Chelsea Brooks

Chelsea Brooks serves as a Surgical Technologist CST at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey. With nearly 20 years in healthcare and more than a decade focused on cardiac open heart surgery, she also supports thoracic and vascular procedures, takes vascular call, and assists with robotic cases for thoracic surgeons. Brooks completed an associate's program followed by a technical school program in surgical technology at The Institute in Broomall, Pennsylvania, and has maintained national board certification as a CST for 14 years while holding ACLS and BLS credentials. She belongs to the Association of Surgical Technologists and has participated in Ride Hard Breathe Easy events. Outside the operating room, Brooks is a mother of two who trains for triathlons and has helped lead efforts to repurpose operating room wraps into blankets donated to homeless shelters in Philadelphia. Her interest in the field began in high school anatomy class, and she emphasizes balancing motherhood with a demanding surgical career while encouraging others to pursue their goals without being deterred by obstacles such as school debt.