LeAnn Ploeger, CST, CSFA, AAS

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 everything 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 surgeries, and I like to 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 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.

The best career advice I’ve received came through the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Willkomm, 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.

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 there, 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. 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.

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 all nurses. Surgical Technology is a profession that you can go into and have an amazing career. We are not well known because the OR is like its own little specialty - we're like our own surgical ninja group, and a lot of people don't know what we do in an OR. I like promoting the profession so you will know that the person you see in a 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 observe autopsies - I want them to understand the full aspect of life and death and how to handle it when it happens in a surgical setting.

Faith is absolutely central to everything I do - I always pray before going into surgeries, 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. I also value being a good example for the Lord in everything I do. Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters..." I believe everything is from Him so this is my daily motto!