Tanya Stellges, CRCST, is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, as she ensures regulations, policies and procedures are strictly followed for the high-level disinfection and sterilization of instruments and devices to keep patients and providers safe.
Because of her leadership, dedication to patients and her colleagues, and commitment to quality, Stellges received a Credo Award at the September VUMC Leadership Assembly.
“Tanya Stellges is the embodiment of ‘I make those I serve my highest priority,’” shared a colleague.
As program director of High-level Disinfection and Sterilization in the Department of Infection Prevention (IP) in Quality, Safety and Risk Prevention (QSRP), Stellges and two staff members — they call themselves “a mighty team of three” — support over 14 sterile processing departments, 73 high-level disinfection sites and more than 300 inpatient and ambulatory sites.
After medical instruments and devices are used, they are decontaminated before they can be reused. In high-level disinfection (HLD), chemicals are used to eliminate most contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria. In sterile processing (SP), all contaminants are removed. The level of disinfection required depends on what the item is and how it’s used.
Stellges recently led a multidisciplinary group to improve tracking of GI endoscopes. Linking these to a specific patient is critical if, for example, there is an issue with device reprocessing or a device recall.
Stellges worked with frontline leaders, IT specialists and proceduralists to understand workflows and existing tracking processes. She advocated for improvement and developed training to implement standardized processes throughout VUMC.
“In June 2024, over 99% of endoscopes were compliant with tracking documentation,” reported her QSRP colleagues. “This is just one example of Tanya’s leadership that led to cross-facility collaboration, standardization of practice, and ultimately reduced risk to our patients.”
Stellges realized she wanted to work in medicine early on as she assisted her older parents in managing their health, so in college she earned a bachelor’s degree in health care administration.
“I knew I wanted to make an impact and ensure every patient gets the quality of care they deserve,” said Stellges. “I never knew what sterile processing was or that it even existed until moving to Nashville and being introduced to this by my husband, who served as a surgical repair technician. That was it! I wanted to learn everything, including the science behind it.”
Stellges joined the VUMC Sterile Processing Department (SPD) in 2008, first working in offsite reprocessing to support Vanderbilt University Hospital operating rooms. She continued to grow her career, managing the perioperative endosurgery suite and directing both the pediatric and adult perioperative sterile processing departments.
In December 2019, Stellges joined the QSRP team as an infection preventionist, working alongside IP nurses she credits with teaching her everything they knew. And then the pandemic hit.
“The COVID-19 outbreak challenged the work we did, but it made our team closer and stronger as we supported each other during long hours, being on call, keeping up with new information we were learning in the moment, and ensuring frontline leaders and staff were up to date with the changes,” she said.
As the pandemic settled, Stellges was tapped to assist with internal auditing to standardize IP practices across VUMC, which then led to her establishing and directing a program specializing in sterile processing and high-level disinfection practices.
In this role she serves as a subject matter expert and partners closely with sterile processing and high-level disinfection departments and clinicians across the enterprise, including the regional hospitals. Stellges conducts environment of care surveys to ensure compliance, works to establish SP and HLD practices at new clinics and site acquisitions, creates training, and audits reprocessing records. And she loves it all.
Away from work, Stellges enjoys doing anything outdoors, especially being on the water. She shares her life with her husband, three dogs and 10 city chickens.
“Never would I have thought I would fall in love with livestock,” she laughed.
View Tanya Stellges’ video from Leadership Assembly.
If you are a VUMC employee, you can nominate a colleague for an Elevate Credo Award, Five Pillar Leader Award, or Team Award. Visit the Elevate website to fill out a nomination form. Employees demonstrate credo behaviors when: they make those they serve the highest priority; respect privacy and confidentiality; communicate effectively; conduct themselves professionally; have a sense of ownership; and are committed to their colleagues. Elevate award nominations are accepted year-round. If a nomination is received after the cut off for an award selection period, the nomination will be considered for the next period. VUMC VOICE will post stories on each of the award winners in the weeks following their announcement.
