Gillian Smith, ST, CSRST, CHL, CIS, CER
Gillian Smith, ST, CSRST, CHL, CIS, CER is an accomplished healthcare professional currently serving as the Sterile Processing Supervisor at . With over 15 years of supervisory leadership experience, she specializes in patient safety, surgical services, and hospital operations. Gillian’s leadership approach is rooted in situational leadership—adapting to the unique needs of her team—while upholding her core values of compassion, determination, respect, and loyalty.
Gillian began her career in administrative roles before transitioning into healthcare as a trained surgical technologist. Her experience spans multiple healthcare systems, including and HCA Healthcare, where she led operational improvements and department management. She has contributed to the development and support of surgical departments, ensuring seamless workflow, staff training, and adherence to the highest standards of patient care.
Outside of her professional achievements, Gillian is a devoted mother and cancer survivor, balancing her career with family and personal growth. She is completing her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and Management at . Passionate about giving back, she supports organizations such as St. Jude’s and the Ronald McDonald House, and enjoys meditation, history, and strengthening her spiritual connection. Her career reflects resilience, dedication, and a commitment to improving healthcare outcomes.
• Root Cause Analysis: Getting to the Root of Business Problems
• Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification
• Project Management Essential certified
• Ashford University - BA
• Service Excellence Award from CEO of HCA
• HSPA
• Honor Society
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Ronald McDonald House
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being a single mother. Raising my children on my own has taught me perseverance—quitting isn’t an option. I embrace mistakes as part of growth, both in life and work, and focus on persistence to achieve mastery. My drive comes from knowing my children depend on me, which pushes me to keep moving forward every day.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to never stay at a job that merely tolerates your talent. Find a place where your skills are celebrated and your contributions are valued—that’s where growth and fulfillment truly happen.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is simple: never quit. Be determined, stay humble, and embrace challenges. Failure is inevitable, but it’s also an opportunity to learn and grow. Each experience—success or setback—builds your character and prepares you to push further. Keep going, stay grounded, and trust yourself.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe one of the biggest challenges in my industry right now is leadership. In the past, I had a mentor, Alfonso Chicas, the executive director for the OR, who led with compassion and helped me see the bigger picture. Today, I see too many leaders allowing personal agendas, jealousy, and emotion to drive decisions. This not only undermines talented individuals but can erode entire organizations.
Companies often struggle because HR structures aren’t equipped to mitigate these dynamics, leading to misaligned leadership, demoralized employees, and lost opportunities. We need leaders who base their decisions on integrity and data, not emotion or personal bias. How we lead today shapes the next generation, and teaching demoralization as a strategy only perpetuates failure. Strong leadership builds people up—it doesn’t tear them down.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most in both work and life are compassion, determination, respect, love, and loyalty. Determination drives me to persevere, no matter the odds. Compassion reminds me to uplift others when they struggle, helping them grow rather than criticizing. Love fuels my passion for what I do and the fulfillment I feel at the end of the day. Loyalty, to me, means staying true to myself—authenticity in every interaction, every day. These values are the foundation of who I am and how I approach both life and work.
Locations
Jefferson Health
Warrington, PA 18976