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). Surgical technology is one of the fastest growing professions in the country. It is projected to grow faster than the average of all other occupations through the year 2012. AST offers a wealth of member benefits to help you advance your career and provide high quality patient care.