Gene Ricupito
Vallejo,CA
Summary
Gene has substantial experience in the Healthcare industry and has a proven ability with operations and organizational change management. With over fifteen years of hands-on sterile processing leadership, as well as consulting for top-performing academic and for-profit medical enterprises, he has developed a robust skillset which emphasizes operational process improvement, quality management, regulatory compliance, technology optimization, and supply chain logistics. As director of implementation for a leading provider of sterile processing information systems, he has developed extensive capabilities with project management, business case & gap analysis development and customer relations management. Additionally, Gene has six years of experience with a broad scope of managing all aspects of Healthcare IT, including systems administration, business needs assessment, software integration, and implementation. Gene is also widely recognized as a thought leadership contributor within the international sterile processing community.
Overview
1
1
Certification
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
System Director, Sterile Processing
UCSF Health System
San Francisco, CA
02.2025 - Current
- Responsible for directing the organization’s sterile processing program currently comprised of 12 SPD sites staffed by 250+ FTEs with a $35M annual budget.
- Managed budget planning and resource allocation for health system operations, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
- Partnered with clinical leaders to align operational goals with organizational strategy, enhancing departmental collaboration.
- Analyzed performance data to identify trends and drive decision-making processes.
- Facilitated training programs to develop leadership capabilities among staff members.
- Developed detailed reports on system performance metrics for senior management review, facilitating informed decision-making.
Associate Director / Senior Project Manager
UCSF Health System
San Francisco, CA
01.2019 - Current
- Managed the organization’s portfolio of process improvement initiatives to develop performance improvements in sterile processing and high-level disinfection for the health system in alignment with enterprise strategic vision and goals.
- Collaborated with surgical services leadership to align SPD performance with enterprise strategic objectives
- Grow organization infrastructure from 3 SPD sites to 13 sites
- Revitalized and developed SPD leadership team to enhance competency and agility
- Transition of SPD workforce from 40% certified to 96% certified, with 30% holding multiple certifications
- Revitalized SPM utilization and improved data quality for comprehensive dashboards
- Implementation of loaner set management solution
Co-founder & Managing Partner
C&R Healthcare Partners, LLC
Porter Ranch, CA
01.2015 - 01.2019
- Directed firm operations, strategy, and client engagement delivery to enhance service quality and client satisfaction.
- Development and launch of a start-up management consulting firm specializing in healthcare sterile processing, clinical supply chain, and perioperative services
- Provided oversight and subject matter advisory support for a multi-disciplinary transformation engagement for a major academic health system involving perioperative services, sterile processing, and clinical supply chain.
- Provided oversight and subject matter advisory support for ambulatory reprocessing center preparation and launch.
- Strategic business development and catalyst design advisory services for Medical Device/Life Sciences clients
- Evaluated market trends to identify and capitalize on new business opportunities in healthcare services, driving growth initiatives.
- Established and nurtured relationships with key customers, vendors, and partners to foster collaboration and support business development.
Manager, Healthcare Advisory Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (PwC)
Los Angeles, CA
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Led client engagement projects with outcome-focused deliverables to solve complex operational and business issues, focusing on current-state practices assessment, future-state modeling, stakeholder engagement, change management frameworks, and speed-to-value implementation methodologies.
- Managed sterile processing department transition and operational improvement project at a regional trauma center, enhancing departmental efficiency and effectiveness.
- Oversaw interim management and operations stabilization for sterile processing at a critical access hospital, ensuring smooth operational continuity.
- Directed advance preparation and launch of sterile processing area in an ambulatory surgery center, facilitating timely service delivery and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Led workstream for Epic OpTime upgrades at a large academic medical center.
Senior Clinical Specialist
Implementation Specialists in Healthcare (ISH), Inc.
Fairfield, NJ
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Led sterile processing transformation project, performing database cleansing, optimizing applications, and enhancing operational processes for critical access hospital.
- Coordinated SPD information system database cleanse and application cutover (SPM to TDOC) project for large academic medical enterprise, ensuring successful transition and operational improvement.
- Provided clinical and operational advisory services to clients in perioperative services, sterile processing, clinical supply chain, application implementation, workflow redesign, and process engineering, enhancing integration of leading practices.
- (ISH was acquired by PwC in June 2011.)
Director of Implementation
Materials Management Microsystems
Mequon, WI
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Directed national team of consultants to deliver on-site implementation support and ongoing client services for SPM product line.
- Senior oversight of new implementation and annual upgrade projects for 225+ client accounts resulting in workforce alignment with budget and client demand
- Reviewed and redesigned implementation processes, enhancing inception-to-in-place cycle times.
- Supported and tested integration with surgical information systems: Epic OpTime, SIS, GE CPM, and PICIS ORM, facilitating successful commercialization.
- Implementation project lead for large multi-site academic medical centers and IDNs including Atlantic Health, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente, resulting in implementations within scope, on schedule, and within budget
OR Systems Administrator (Principal Administrative Analyst)
UCLA Health System
Los Angeles, CA
01.2000 - 01.2007
- Administrator reporting to the department of financial systems, overseeing all aspects of the Operating Room Information infrastructure for enterprise OR sites.
- Managed backend system performance, inbound/outbound interfaces, system security, and server and database maintenance for the GE Centricity Perioperative Manager (CPM) application.
- Implementation of GE CPM perioperative charting application for UCLA/Santa Monica Hospital, resulting in successful transition to online documentation.
- Migrated system hardware/software platforms for OR scheduling & charting systems to Oracle & IBM RISC servers, completing project on time and within budget.
- Implementation of Microsystems’ SPM for all enterprise OR and CS/SPD sites resulting in successful transition to automated asset management capabilities.
- Developed and implemented custom OR business analytics and benchmark reporting databases, enhancing accuracy of performance metrics reporting.
- Developed end-user documentation and training to promote best practices for application use.
OR SPD Manager (MSO I)
UCLA Health System
Los Angeles, CA
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Sterile processing manager for the UCLA Main Operating Room department providing all aspects of surgical instrument reprocessing and sterilization, surgical case cart management, with oversight of 24/7 operations, sterilization related regulatory compliance and quality management.
- Managed day-to-day operations for Main OR SPD with 21 FTEs in a collective bargaining environment, enhancing staff balancing in alignment with budget.
- Oversaw reorganization and remodel projects for Main OR sterile processing and supply areas, achieving operational improvements ahead of hospital transition.
- Developed and implemented interim instrument set count sheet and physician preference database solutions, transitioning from manual to computer-based resource management prior to adopting commercial-off-the-shelf solutions.
Education
MBA - Leadership & Management
York St. John University
North Yorkshire, UKSkills
- Sterile processing
- Advanced understanding of Instrument Tracking Systems
- Compliance oversight
- Process improvement
- Data analysis
- Budget planning
- Project management
- Project planning
- Change management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Vendor management
- Strategic alignment
- Leadership development
- Organizational development
- Team building
- Root-cause analysis
- IT systems management
- IT infrastructure
- System administration
- Application support
- Software management
- Disaster recovery planning
- Business intelligence
- Functional & business requirements
- Strategic thinking
- SOP writing
- Client relationship management
Affiliations
- Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)
- Pacific West Sterile Processing Association (PWSPA)
- Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
Certification
- Project Management Institute, PMP
- HSPA CRCST – Certified Registered Central Service Technician
- HSPA CIS – Certified Instrument Specialist
- HSPA CHL – Certification in Healthcare Leadership
Publications
- APIC Text, 4th edition, 2024 Chapter 32, Reprocessing Single-Use Devices – Contributing Author
- IAHCSMM Central Service Leadership Manual, Chapter 25 - Central Service Leaders and Healthcare Information Systems, IAHCSMM 2020 - Contributing Author
- The Impact of FDA UDI for CSSD – (Sponsored by 3M) HPN December 2014 - Author
- IAHCSMM Certified Instrument Specialist Manual, Chapter 9 – The Instrument Information System, IAHCSMM 2013 - Contributing Author
- IAHCSMM Central Service Technicians Manual, 8th edition, Chapter 19 - Tracking Systems, IAHCSMM 2012 - Contributing Author
- IAHCSMM Central Service Leadership Manual, Chapter 25 - Central Service Leaders and Healthcare Information Systems, IAHCSMM 2012 - Contributing Author
- Do You Actively Manage the Perception of Quality of Your SPD? - Hospitals and Health Networks, June 2012 – Contributing Author
- Leveraging SPD Quality Improvements by following the IOM's Six Aims - Materials Management in Healthcare, September 2009
- Endoscope Processing Incidents Represent Partnership Opportunity - Materials Management in Healthcare, June 2009 - Author
- Making Improvements in Tough Times - Materials Management in Healthcare, April 2009 - Author
- Building Quality Leadership for a Stronger Department and Organization - Materials Management in Healthcare, January 2009 - Author
- Preparation for Staffing Shortages Now Will Mitigate Challenges Later - Materials Management in healthcare, June 2008 - Author
- Understanding Quality Assurance Guidelines and Taking Ownership - Materials Management in Healthcare, March 2008 – Author
- Consignment Trays and the Hidden Costs of Sterilization - Materials Management in Healthcare, December 2006 - Author
Lectures
- Program Management Concepts for Sterile Processing – PWSPA 2024 Annual Conference, Rancho Mirage, CA
- Practical Methods for Capturing Performance Indicators and Leveraging Their Value – CCSA Jan 2022
- Essential Leadership Concepts for CSSD Professionals – CCSA 2021 Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV
- Line in the Sand: Labeling, Validation and IFU’s – CCSA 2019 Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV
- Connecting with Revolution: Making Lasting Changes in CSSD – IAHCSMM 2019 Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA
- The Healthcare Climate 2017: Impacts to the CSSD Landscape – CCSA 2017 Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV
- The Ever-Changing Healthcare Climate: Managing the impacts to CSSD – CCSA 2016 Conference, Walnut Creek, CA
- Developing Leadership Capabilities in the Ever-Changing Healthcare Climate – Keynote Address, Censis Technologies Users Conference 2015, Nashville, TN
- UDI Impacts for Healthcare Providers – IAHCSMM 2015 Annual Conference, Ft Lauderdale, FL
- CSSD Logistics and Workflow Optimization – 2013 Congress Centro De Distribucion De Productos Hospitalarios Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
- Program Management - Practical Applications for SPD - IAHCSMM 2012 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM
- Program Management Concepts for Sterile Processing - IAHCSMM 2011 Annual Conference, Louisville, KY
- Audit Trail and JCAHO Compliance - Materials Management Microsystems 2010 Annual Customer Education Program (Co-Presenter) Milwaukee, WI
- Planning for SPM System Enhancement - Materials Management Microsystems 2010 Annual Customer Education Program Milwaukee, WI
- Systems Planning for Sterile Processing - CCSA 2010 Conference Redondo Beach, CA
- Systems Planning for Sterile Processing - NJHCSA 2010 Conference, Atlantic City, NJ
- Integration Opportunities with Sterile Processing Management Systems - IAHCSMM 2009 Annual Conference, Orlando, FL
- Using SPM to Measure & Improve Department Quality - Materials Management Microsystems 2008 Annual Customer Education Program
- Inventory Management and Tracking Systems - CCSA 2007 Annual Conference Oakland, CA
- Using SPM to Measure & Improve Department Quality - Materials Management Microsystems 2007 Annual Customer Education Program Milwaukee, WI
- Managing Change - Materials Management Microsystems 2007 Annual Customer Education Program (Co-Presenter) Milwaukee, WI
- The value of Integrating OR and Sterile Processing Systems - RMCHCSP and DAORN 2007 annual Conference Denver, CO
- The Electronic Health Record: A Collaborative Approach - RMCHCSP and DAORN 2007 annual Conference Denver, CO
- Using CPT Codes for Procedure Scheduling and Physician Preference Lists - OR Business Management Conference 2006 Austin, TX
- Standardization for Efficient Preference Card Management and CPT4 Coding - GE 2005 Collective Knowledge User Summit, (Co-Presenter) Dallas, TX
- Emerging strategies for best use of computer technologies in the CS/SPD arena - CCSA 2005 Annual Conference Las Vegas, NV
- Computer Systems in Central Service - IAHCSMM 2002 Annual Conference Orlando, FL
Accomplishments
- Recipient ASP STERRAD Systems Legacy Award, 2024
Timeline
System Director, Sterile Processing
UCSF Health System
02.2025 - Current
Associate Director / Senior Project Manager
UCSF Health System
01.2019 - Current
Co-founder & Managing Partner
C&R Healthcare Partners, LLC
01.2015 - 01.2019
Manager, Healthcare Advisory Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (PwC)
01.2011 - 01.2014
Senior Clinical Specialist
Implementation Specialists in Healthcare (ISH), Inc.
01.2010 - 01.2011
Director of Implementation
Materials Management Microsystems
01.2007 - 01.2010
OR Systems Administrator (Principal Administrative Analyst)
UCLA Health System
01.2000 - 01.2007
OR SPD Manager (MSO I)
UCLA Health System
01.1997 - 01.2000
MBA - Leadership & Management
York St. John University