09/24/2025
Keller Army Community Hospital invites you to join us in celebrating National Surgical Technologist week from September 21st-27th. The theme for National Surgical Technologists Week (NSTW) 2025 is "Behind the Mask". This theme was announced by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) and aims to recognize the vital role surgical technologists play in ensuring safe and efficient surgeries every day.
In 1984, the Association of Surgical Technologists Board of Directors dedicated the third full 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.
Rooted in Patient Care
During World War II, the need for perioperative personnel was overwhelming. The role of the surgical technologist was born and evolved into a separate allied health field. Surgical technologists serve as an integral part of the surgical team providing surgical care to patients. Surgical technologists work under the supervision of a surgeon to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of surgical procedures.
US Army MOS 68D, the Operating Room Specialist, or Surgical Technologist, is a medical role focused on preparing and maintaining surgical environments, assisting during procedures, and managing medical supplies and equipment for surgery. Responsibilities include sterilizing and distributing equipment, ensuring cleanliness, and assisting the surgical team by managing the sterile field and instruments.
KACH Department of Surgery (DOS) is comprised of several US Army 68Ds and one civilian, all of whom are Surgical Technologists. US Army 68Ds receive their Surgical Technology education at the Combined Armed Forces program at METC in San Antonio, TX.
The Association of Surgical Technologists was established in 1969 by members of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the American Hospital Association (AHA), and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). Today, surgical technologists are working in one of the fastest growing professions in the country. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the surgical technology profession will grow faster than the average of all other occupations through the year 2030, and it is anticipated that the volume of surgery will increase exponentially due to the expanding senior population. As the oldest and most widely recognized professional organization for surgical technologists, AST's primary purpose is to ensure that surgical technologists have the knowledge and skills to administer patient care of the highest quality.
AST, the only national organization that represents more than 80,000 surgical technologists, is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors. On the local level, 50 formed state assemblies address member concerns and issues.
The Association of Surgical Technologists is proud of our many military members and recognizes that the roots of our profession extend back to World War II. The AST Board of Directors appointed a Military Advisory Committee in 2010 in order to reach out to our servicemen and women who work in surgical patient care. The Military Advisory Committee serves as a resource for members who are active military, reserves and retired.
