Sara Vinson

Sara Vinson Biography

Sterile Processing has been a part of my life since I was 17 years old. It is more than a career—it is who I am. For over 25 years, I have dedicated my professional life to learning, growing and advancing within the Sterile Processing profession. Having served in a variety of roles across academic medical centers, VA facilities, and community-based hospitals, I bring a broad and practical perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing our field. I believe this experience uniquely qualifies me to serve as President of HSPA. 

I have been honored to serve on the HSPA Board of Directors at the national level, as well as in leadership roles within local state chapters. In 2024, I helped establish the First Coast Sterile Processing Association Chapter. Witnessing the enthusiasm of professionals in our community coming together to learn and grow has been deeply rewarding. One of my most meaningful experiences has been visiting Capitol Hill to advocate for our profession and elevate awareness of the vital role sterile processing plays in patient safety. Volunteering as a Subject Matter Expert has also been extremely rewarding.  

HSPA’s mission to promote continuous education, professional development, and awareness of the Sterile Processing profession strongly aligns with my personal values. My advocacy is demonstrated through my commitment to developing my team members, my active engagement on professional social media platforms, and my continued participation in both local and national educational events. I am dedicated to lifelong learning and sharing knowledge by volunteering to present on topics I am passionate about. Over the past two decades, I have built strong relationships with professionals who share this passion. Sterile Processing continues to inspire and energize me, and serving HSPA members and certified professionals as President would be both an honor and a responsibility I would embrace wholeheartedly.  

My passion for leadership and personal growth led me to complete a Bachelor’s in Organizational Studies and a Master’s in Business Administration. In 2023, I had the opportunity to help design and open a centralized offsite reprocessing center. As centralized reprocessing continues to gain momentum nationwide, participating in the full planning, construction and implementation process provided invaluable insight into complex logistics, inventory management, and system-wide collaboration. This work culminated in our team being recognized as Healthcare Purchasing News’ 2025 Sterile Processing Department of the Year.