LeAnn Ploeger blends surgical care, teaching and mentorship

LeAnn Ploeger, CST, CSFA, is being highlighted for her work as a Surgical First Assist, educator and author in Cookeville, Tennessee. Her career spans operating room specialties, classroom instruction and mentorship aimed at strengthening the surgical technology pipeline.

Why it matters: - LeAnn Ploeger works at the intersection of patient care and workforce training. - Her career reflects how surgical technologists and first assistants support complex procedures behind the scenes. - Her teaching role also affects how future surgical professionals are prepared for clinical practice.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted LeAnn Ploeger, CST, CSFA, AAS, for her work in surgical care, education and authorship. - Ploeger is based in Cookeville, Tennessee. - Ploeger has more than a decade of operating room experience across multiple specialties. - Ploeger transitioned into healthcare after working in corrections in a state penitentiary and a county jail. - Ploeger became a Certified Surgical First Assist after moving into surgical technology. - Ploeger serves as Lead Instructor for a Surgical Technology program at Fortis College. - Ploeger is also the author of The Redemption Letters: From Death Row to Heaven.

The details: - Ploeger’s surgical experience includes orthopedics, OB/GYN, bariatrics, robotics and advanced spine surgery. - As a Surgical First Assist, Ploeger works directly with physicians during procedures and supports patient safety. - Her OR responsibilities include assisting with deliveries, total joint replacements and complex spinal procedures. - Some spinal cases last several hours or extend across an entire shift. - In the classroom, Ploeger teaches lectures and leads hands-on laboratory training. - Ploeger designs simulations intended to mirror real surgical environments. - Her program includes forensic center visits, including observing autopsies, to prepare students for the emotional realities of care. - Ploeger says surgical technology requires technical skill, compassion, teamwork, accountability and lifelong learning.

Between the lines: - Ploeger’s story frames surgical technology as a high-skill career path that is often overlooked outside the operating room. - Her background in corrections, faith-driven worldview and mentorship emphasis shape how she approaches both care and teaching. - Her focus on realism in training suggests a push to close the gap between classroom preparation and operating-room demands. - Dr. Christopher Willkomm played a major mentorship role in her development, helping build her confidence and surgical skills. - Ploeger now aims to offer students the same kind of encouragement that helped her progress. - She encourages young women entering surgery to treat mistakes as part of growth and to stay resilient through setbacks. - Ploeger also wants more people to recognize how many specialized healthcare workers contribute to successful surgeries.

What's next: - Ploeger plans to keep teaching and mentoring future surgical professionals. - Her ongoing goal is to help graduates enter the field with confidence and competence. - She continues to promote awareness of surgical technology as a meaningful career path. - Ploeger also remains active in church security and medical work, college ministry and volunteer service with veterans programs. - Her work is guided by prayer, faith and the belief that her career is part of a larger calling.

The bottom line: - Ploeger’s profile highlights a healthcare professional using operating-room expertise, classroom instruction and service work to strengthen patient care and the next generation of surgical staff. - More information is available through LeAnn Ploeger's Influential Women profile.