LeAnn Ploeger, CST, CSFA, AAS
LeAnn Ploeger, CST, CSFA, AAS, is a dedicated surgical professional and educator whose career reflects both resilience and a deep commitment to patient care. She began her professional journey in corrections, working in both a state penitentiary and a county jail after her initial goal of becoming a police officer was impacted by vision limitations. Guided by a fascination with the human body and the intensity of the operating room, she transitioned into healthcare, pursuing surgical technology and steadily advancing her expertise to become a Certified Surgical First Assist. Today, she brings more than a decade of operating room experience across a wide range of specialties, including orthopedics, OB/GYN, bariatrics, robotics, and complex spine procedures.
As a Surgical First Assist, LeAnn serves as the surgeon’s right hand, often performing critical portions of procedures alongside physicians. Her experience includes everything from delivering babies to assisting in total joint replacements and participating in intricate spinal surgeries that can last hours or span an entire shift. Known for her versatility and composure in high-pressure environments, she has built a career defined by precision, endurance, and an unwavering focus on patient outcomes. Her work in the operating room is deeply personal and purpose-driven, guided by her faith and a belief that she is serving in the exact place she is meant to be.
For the past several years, LeAnn has expanded her impact as the Lead Instructor for a Surgical Technology program at Fortis College, where she teaches lecture, leads hands-on labs, and prepares students for clinical practice. She is passionate about ensuring her students are truly ready for the realities of the operating room, designing simulations that mirror real surgical environments and even exposing them to the full spectrum of life and death through educational experiences like forensic center visits. In addition to her clinical and teaching roles, she is also an author, sharing her voice beyond the operating room. Whether caring for patients or mentoring the next generation, LeAnn leads with faith, discipline, and a commitment to giving her full attention and excellence to every life she touches.
• CST
• CSFA
• AAS
• FAST
• Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Associate's Degree
• Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Certified Surgical First Assist
• American Heart Association
BLS Instructor
• Published Author - 9th Edition Ratliff Surgical Technology Principles and Practices Textbook
• Church Security and Medical Team
• Church College Ministry
• Veterans Support Program
What do you attribute your success to?
The biggest part is a blessing from Jesus - that really is the foundation of everything. The rest of it comes down to self-discipline. You have to study, you have to show up for class when you're learning this stuff to make it to the OR, and then you have to realize there's a very high level of selflessness that is involved to care for other people, especially at the degree that surgery involves. But my bigger focus is just letting the Lord handle it. I always pray before going into all my cases, and I always think of Esther 4:14 - 'Perhaps this is the moment for which you were created.' I take that with me because this is where I feel that the Lord led me, so I have to give every bit of myself to my patients and to my students. I can't let my students get any less undivided attention than my patients do. It's about trusting God's plan for my life and maintaining that consistent work ethic and focus on serving others.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received came through the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Wilkum, who played a pivotal role in my professional growth. He not only supported me in developing my skills as a surgical assistant but also advocated for me in spaces where my capabilities needed to be recognized. His belief in my potential helped me build both confidence and competence in the operating room.
Through his mentorship, I learned the importance of stepping into my role with assurance, continuously refining my skills, and trusting the value I bring to the surgical team. That guidance has had a lasting impact on my career, shaping how I show up for both my patients and my students today.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's okay to mess up, because we all do. But I tell everyone, pray your way through it, that God has a plan for you. Whether you want it or not, He's gonna take you where He wants you to go, and He's gonna guide you and carry you through every bit of it. So just give all that stress and worry and concern to the Lord, let Him handle it, and He'll get you there. You also have to understand the seriousness and responsibility of this work - we're dealing with life-and-death situations. But it doesn't mean you can't have fun with it at the same time, because it is so stressful, you've got to be able to have fun with it.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest things I would like to do is promote the profession, because a lot of people don't understand what a surgical technologist is, or a first assist is. Movies and TV tell us that everyone in a hospital is a nurse - no, we're not. There are so many different roles in a hospital, and we all make up one big team. It's very much a team effort, but we're not nurses. These are professions that you can go into and have an amazing career. We are a little well known because the OR is like its own little specialty - we call it surgical ninjas - but we're like our own little surgical ninja group, and a lot of people don't know what we do in an OR. I like promoting the profession of, you know, that person you see in the movie, or the person you see on TV in surgery, that's a surgical technologist, and you can be that, too. Another challenge is ensuring that students fully understand the seriousness and responsibility of surgical work, particularly in life-and-death situations. That's why I take them to the morgue twice a year to watch autopsies - I want them to understand the full aspect of life and death and how to handle it when it happens.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith is absolutely central to everything I do - I always pray before going into cases, and I believe God has a plan and has led me to where I am. Service is incredibly important to me. I have a very blessed life, and I know it all comes from the Lord, so I want to give back and serve at the same time. That's why I serve at my church on the security and medical team, do college ministry, and volunteer with veterans programs. I also value compassion and caring for others - whether it's my patients in surgery or my students in the classroom, I give them the same undivided attention. There's a very high level of selflessness involved in caring for other people, especially at the degree that surgery involves. I also believe in discipline and showing up - you have to study, you have to be present, and you have to take the responsibility seriously. And I value being a good example for the Lord in everything I do.