's not enough storage, not enough room for central stereo.

Speaker 2 2:56

You know nobody listens to the little guy. But we made it work with what we have there and I'm glad we have someone like you because it needed to be organized, because it's a little you know little workshop that needs to do a lot.

Speaker 1 3:07

Yeah, no, that's so true. I appreciate the the kind words and I didn't even know that you were there from the beginning and and you were there when they were putting the bolts and saying, man, this place right here is so like that's not where I mapped that rack, they're all sorry bro, that's where it goes. How did I mean, how did? How did you get into soccer and what led you to coaching in soccer?

Speaker 2 3:27

My family Talking passion. You know my family, my dad has always been passionate about soccer, mainly my dad. My sister still rocks at hard plays nonstop. I coach her kid and me. I just I have bad knees and if it weren't for coaching I'd still be playing, but I had to get back around it. But I was away for a while and then, just being out there with the kids, I realized I have a lot to give. So you call it a career, but it's, it's. It probably will be. I'm going to take on more higher level teams, probably here soon, but it's been volunteer work here for the last 20 years and I guess I'm pretty passionate about it because kids need somewhere to play and there's sitting in that committee meeting with all the volunteers. There's three of us, four of us, five of us. So you got to, you know, run a league for like 1300 kids. So it is what it is. I'm there and I'm in the chair.

Speaker 1 4:17

Yeah, I think that's really great. I mean I commend you totally tip the hat to you with the coaching, because so many kids today.

Speaker 1 4:24

They don't have a father figure, they don't have someone there and you know, maybe going there to coach is, you know, you like the sports, you wanted to be around it. But you can no doubt plant lots of positive seeds and be a good role model for some of these younger men or whoever you're coaching little kids, girls, stuff like that. So that's really cool. When did you first realize that these two paths had some things in common?

Speaker 2 4:50

I think, right away, right away. Surgical teching is another world and being in a little place like Sonoma, you've got to do more than a normal surgical tech does. I'm doing cases, long ones, ones with just you and a doctor, and I'm stuck retracting for hours. If you get sore, you get sore. It's kind of like soccer training, you know, conditioning, getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. It's very similar and it's nature itself, you know. Yeah, no, that's good, I'm a passionate person, so it just carries across everywhere Like.

Speaker 2 5:24

I said when I set my mind to something, my passion won't let me not complete it. More passion, more energy.

Speaker 1 5:30

More energy.

Speaker 2 5:31

I had to sing that to Bill after listening to all his last podcasts when I got to work.

Speaker 1 5:35

Oh yeah, so every time an episode drops everyone, John, he's walking in the department and he's talking about something he heard. So this is the number one fan for the podcast right here, without a shadow of a doubt he's he is sterilization stations number one fan always has been, so we appreciate that and bill was surprised too because, uh, I told you, he's all asking do you know this podcast?

Speaker 2 5:57

you know, but this podcast I'm like I know podcasts, but I don't know surgical podcasts. So, uh, I'm pretty much just a podcaster and I work in. My profession is surgery. So here I am wanting to join, and that's cool, and I have a college degree in communication as well, so I should be practicing this sort of thing you should.

Speaker 1 6:14

Yeah, absolutely. You got that degree in communication. You definitely need to be in front of a microphone, for sure no.

Speaker 2 6:20

So yeah, use it with the kids out there on the field. And with these doctors who like to act like little kids as well.

Speaker 1 6:30

Hopefully they don't catch this episode.

Speaker 2 6:33

No, they can't, because they don't know which ones I'm talking about. But it is true though it is true though.

Speaker 1 6:38

That's definitely true. What's it like in the OR.

Speaker 2 6:41

For you, it depends, it depends. I work two completely different jobs, so I built Sonoma from the ground up make a lot less money there. I'm pretty much there because it's like family there. The director there has been there for over a decade with me.

Speaker 1 6:57

There's another circulator.

Speaker 2 6:58

I get to see tomorrow who's been there even longer than me. I think he's been there almost like 30, 40 years, something crazy like that. But that's why I'm there. There, I walk in and I am the front line, ready to go. Bill sees it. I come in If it ain't ready for me already in the hallway. I go pick it real fast and get ready. I'm the guy that does the big cases. I don't like to sit down in Sonoma.

Speaker 1 7:20

If it's time to sit down it's time to go home. It's a different world.

Speaker 2 7:25

Then I go to Kaiser and it's union. I can't take out the trash like I did for every case I did today in Sonoma. You know that's kind of frowned upon. So it's just completely different worlds. I'll stay over there and do a lot of overtime. Sonoma doesn't have overtime like that. So completely different worlds, union and non-union.

Speaker 1 7:41

Yeah, that's so true, I've worked in both and it is. I mean both and it is. I mean you work in the non-union, yeah, you're. You're wiping down equipment, you're wiping down cords, you're dumping trashes, and then you're gonna go do what you need to do for your aspect of what you really do.

Speaker 2 7:54

So yeah, that makes a lot of sense. What led you to?

Speaker 1 7:57

coaching in soccer my kids. I actually know that's not true. I had no kids.

Speaker 2 8:01

I had a baby and I always played, always played, and my dad was my first coaching job series whenever I actually did get paid was Wilseywood High School junior varsity in Vacaville and my dad was the varsity coach and he said come coach. And I already had the lower coaching license at that point.

Speaker 1 8:19

So I was like okay, why not?

Speaker 2 8:21

So I went and hung out, realized I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. It'd be funny to run into those players and their parents, because I would tell them too. I had no idea what I was doing. But I wish I had those boys now, because those boys ended up some of them were semi-pro, were playing in the Philippines. So I would like to get a group of boys like that, like I once had.

Speaker 2 8:40

And that's how I started, and then after that just coaching my kids, coaching my kids, kids that need it, and that's pretty much it.

Speaker 1 8:46

Yeah, that's pretty amazing.

Speaker 2 8:47

So what do you think are some of?

Speaker 1 8:49

like the high moments. What are some of the greatest rewards that you found being a coach?

Speaker 2 8:54

I think afterward when everyone's asking if I'm going to coach again. It's like you know you're working the whole season and you know you get those thank yous and things like that, but at the end of the season, at that party and afterward you realize you're not going to see those kids again and then they're actually going to miss you and that's when it's like it all sets in, you're like.

Speaker 2 9:13

I actually had a positive season you can reflect better at that point because you know you can see the positive when especially when you're someone like me, who's passionate, whose energy leads them in every direction, you know. So it's good for like positive to end the season every time I play with the team or coach team.

Speaker 1 9:30

Yeah, no, that's pretty amazing. I can imagine like it's kind of like when you give your two week notice and you leave a hospital, you find out did they like you or did they?

Finding Purpose in Surgical Technology

Speaker 2 9:41

not like you. I did that in Sonoma, oh really.

Speaker 1 9:46

Yeah, I'm still there.

Speaker 2 9:47

I'm still there. It shows they liked me, right, right.

Speaker 1 9:52

They eat the potluck and say never mind. I never mind.

Speaker 2 9:56

I want to say that's what I love about that place is those people that were stuck it out for me there. They're long gone now, and the people that are there now, I bet you they would do the same.

Speaker 1 10:05

Yeah, that's.

Speaker 2 10:06

true, it's a good place to be.

Speaker 1 10:08

Yeah, it is. It is definitely. You definitely have a family feel there and people are very supportive. I mean, like last year I went through a major car accident and still going through some recovery to a degree, but everyone there has been extremely supportive and you know so I completely understand for sure. So this is another random question. I'm just curious because you know, like I do coaching in people's career, I'm a preceptor, I'm also a mentor for a lot of sterile processing students.

Speaker 2 10:35

And so now, have you ever? What about that? What about?

Speaker 1 10:36

that one player that you know was was your challenging, challenging player Like what are some things or takeaways. You learn from those students or those that you're coaching that maybe they're not that person that's the easiest to coach? Do you feel that that's taught you through your coaching career?

Speaker 2 10:53

I think one thing that gets me through all of it because you know, I think you're like I have kids around the spectrum and different things like that that are really hard to get through. But I've, now that I've had it happen to me like four times, I realize patience and just staying calm. You know, if they need to be excluded and do their own thing, let them exclude themselves and do their own thing. So everyone needs to be treated different, especially in mentoring.

Speaker 2 11:18

You know strongly believe everyone should be treated the same the whole way through Mentoring. I'm a big teacher. I like to explain things, so that goes a long way. You know patience, stay calm and explain your way through anything you should always know what you're talking about?

Speaker 1 11:32

Yeah, that's really great. Have you ever noticed, like, say, spending time with a person that player that needs that? What are some things you've done to connect with that player that maybe you feel is kind of more challenging than the others?

Speaker 2 11:44

I treat it like surgery. It's all pro I you know. Take it, take it to the practice, like I. Have one kid on the team that his parents I could tell they're antsy because he's not getting involved. Not getting involved and getting along.

Speaker 2 11:56

So I just change the drills so that he sits in the front line. He has to be in, that, you know, and he's. He's responding in a way that he hasn't responded. So you know, you just got to be versatile and be able to take chances. That's really good, that's excellent. I've noticed in precepting, like sometimes you have someone that's kind of has a lack of like self-confidence, and so there's a lot of positive reinforcement that you're doing.

Speaker 1 12:22

You're constantly trying to build them up, you're constantly trying to know, when they do something good, you're like hey, that was great the way you put that tray together, the way you wrapped that tray, so it's like I think it's a lot of positive reinforcements and then just putting them, like you said, in places where you know it's encouraging them to get the action. And, of course, in sterile processing. There's nothing about action back there.

Speaker 2 12:43

I have something I like to tell all my students and everybody I'm precepting and it was always told to me by my trainer in Sonoma, my first ever. He was a Vietnam War vet, russ Duncan. He used to say I'm never going to let you fail, so go in there and do your work and then just always scrubbing with them, always be with them, know that you're there, because giving someone that doesn't have the confidence, the confidence that you got their back, and once they fail, you step in and you save it and you make it so like, and then

Speaker 2 13:12

nothing ever happened and then you step back up and let them get back in. If you have to do that for someone, you have to do that for somebody. You know what it is, so you know we all get a chance. Some of us have better hands than others, some of us have better brains than others, so you just kind of got to nurture a person until you find their strengths and get them through it, because you know we've been in the workforce, we know what kind of products are out there and if someone is there trying, you got to give them.

Speaker 1 13:36

That shot is the way I feel about it yeah, this is really great dialogue, because I don't know if you're experiencing it, y'all who are watching this or listening in but surgical technology and soccer has a lot to do with each other. I'm seeing all the crosses.

Speaker 2 13:49

they're crossing each other, so this is really great and I keep losing myself in what I'm talking about and I just talk about life in general. You know what I mean. Yeah, yeah, you want to talk about passion, my passion. I keep telling you every time I see you at work. It strays all throughout life. It touches surgical technology. It touches soccer Number trays all throughout life. It touches surgical technology it touches soccer number one, first and foremost, is going to be my family. Yeah, you know.

Speaker 2 14:15

So that's good, you're right, it's like passion is like that pulse that heartbeat that goes through and has a great effect on all that's why I was like it doesn't even have to completely be about soccer, but we can touch on soccer. Yeah, it's a good guide to take us where we're going.

Speaker 1 14:29

No, I think this is good. I know that both OR and soccer are fast-paced and high-pressure environments, so how do you stay calm and focused under pressure being?

Speaker 2 14:38

confident, I think, Because I would say that in my whole surgical career I wasn't always the most confident. But I will say to those that can't find the confidence, the fact that you can't find the confidence means you really care. So keep, keep sticking your guns to it and cause one day everything becomes easier. You know, after five years I realized I'm I'm stressing half as much as I used to it, cause I'm an anxious person, you know.

Speaker 2 15:04

and then, all of a sudden, 10 years into it and I was like when was the last time I was stressed out? You know? So for Bill's Empowerment, all you people that are just starting out, stick to your guns. Learn everything. Don't worry if you mess up, fess up to it. Learn from it. And you know, pay attention, keep getting better every day and you will one day be comfortable and love your career. Because I love what I do and it's I even work graveyard at Kaiser now I was able to get a graveyard job and I'm coaching so much more and all my time is consumed by coaching and you know it's kind of nice. I've been able to dictate my schedule through time from the anxious guy that thought he was messing everything up to relaxed you know.

Speaker 1 15:46

That's really great. I think it's commendable that you're willing to adjust your schedule to really empower other people. I grew up playing baseball and so I've always had coaches that just kind of really stood out. Some were tougher than others, but at the end of the day, most of the people that were coaching was because they wanted to in some case in some way inspire people. That's really good. How do you build trust quickly in both teams, surgical and athletic?

Soccer Passion and Volunteer Coaching

Speaker 2 16:13

I mean, I just I'm always honest, I stay positive. I don't really have time for negative attitudes or I'll accept them, because some people just strictly communicate that way. But you know just staying positive, staying calm, staying patient. There you go, you know everything, always staying positive, staying calm, staying patient. There you go, you know everything always works out in the end, as long as you don't freak out, as long as you don't no, I completely understand.

Speaker 1 16:35

That's good stuff, so we'll go ahead and move into the next question is can you share a moment on the field that reminded you why coaching matters? I just that other day, just that other day, that little boy who I couldn't get to even get involved in the game ran over to it.

Speaker 2 16:52

We've been working on stepping on the ball, stepping on the ball and I've had him since last season and he keeps trying and then just the other day he comes. This kid looked like a pro out of nowhere and he's, you know, one of those kids that's not as coordinated as the rest Ran over, stepped on the ball, pulled it and then hit it in some sort of way that, you know, a kid his age normally doesn't. It went straight up and then assisted a goal. And it's those moments I'm like he can do that because of what we've been working on.

Speaker 1 17:18

And create that environment for him to succeed. That's really great and he's confident now.

Speaker 2 17:24

He's confident and he was trying to find that he's, he's. You keep them, just like surgical technology. You keep them, repetitions going. You keep them trays going, you'll be. You don't even need bear, you cross it off the menu, you know yeah, you got it otherwise you're like sand dull sharp rake Right.

Speaker 1 17:43

right, that makes sense.

Speaker 2 17:46

I mean, most people don't even remember what it's like to be a student. It's cool that we get to see them flow through us every once in a while. Yeah, it's true.

Speaker 1 17:52

Definitely good to be a teaching facility. You get to empower them coming through and spending time and then you're just dumping experience and knowledge and creating that environment for them to succeed. That's great.

Speaker 2 18:04

What do you?

Speaker 1 18:05

hope your players take away, not just about soccer, but about life, life. Getting deep over here on the sterilization, I know right, thinking about kids too.

Speaker 2 18:13

What was have fun, especially while you're out there on the soccer field? There's no reason to. If you're out there for soccer, you may as well play your heart out, have fun, otherwise why are you there, you know. So I hope they take that from me at least.

Speaker 1 18:32

There's no reason to be there if you're just going to be lazy.

Speaker 2 18:33

And you know, of course those kids like those kids on the spectrum, you know they. They slide by cause they'll surprise you, even there'll be that kid that just does that. But then in the game they're the ones scoring all the goals. So everyone's special. But at the same time I want them to see that hard work goes a long way and you better make sure you have fun while you're doing it.

Speaker 1 18:49

Yeah, that's really good. I love that. That's really good. Has your medical background influenced the way you mentor athletes?

Speaker 2 18:57

That's a good question. I bet you it has directly, because methodically teaching, being able to train a concept you know, train a concept, you know, especially when you're going from adults to kids, to adults, to kids to 18-year-olds, you know, to 20-year-olds, all over the place.

Speaker 1 19:14

Yeah, no, that's really good, you think about like some of the skills that like a surgical tech has to have, like right, very attention to detail. They have to have great listening skills, great communication, effective communication skills. You literally have to have endurance because you're standing and you're holding your arms above your waist because you don't want, you got to keep it sterile, right. So all those quality attributes just transition right over right.

Speaker 2 19:37

You have to be able to effectively communicate as a coach you're trays, wrapping some trays if they don't have the big pans to put them in already. You know, know how that goes, yeah absolutely Straight across the wall in your department as well. Yeah, no, absolutely. And if you're just wondering.

Speaker 1 19:52

You know Bill is a scrub tech. I just haven't done my externship but I did scrub half of a case at Sonoma, so let's clap it up for that one. Half a case I scrubbed. Yes, I was the second scrub tech in that GYN procedure. Definitely wears, pulls on those good old neck muscles and you know holding that retractor, you know it's, it's nothing like it I'm sure you'll be uh back in there eventually.

Speaker 2 20:15

Yes, god willing, I'll be back in that. Hang out with me absolutely.

Speaker 1 20:19

I definitely want to hang out with you absolutely. Many people struggle to just balance one career right. But what kind of a mindset helps you juggle both?

Speaker 2 20:28

You just got to keep it moving. That's the way I feel about it. You got to stay on a schedule, stay disciplined. I definitely wasn't able to do this when I wasn't eating right. I was close to 300 pounds. Now I'm eating right and I'm losing weight, and it's a lot more simple to keep your life moving. My arthritic knees don't hurt as much. Honestly, that's my. Move it or lose. It is the way I feel about it. So when I was, you know, sitting here, sitting around, you know, having snacks, watching sports instead of being at the gym, because I'm coaching multiple teams, I have two jobs, because the one over here and the one over there both have set hours.

Speaker 1 21:03

So I don't know, I just keep it moving.

Speaker 2 21:06

Man, make sure you stay disciplined sleep when you're supposed to sleep most. First and foremost because if you don't sleep, you're not living a healthy life. No matter what you're eating or what you're doing, make sure you get your sleep that's good. I didn't know that that's really good.

Speaker 1 21:21

I know I recently cut out processed sugar in january and, man, it's the inflammation that came down on my legs and everything but what. What advice would you give someone who feels torn between two passions?

Balancing Two Passion-Driven Careers

Speaker 2 21:35

Spread it out. Give both some love. I spread it all around. You know, outdoors person, I really wanted to camp like I used to, so I went and got a camper trailer. Live your life, spread your passions out, do everything you want to do. Why hold back on anything?

Speaker 1 21:49

That's good, that's good advice. I know that I know someone's pens writing that one down for sure. So, john, what does success mean to you compared to when you?

Speaker 2 21:58

started, stay happy. For me, success isn't monetary. I stay rich in love and as long as I stay focused and motivated and, you know, keep my priorities straight family first I think I have no problem staying successful and happy.

Speaker 1 22:15

Before I just wanted money.

Speaker 2 22:17

I wanted money. I was young and just wanted money. Now I'm an older man and my answer has completely changed. Of course, money helps everything. But no, that's why I still work in Sonoma. It's a lot less money, but it makes me a lot happier, so I'm a lot rich with happiness.

Speaker 1 22:33

That's good. That's good, rich with happiness. I love that. That's awesome. So, looking back, let's get the telescope out. Let's go back in time. We jumped in Marty's car right Back in the future. Looking back, what would you say to your younger self, just starting?

Speaker 2 22:52

out. Tell myself for soccer. I would tell myself to coach more. I wouldn't have stopped after that high school season because I'm sure if I would have not dropped myself to just teaching kids from the grassroots level up because that's pretty much what I've been doing and I stayed up here teaching kids higher level, I would have been even happier than I am right now. I'd probably be getting paid some money to be coaching a couple older teams. So, uh, I would say, uh, don't give that up is what I would have told myself because I did give it up from 2003.

Speaker 2 23:29

That season ended in 2004. I didn't coach again until 2011.

Speaker 1 23:33

So I would have told myself not to stop because.

Speaker 2 23:36

I came back and now I'm a professional coach again, taking the courses and multiple teams. Now I'm doing what I should have been doing the whole time.

Speaker 1 23:45

For surgical technology, I'd say that took different waves throughout the years.

Speaker 2 23:50

It took me a while to find happiness in what I'm doing, like I wanted to do more, wanted to do more until I realized that I'm really good at this. I'm really good at this and as much as I want to go sit in that chair right over there and make a little more.

Speaker 2 24:05

I think I like doing this right here better than what that person right there is doing. And then finally I think it was this last five years I'm like I love what I do, so I wasn't always 100% passionate about surgical technology. So some people have to find that. I think some people don't have that. Some people show up to work and they're not happy to be there. They don't scrub in, put those fresh gloves on and get that big fresh breath of mask on and feel that comfort in that. You know it's. It takes a special breed to find comfort in that.

Speaker 1 24:36

Yeah, that's good. I really appreciate you sharing everything that you shared today and the things that you were willing to impart to us. One of our last questions is so what's next for you in both surgery and coaching? One of our last questions is so what's next for you in both surgery and coaching?

Speaker 2 24:48

Coaching. I'm running summer camp this coming summer. That's a new project, it's something that doesn't involve teams, and this past, right now I'm actually the coach mentor, which I've been helping coaches out, showing them how to run practices and stuff, and then next season I'm undecided if I want to keep coaching my nephew or not, and if I don't I might take a higher level team. We'll see. As I told one of the moms that wants me to come back, I'm a free agent and my future is new.

Speaker 1 25:14

I really appreciate you coming on here, and I think coaching is so important.

Speaker 1 25:18

It's an opportunity to really have a great impact on people's lives, and when a player comes out there and you first meet them or when you're mentoring a surgical tech, you don't really know what that person's background is or exposures is, and sometimes you don't really know that until you ask them to do something and there's a little hesitation. Or maybe you just don't really know what kind of exposures or wounds that they've had. But a coach is someone who's regardless of what shows up, is just willing to be there for the long haul, knowing that they're empowering that person's life. So I just really appreciate you for coming on and being willing to share two different passions at the same time. And so, as we close down this episode, you know John Waco's story is just one thread in the powerful fabric that holds our surgical teams together.

Speaker 1 26:05

Behind every successful surgery, there's a network of dedicated professionals techs, sterile processors, nurses, support staff who bring precision, pride and passion to their work every single day. And John isn't alone. Across hospitals, clinics and surgery centers, there are countless others who, like him, see sterile processing and surgical technology not just as jobs but as callings and, as he mentioned today, passion. So people who care deeply, who train hard and who push for excellence and find joy in doing the work that most never see it. So really appreciate this episode. Make sure you please like, comment and subscribe to Sterilization Station. Once again, we want to give just a big, big round of applause to John Waco. John Waco, I'll be messing that name up right now.

Speaker 2 26:51

It's okay, it's catchphrase, it's Indian John.

Speaker 1 26:57

Waco, you guys got that okay, so we appreciate you coming on the show and looking forward to you know in the future having you on more podcasts.

Speaker 2 27:06

For sure, we need to talk about how, like our department's, instruments or something we need to. Let's do it. I'd like to come back and do your surgical technology side. Let's do it. That sounds great. Get a conference going with one of your buddies.

Speaker 1 27:18

There you go, we can do it. We can do it Absolutely. Sky's the limit. And the radio waves on San Jose Station, they're buzzing, so thank you, support your coworkers. That's it, Absolutely Right. All right Sounds great. Thank you, John. This was great. Thanks for tuning in everyone. No-transcript.