AST Headquarters will be closed Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, January 21 at 8 am MT.

RECERTIFICATION Advanced CE

  • National Surgical Technologists Week

    You are worth celebrating. You work hard for your team. You make the operating room efficient while ensuring patient safety. You deserve recognition! That’s why, in 1984, the Association of Surgical Technologists Board of Directors dedicated the third week in September to recognizing you and your profession. National Surgical Technologists Week has been celebrated every year since and has become a national phenomenon. 

  • National Surgical Technologists Week

    September 15-21, 2019


    Who's Your Surg Tech Superhero? Tell Us and Win!

    For AST’s 50th anniversary, we’re celebrating the superheroes of our profession. Some of these members line the walls of our Hall of Presidents; are recognized in our textbooks, study guides and core curriculums; are printed in issues of The Surgical Technologist; and are listed on our state assembly websites. But many more are unsung heroes from the classroom, clinical site and OR suite. Those are the surg tech superheroes who inspire others – who inspire you!

    Nominate your surg tech superhero for recognition on AST’s website and the chance to win a conference registration for you and your superhero to AST’s Surgical Technology Conference in Atlanta, May 28-30, 2020. (See Rules and Prizes for details.)

    The first 50 techs to nominate someone will receive a 50th anniversary or superhero promotional item. We encourage you to nominate early to receive the best prizes.

    Nominate Your Superhero

    Rules on How Nominate Your Surg Tech Superhero

    • Nominations should be at least 250 words, but no more than 1,000 words. Submissions that do not meet this requirement, or that exceed it, will be disqualified from winning the grand prize
    • With your nomination you must upload a photo of your surg tech superhero or a photo of the two of you together. It is your responsibility to ensure that HIPAA protocols for your facility are not violated
    • Photos submitted with your nomination cannot show name badges, boards or screens containing patient names, or any other view that would violate HIPAA regulations. It is your responsibility to know you employer’s policy about photography/videography and the use of cell phones in your facility. AST is not liable for any disciplinary action taken against you for failing to know and follow your employer’s policy
    • While you can nominate anyone in the field as a superhero, to qualify for the grand prize conference registrations, you and your superhero must be current AST members and Certified Surgical Technologists
    • Nominations must be received by September 30, 2019. The Foundation for Surgical Technology will judge entries in October and the grand prize winners (tech and their superhero) will be notified in November
    • Nominations that include foul language or inappropriate material will be removed and disqualified for prizes.
    • One nomination per person.
    • Nominations must be submitted through the contest website between September 3 and September 30. Although entries will continue to be visible online, new nominations will not be accepted after September 30. Mailed or emailed entries will not be accepted, nor will nominations posted only to AST’s Facebook page. If you are having trouble with the nomination form, contact deanna.geldens@ast.org.
    • To receive a prize, you must fill out the entry form completely, including a valid mailing address, email address and phone number. Winners will be notified by email and announced on AST’s website by November 15, 2019. Top entries also will receive recognition in The Surgical Technologist.

    Judging Criteria

    Nominations will be judged on their ability to describe their surgical technologist superhero in an articulate, clear and organized manner. Qualifying nominations will be evaluated by impartial judge from the Foundation for Surgical Technology based on the following criteria:

    • Thoughtful points describing the nominee’s work and influence in the field of surgical technology
    • Background information or examples to support the points above
    • Clearly written and well-organized nomination
    • Spelling, grammar and mechanics

    Ownership and Use

    By entering your nomination into this contest, you give permission and consent, without compensation, with or without attribution, for AST to use, reproduce, transmit, post, distribute, adapt, edit, and/or display the nomination and corresponding photo(s).

    How to Submit

    Apply through the contest link above or through AST's Facebook page. (No submissions posted directly to AST’s Facebook page will be accepted). The link will be live September 3-30. No new nominations will be accepted after September 30.


    Surgical Technologists Superpower Contest

    During National Surgical Technologists Week, AST is celebrating YOU – our surgical tech superheroes. We appreciate the hard work, knowledge and skill you put into your work to keep patients safe. 

    So, what’s your surgical tech superpower?

    • Anticipates faster than an overcaffeinated surgeon?
    • A bladder more powerful than a hip joint bone hammer?
    • Able to organize a back table (and keep it sterile) in seconds?
    • A memory that can recite the contents of instrument sets in your sleep?

    This year, enter our annual photo/video contest by submitting either:

    • photo of you as a surg tech superhero or of you demonstrating your surg tech superpower, along with a short description of your super power.
    • short video (90 seconds maximum*) describing what you love most about being a surgical technologist. 

    BE ADVISED: Your photo or video does not need to be shot in the OR, in your hospital or surgical center. You must comply with HIPAA and your facility’s policies. 

    Super Power Contest Prizes

    The first 50 entries will receive a superhero or anniversary promotional item from AST’s stock – the earlier you enter, the better the prize. Plus, all participants will be entered into a drawing to receive a $100 Amazon gift card.

    Share Your Surg Tech Superpower

    2019 Rules

    • Your entry must include a photo or video of you and must include a description that describes your surgical tech super power.
    • Your entry cannot show name badges, boards or screens containing patient names, or any other view that would violate HIPAA regulations. It is your responsibility to know your employer’s policy about photography/videography and the use of cell phones in your facility. AST is not liable for any disciplinary action taken against you for failing to know and follow your employer’s policy. 
    • Videos should be 150 MB or less and filmed horizontally (hold your cell phone sideways).
    • Video editing is allowed and encouraged. *Videos longer than 90 seconds will be disqualified from the Amazon gift card drawing.
    • If your photo or video includes people other than yourself, you must get usage permission from these people before entering it into this contest. Your entry will appear online and, possibly, in print. By entering, you are verifying that everyone in the photo/video gave you (and subsequently AST) approval to use their likeness.
    • Photos/videos must be submitted through the contest website between Tuesday, September 3 and Monday, September 30. Although entries will continue to be visible online after September 30, new entries will not be accepted. Mailed or emailed entries will not be accepted, nor will photos or videos posted only to AST’s Facebook page. If you are having trouble uploading photos from your phone or computer, contact deanna.geldens@ast.org.
    • Only one person can enter a photo/video (no duplicate entries), and only one entry is allowed per person. The surgical technologist who submits the photo or video to the contest will win the prize. Prizes are nontransferable.
    • Photo/video entries may be disqualified and removed at AST’s discretion at any time, without notification. Causes for disqualification include a HIPAA violation, lack of permission from subjects in the photo, profanity/obscenities, blatant sales or product pitches, etc.
    • You must submit a valid mailing address, email address and phone number to receive a prize. The first 50 prizes will be mailed in early October. The Amazon Gift Card winner will be notified by email and announced on AST’s Facebook and AST’s website by November 15, 2019.
    • By entering your nomination into this contest, you give permission and consent, without compensation, with or without attribution, for AST to use, reproduce, transmit, post, distribute, adapt, edit, and/or display the nomination and corresponding photo(s).
    • Previous grand prize winners of National Surgical Technologists Week contests are not eligible to win the grand prize again but are eligible for other prizes.

    REMINDER: The number of votes for an entry will have NO impact on whether it qualifies for AST promotional prizes. Liking and sharing your entry and others’ raises awareness and helps the public understand the profession and the role of the surgical technologist.