Influential Woman · UCLA Ambulatory Medical Device Reprocessing
Lorenda Barber
Medical Device Processing Specialist, UCLA
Ventura, CA
Her Story
About Lorenda
I've been in my field for about 36 years starting as a surgical first assist. My work has grown into overseeing nearly 300 ambulatory clinics across 5 counties at UCLA where I train staff on proper instrument reprocessing to ensure patient safety. What drives me is being a patient advocate, inspired by my mother's young death from an infected instrument which led me to create this role at UCLA to prevent such tragedies through education and oversight. I also run a massage therapy business for over 20 years, am a certified doula and recently graduated as a midwife, and am an ordained minister.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lorenda
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
In my early 20s, my preceptor Susan Lian told me: do not master one thing, learn everything. It will benefit you later in your career. I took that advice, learned everything in surgery including first robotic and laparoscopic procedures, which gave me the educational advantage to do what I do now at UCLA.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Lead with your heart. Always keep your patient in the forefront of your vision because everything we do in medicine is for the patient. Your patient is your primary drive. Keep your patient in your vision as they must stay in the forefront.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Keeping the patient first is really important to me because I've been a patient. My values drive me to honor my mother by changing clinic settings through education to provide safer patient care.
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