Sarah B. Cruz

Sarah B. Cruz Biography

Hello, my fellow SP colleagues! I’m Sarah B. Cruz, a nationally respected sterile processing leader with 18 years of experience advancing patient safety, professional standards, and the voice of frontline technicians. My career reflects sustained leadership, advocacy, and service at the local, state, and national levels, with a clear focus on bridging frontline practice and organizational leadership through measurable outcomes.  

I have served on the HSPA Board of Directors and as President of the Connecticut HSPA Chapter. During my tenure, I strengthened engagement, expanded educational offerings, and implemented initiatives that increased participation, leadership development, and professional visibility, resulting in the chapter being recognized as Medium Chapter of the Year. I currently serve as Vice Chair of the HSPA National Chapter Committee, supporting chapter leaders and alignment nationwide.  

A dedicated advocate for the profession, I have led state-level advocacy initiatives and met with national senate leaders to represent sterile processing on workforce development, patient safety, and professional recognition. My advocacy is practical and results-driven, translating frontline realities into actionable policy discussions that lead to progress. 

I’m especially known for implementing career ladders, allied health integration, education program development, and professional growth within sterile processing departments. I help organizations move beyond entry-level thinking by establishing structured pathways for advancement, certification, leadership development, and retention—ensuring technicians see a future in the profession and understand how to achieve it. 

I have also demonstrated innovation in workforce development. At Hartford HealthCare, I helped establish a system-wide externship program in partnership with Connecticut State Community Colleges’ Sterile Processing programs, along with a volunteer pathway enabling certification holders to obtain required contact hours. These initiatives produced measurable improvements in workforce entry, retention, and academic–healthcare collaboration.  

At the national level, I contribute to professional standards through my involvement with AAMI. I currently serve as Project Manager for the ST90, WG86, supporting the development of operationalized annexes that address frontline realities and management concerns.  

In addition to my governance and standards work, I’m a published author, international keynote speaker, podcaster, and webinar presenter, and I have served on the HSPA Diversity & Inclusion Committee. My leadership philosophy centers on transparency, collaboration, and accountability. As President of the HSPA Board of Directors, I am committed to strengthening governance, empowering chapters, advancing advocacy, and building clear, sustainable pathways that move sterile processing forward.