• 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 16-22, 2018 


    AST wants to know what you love about being a surgical technologist! 

    For our NSTW contest this year "Surgical Technologists Have Heart," we’re asking you to enter our photo/video contest by submitting either a:

    • photo and description of what you love most about being a surgical technologist, or
    • short video (90 seconds maximum*) describing what you love most about being a surgical technologist. (Your video does not need to be filmed in the OR, in your hospital or surgical center. You must comply with HIPAA and your facility’s policies.)

    All qualifying entries will be entered into a drawing for prizes and may be posted to AST’s YouTube channel, Facebook page or other social media networks. A link to the entry portal will be posted on this page once the contest is live. Please review the complete list of rules before entering. 

    Photos/videos must be submitted through the contest website between September 3 and September 30. Although entries will continue to be visible online through October 7 for voting, new entries will not be accepted after September 30.

    We encourage you to vote, like and share contest photos/video using the link to the contest gallery to raise awareness of the profession and the important role of the surgical technologist. However, the number of votes received WILL NOT impact your photo/video’s eligibility for the three top prizes.


    Enter Now


    2018 Rules

    • Your entry (photo or video) must depict what you love about being a surgical technologist and you must include a description with your photo/video that describes what you love about being a surgical technologist.
    • Your entry cannot show name badges, boards or screens containing patient names, or any other view that would violate HIPAA regulations. It is also 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 prize drawing (top three prizes).
    • If your photo or video shows people other than yourself, you must get usage permission from the people in your photo 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 gave you (and subsequently AST) approval to use their likeness.
    • Photos/videos must be submitted through the contest website between September 3 and September 30. Although entries will continue to be visible online through October 7 for voting, new entries will not be accepted after September 30. 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. Winners will be notified by email and announced on AST’s Facebook and AST’s website by November 15, 2018. All prize-winning entries also will receive recognition in The Surgical Technologist.
    • 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 the drawing but will make it eligible for AST promotional prizes. Liking and sharing your entry and others’ raises awareness and help the public understand the profession and the role of the surgical technologist.


    Surgical Technologists Have Heart Contest Prizes

    The top three prizes will be drawn from a pool of all eligible entries.

    • Grand Prize: One advance member registration for AST’s 50th Surgical Technology Conference (May 29-June 1, 2019) in National Harbor, Maryland (20 minutes south of Washington DC) – a $350 value. Nonmembers are eligible but must join AST ($80) by December 1, 2018, in order to accept the prize. Conference hotel, airfare and other expenses are not included.
    • Gold Prize: $100 Amazon.com gift card
    • Silver Prize: $50 Amazon.com gift card

    Additional Prizes: After the top three prizes have been drawn, the photos/videos with the most votes will receive an AST promotional item, such as a computer messenger bag, cooler or tumbler.

  • Surg Tech Week
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