When Donna began working for UC San Diego Health in 2019 as an Environmental Services Technician, she knew it was only the beginning of her journey in healthcare. Her role involved cleaning and sanitizing operating rooms after surgeries—a job that required strength, attention to detail, and long overnight shifts. The hours were challenging, especially as a parent trying to balance work with being present for her kids.
“There was always this feeling of exhaustion, not just physically but emotionally too, because I was constantly trying to catch up with life outside of work,” Donna shares. “Still, I knew I was meant for something more—I just wasn’t sure what that looked like yet.”
Working in the operating room gave Donna a unique window into the world of healthcare. She began paying close attention to the different professionals around her and started to envision herself stepping into a more specialized role. As she considered her next move, she weighed important factors like the length of training, financial investment, and the long-term impact of automation in the healthcare field.
That’s when she came across a flyer for the UC San Diego Health Sterile Processing Technician (SPT) training program, offered in partnership with JVS.
“I’d always noticed the Sterile Processing Technicians and admired how essential their work was behind the scenes. It’s a role that ensures patient safety at the most critical level, and that really spoke to me,” Donna says.
Once accepted into the program, Donna leaned into the transition fully. Her family stepped in to support her, helping with childcare and encouraging her through long study sessions. She completed her Certificate of Proficiency through Southwestern College in San Diego and finished her internship in December 2024. Shortly after, she was offered a full-time role as an SPT at UC San Diego Health.
Today, Donna earns significantly more than she did in her previous role, and she has something even more valuable: time and presence with her children.
“It’s incredible how fast life can shift when you say yes to change,” she says. “In just a few months, I went from cleaning the operating rooms to becoming a vital part of the surgical team’s success.”
To others who may feel uncertain about pursuing a new path, Donna offers heartfelt advice. “Invest in yourself. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. The first step is simply deciding you’re worth the effort. Everything else starts to fall into place after that.”
