The Mercy Ships Experience
From PROCESS THIS!, a Podcast by HSPA by Healthcare Sterile Processing Association
June 8, 2026 · 17 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the experiences of Sterile Processing technicians on Mercy Ships missions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Every year, the HSPA Foundation offers scholarships for Sterile Processing technicians to serve on a Mercy Ships mission, bringing their expertise and passion to those in need in Sub-Saharan Africa. In episode 152, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Kimberly Polard and Oliver Etcu about the Mercy Ships organization and life on a medical mission ship. Polard describes the application process and her experiences onboard. Etcu reviews how Mercy Ships collaborates with local governments to select ports of call and identify the inviting country’s most urgent medical and educational needs. Listen to learn about the life-changing work of Mercy Ships. Etcu also recommends watching The Mercy Ships , a reality show being filmed on board, which he says is “a very good way to experience what the ship has to offer from a volunteer’s point of view.” Stream season 1 here . Our Guests Kimberly Polard, Sterile Processing Technician Kimberly Polard, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CER, is an SP technician with five years of experience, including time spent serving on Mercy Ships. Her time at sea deepened her appreciation for the power of teamwork and dedication in healthcare. She is passionate about the critical…
People in this episode
Host: Casey Czarnowski
Guests: Kimberly Polard, Oliver Etcu
Topics covered
- Sterile Processing
- Mercy Ships
- Medical Missions
- Healthcare
- Teamwork
Keywords
- Sterile Processing
- Mercy Ships
- medical mission
- healthcare teamwork
- scholarships
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Mercy Ships, HSPA Foundation
Places: Sub-Saharan Africa
More episodes of PROCESS THIS!, a Podcast by HSPA
- Process THIS! Episode 151: New Perspectives on Chemical Exposure Limits in Sterile Processing · May 27, 2026
- Process THIS! Episode 150: ST108 Implementation Pinch Points · May 14, 2026 · 25 min
- Process THIS! Episode 149: Meet the New President! · April 30, 2026 · 19 min
- Process THIS! Episode 148: Harmonizing Process and Policy · April 14, 2026 · 28 min
- Process THIS! Episode 147: Updating HSPA’s CHL Manual · April 1, 2026 · 24 min
- Process THIS! Episode 146: Sustainability and Shelf Life for Blue Wrap · March 15, 2026 · 1h 6m
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