Adam Okada – CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL

Adam Okada has 18 years of experience in Sterile Processing and is passionate about helping improve the quality of patient care by giving SPD professionals and their partners greater access to education and information.  He has worked in just about every position in the Sterile Processing Department as a Case Cart Builder, SPD Tech I, II, and III, Lead Tech, Tracking System Analyst, Supervisor of both SPD and HLD, Manager, and now as an Educator.  Adam is the owner of Sterile Education, the world’s first mobile application dedicated to sterile processing education, and a former Clinical Manager at Beyond Clean.  He has published articles for HSPA’s Process magazine, is a voting member of AAMI, and also serves as the former President for the Central California Chapter of HSPA.  Adam is currently a Clinical Education Specialist at Healthmark Industries where he works on Healthmark webinars and hybrid events, educational videos, as well as the Ask the Educator Podcast with Kevin Anderson.

Rebecca Peplau began her career as a veterinary assistant, where she discovered her passion for surgical procedures and found her niche in reprocessing surgical instruments. After 11 years in veterinary medicine, she transitioned to sterile processing in human healthcare at a small community hospital, where she further honed her skills. She then explored opportunities at different facilities including Level-1 trauma hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, endoscopy units and smaller community hospitals. During this time, she took on roles such as Lead Technician, Manager, and Educator.  A graduate of Unity College with a B.S., she holds multiple certifications, including CRCST, CER, CHL, CSPDT, and LSSWB. Rebecca is a dedicated professional, recognized for her contributions as a published author in PROCESS Magazine and Healthcare Purchasing News. Her insights and expertise have garnered attention, leading to her being awarded Healthcare Purchasing News’s 40 Under 40. Rebecca is currently the President of the Northern New England Chapter of HSPA, covering Maine and New Hampshire.  She is an active member of several AAMI working groups and a former podcast host, having also appeared on additional industry podcasts to discuss hot topics and issues faced by the sterile processing community. She strives to advance sterile processing practices and sharing her knowledge and 20 years of experience with the next generation of professionals.

Rebecca Peplau began her career as a veterinary assistant, where she discovered her passion for surgical procedures and found her niche in reprocessing surgical instruments. After 11 years in veterinary medicine, she transitioned to sterile processing in human healthcare at a small community hospital, where she further honed her skills. She then explored opportunities at different facilities including Level-1 trauma hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, endoscopy units and smaller community hospitals. During this time, she took on roles such as Lead Technician, Manager, and Educator.  A graduate of Unity College with a B.S., she holds multiple certifications, including CRCST, CER, CHL, CSPDT, and LSSWB. Rebecca is a dedicated professional, recognized for her contributions as a published author in PROCESS Magazine and Healthcare Purchasing News. Her insights and expertise have garnered attention, leading to her being awarded Healthcare Purchasing News’s 40 Under 40. Rebecca is currently the President of the Northern New England Chapter of HSPA, covering Maine and New Hampshire.  She is an active member of several AAMI working groups and a former podcast host, having also appeared on additional industry podcasts to discuss hot topics and issues faced by the sterile processing community. She strives to advance sterile processing practices and sharing her knowledge and 20 years of experience with the next generation of professionals.

Dr. Mary Ann Drosnock is the Director of Clinical Affairs at Healthmark, a Getinge company, where she provides expertise in medical device processing and infection prevention and leads an experienced team of Clinical Educators. For 9 years, she was co-chair of AAMI WG 84, which writes ST91, the national standard on flexible endoscope reprocessing, and TIR99 on the processing of ultrasound probes and dilators. Previous to Healthmark, Mary Ann managed the Infection Control Program for Olympus America, worked and managed labs as a pharmaceutical microbiologist, and taught Microbiology courses at the college level. MaryAnn has a B.S. in Biology, an M.S. in Quality and Regulatory Affairs, and a DrHSc in Healthcare Administration and Management. She is certified in Drug Development, Pharmaceutical Science, Infection Control, Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing, is a Nationally Certified Registered Microbiologist and is a fellow of both APIC and AAMI.

Dr. Mary Ann Drosnock is the Director of Clinical Affairs at Healthmark, a Getinge company, where she provides expertise in medical device processing and infection prevention and leads an experienced team of Clinical Educators. For 9 years, she was co-chair of AAMI WG 84, which writes ST91, the national standard on flexible endoscope reprocessing, and TIR99 on the processing of ultrasound probes and dilators. Previous to Healthmark, Mary Ann managed the Infection Control Program for Olympus America, worked and managed labs as a pharmaceutical microbiologist, and taught Microbiology courses at the college level. MaryAnn has a B.S. in Biology, an M.S. in Quality and Regulatory Affairs, and a DrHSc in Healthcare Administration and Management. She is certified in Drug Development, Pharmaceutical Science, Infection Control, Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing, is a Nationally Certified Registered Microbiologist and is a fellow of both APIC and AAMI.

Malinda Elammari is a Clinical Education Specialist for Healthmark Industries. She began her career in the medical field as a Surgical Technologist specializing in open-heart surgery. Throughout her career, Malinda has served in a variety of positions in the SPD arena, such as Interim Director of Education and Quality, Sterile Processing Educator and Quality Control Manager, and the lead instructor for the Central Sterile program at the community college. She holds several certifications in sterile processing through CBSPD and IAHCSMM. Malinda is an active member of AAMI and sits on several national standard writing committees as well as the Editorial Board for AAMI’s BI&T magazine. Malinda currently serves as president for the North Carolina IAHCSMM chapter (NCAHCSP) and is a project manager for KiiP’s Aseptic Presentation subgroup.

Malinda Elammari is a Clinical Education Specialist for Healthmark Industries. She began her career in the medical field as a Surgical Technologist specializing in open-heart surgery. Throughout her career, Malinda has served in a variety of positions in the SPD arena, such as Interim Director of Education and Quality, Sterile Processing Educator and Quality Control Manager, and the lead instructor for the Central Sterile program at the community college. She holds several certifications in sterile processing through CBSPD and IAHCSMM. Malinda is an active member of AAMI and sits on several national standard writing committees as well as the Editorial Board for AAMI’s BI&T magazine. Malinda currently serves as president for the North Carolina IAHCSMM chapter (NCAHCSP) and is a project manager for KiiP’s Aseptic Presentation subgroup.

Ron Hunsucker began his career as a Central Service Supply Technician in 1979 at Santa Rosa Medical Center. In 1984 he began the CRCST course through Purdue University and was certified by IAHCSMM in 1986. Studying for the certification led to instituting changes, to meet standards, within his department. Shift Manager by 1985 and Manager by 1988, helping design a new Sterile Processing Department in a new facility and implementing a Cart Exchange System for Nursing Units. Transferring to the new facility he introduced count sheets and inventory control solutions. Ron was hired at Metropolitan Hospital in 1989 by an RN that had just been assigned as SPD Manager and wanted to get his entire staff certified. Metro’s SPD was the first fully certified SPD in San Antonio, TX. Working PRN for the first month, becoming Supervisor and working with his Manager to form and act as Secretary for the South Texas Sterile Processing Society he eventually becoming Manager. In 1996 he was recipient of the Caregiver Of The Year Award from Methodist Healthcare Systems. In 1999 Ron was hired as the Implant Procurement Manager. In 2008 Ron was recruited into a career in sales, eventually becoming and Independent Sales Representative and a Sterile Processing Consultant, he sold everything he had purchased in the past for all the Perioperative Departments. In 2019 Ron was hired as a Clinical Director and Business Development Manager for Streamline Hospital Services. As a partner he helped grow the company from a $300,00.00 to a $3,000,000.00 a year company. Ron recruited and worked with Hank Balch to create the South Texas Association of Sterile Processing Services and is now the acting President. Accepting a position as a Clinical Education Specialist with Healthmark Ind., Ron hopes to help everybody understand the importance of all that Sterile Processing does to help keep patients safe. Doing it right, the first time, all the time!!