The International Museum of Surgical Science (IMSS), a division of the International College of Surgeons in Chicago, is pleased to announce its newest exhibit, “The Operating Room: Surgical Technology Then and Now.” The exhibit will open on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in conjunction with AST’s Surgical Technology Conference, May 25-27. Leading sponsors for this exhibition include the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting and the Association of Surgical Technologists. “The Operating Room: Surgical Technology Then and Now” is the only exhibition of its kind and the first exhibition dedicated to the profession of surgical technology.

“The Operating Room: Surgical Technology Then and Now” at the International Museum of Surgical Science leverages widespread public interest in the field and the figures and technologies that support it. During World War II, the need for perioperative personnel was overwhelming. The role of the surgical technologist was born and evolved into a separate health field. Surgical technologists serve as an integral part of the surgical team providing surgical care to patients, working under the supervision of the surgeon to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of surgical procedures. 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 2030. To illuminate the current state of surgical technological practices, this exhibition prominently features ground-breaking medical devices and emerging innovations while also highlighting the critical trajectory of the surgical technologist.