Sterile Processing Around the World with Deannard Esnard, CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL, CFER, CQIA
Philadelphia, PA–For Deannard Esnard, Chief of Operations at the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sterile processing has always been about people, problem-solving, and finding ways to give back.
Whether he is leading an SPD in the United States, challenging industry assumptions on his podcast, The Process, or volunteering on medical mission trips in Jamaica and Guatemala, Esnard approaches every part of the profession with the same mindset: improve the process and help the people behind it.
That philosophy has guided him through years in sterile processing and driven him to become a respected educator, podcast host, and advocate for global healthcare access.
For the past several years, Esnard has volunteered with Medicine in Action, a nonprofit organization that provides quality medical and surgical care to people in resource-limited communities with a focus on women’s healthcare issues, education, and enhancing local capacity for sustainability.
Through the organization, Esnard has volunteered as an SPD expert providing gynecological surgical care in Jamaica and orthopedic care in Guatemala. There, he is on the ground, supporting surgical teams while also educating local healthcare workers on sterile processing practices.
The work, he explained, can be emotionally difficult and professionally eye-opening. In Jamaica, Esnard encountered long lines of women waiting for hours to access specialized gynecological treatment. Some patients traveled great distances and waited all day for the possibility of care.
Technicians themselves also faced barriers. Esnard remembers learning that one technician spent three hours traveling to work each morning. To arrive at work at 6 am, he walked for one hour, then biked another two hours to reach the hospital on time.
The trips also revealed the stark differences between healthcare systems and the realities of practicing sterile processing with limited resources. Facilities often relied heavily on high-level disinfection rather than sterilization. Many tools were reused far beyond what would be considered standard in the United States.
One of his biggest lessons from mission work, he said, has been learning how healthcare professionals adapt under extreme limitations.
“If you only have one suction for your entire facility, how would you proceed?” said Esnard. “I learned a lot from the people down there and how they cope with limited resources.”
According to Esnard, education and collaboration were key in these environments. He worked closely with nurses and staff members to teach proper handling and cleaning techniques for specialty instrumentation, including ureteroscopes and other gynecological equipment, while trying to learn as much as possible from the rest of the team.
Bringing Knowledge Back to the States
Those experiences have strengthened Esnard’s belief that education is one of the most important responsibilities in sterile processing.
Back in the United States, he recalls working alongside technicians who had spent decades in the field but still lacked access to proper training opportunities. Rather than judging them, he became the person coworkers felt comfortable approaching with questions.
“People need training, and they deserve to be able to be honest about questions they have, or gaps in education, without being judged,” said Esnard.
This commitment to education and difficult conversations eventually expanded into new platforms, including his podcast, The Process Podcast. Esnard launched the show in 2021 because he felt too many industry conversations lacked disagreement and honest debate.
Instead, Esnard wanted to create a space where sterile processing professionals could challenge assumptions, ask difficult questions, and explore different perspectives.
“I want a hot take,” said Esnard. “I want people to think.”
His willingness to question industry norms has made him a distinctive voice within the field. Esnard openly discusses topics many professionals avoid, including the realities of following IFUs in complex clinical environments and whether years of experience always equate to expertise.
That same mindset carried into his service as a board member for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association from 2023 to 2025. During his time on the board, Esnard advocated for innovation, stronger communication and greater visibility for sterile processing professionals. He also pioneered live interviews from the HSPA expo floor, helping bring more real-time industry conversations to social media audiences.
In all of his professional endeavors, the through-line remains simple.
“I love giving back, and I love solving problems,” said Esnard. “My perspective is unique, and I have something to say.”
For Esnard, sterile processing has never been just a job title. It is a vehicle for education, innovation, and service. That mindset continues to shape the growing influence he has within the sterile processing community. Through mission work, leadership roles and candid industry conversations, Esnard is helping push the field forward while reminding professionals why their work matters in the first place.
And for the countless professionals, patients and healthcare workers he has impacted around the world, that perspective is already making a difference.
SterileBits: Make a Difference
To learn more about Deannard Esnard and connect with him on LinkedIn, click here.
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