Catching Up With Damien Berg, BA, BS, CRCST, AAMIF, HSPA Vice President of Strategic Intiatives

As the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) gears up for its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, excitement is building across the industry. Marking a full-circle moment for many, this year’s event returns to a city last visited in 2010 and promises to be one of the most impactful yet. With record vendors and international attendees, HSPA 2025 is tracking attendance close to pre-COVID-19 levels despite funding issues.

To learn about the exciting events scheduled at the Kentucky International Convention Center, Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®) reached out to Damien Berg, BA, BS, CRCST, AAMIF is the vice president of strategic initiatives for the HSPA.

Berg is excited about the conference, and it shows in his voice and smile. He explained that the conference would be set in a highly walkable downtown area with hotels conveniently connected to the conference center. This year’s gathering was structured to optimize learning, networking, and community connection. The weekend starts with preconference workshops and chapter meetings on Saturday, followed by main conference sessions starting Sunday, and a packed schedule through Tuesday, including a robust lineup of speakers, education tracks, and expo events.

Then Berg gave ICT an exciting scoop: One of the most heartwarming highlights is a charitable initiative from HSPA’s nonprofit foundation.

Damien Berg, BA, BS, CRCST, AAMIF, is the vice president of strategic initiatives for the HSPA.

“[The surprise is] donated through the foundation and through one of our prime sponsors, which is Solventum this year, so we're really happy to be able to do that for a give back to the children's hospital in the local community of Louisville.”

New this year, Berg said, is the launch of “HSPA TV,” an innovative booth experience where key figures and attendees will be interviewed about sterile processing, career pathways, and why conference attendance is vital. The goal is to produce meaningful video content to be shared with C-suite executives, policymakers, and even high school counselors to promote the field and secure future support.

One major portion of the conference will also feature critical updates on AAMI standards from HSPA leaders. Topics will include newly published and in-progress documents related to water quality, low-temperature sterilization, and UV disinfection. Berg explained, for the first time, attendees will receive a practical takeaway—likely in the form of a QR code or printed handout—that crosswalks terminology, relevance, and committee membership, empowering them to explore standards work and even join committees themselves.

“We're going to review the upcoming standards that have been approved and published for 2024 and even 2025,” Berg said. “One just got published last week, the transportation document, which is exciting. So, we'll talk about water quality, low temperature, and transport. Then, we're going to discuss upcoming documents. I'm working very closely with the UV disinfection standard. Once SD 79 is opened, we'll start working on that document. There are also a few other critical documents out there for our end users.”

Beyond the agenda, the deeper purpose of the conference is to recharge sterile processing professionals. Maintaining motivation and pride can be challenging with sterile processing, which is often a behind-the-scenes role. The event serves as a reminder of the profound patient impact made by technicians—underscored by personal stories, such as the recent surgery of Berg’s wife, reinforcing the essential role of every technician who prepared her surgical instruments.

Berg also discusses burnout and the demanding nature of health care roles. HSPA emphasizes the importance of self-care, professional development, and staying connected to the mission. Conferences like this one provide technical education and emotional inspiration, reaffirming the value of every sterile processing professional in patient safety.

“Now, we all have good days and bad days, but you can't dwell on the bad days. You need to have more good days than bad days, especially when considering a person, patient, or outcome. Because we don't get to see the patients go home. We don't get to see them say thank you. We don't witness that, but we should, internally, recognize that it's happening. So, I believe the significant challenge for us is to keep our professionals aware of their importance, ensuring they remain current and up to date on standards, education, best practices, and, more importantly, self-care. They need to take care of themselves to have pride in what they do.”

Looking ahead, HSPA is also expanding its influence into emerging areas such as veterinary medicine, dental reprocessing, and infection prevention. With growing collaboration between associations like the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, and AAMI, the sterile processing profession is poised to grow more integrated, respected, and vital than ever before.

Berg reminds us that HSPA 2025 is not just a conference—it is a celebration of progress, purpose, and the people who make safe surgery possible.

HSPA 2025 in Louisville promises inspiring education, charitable outreach, and professional growth, empowering sterile processing professionals through standards updates, networking, and renewed purpose in patient safety.