Your Stories: Saint Francis Nurses and Surgical Technicians Attend Conference
November 5, 2025Categories: Colleague Corner
The third annual Periop ConneCT Conference, organized by the Association of Peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Connecticut Chapter and OR Today, was held recently at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. Saint Francis Hospital nurses Sonja Chambers, MSN, RN, CNOR, President of AORN CT, and Brian Burrier, MSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, President-Elect of AORN CT, have been heavily involved in creating and executing the event for the last three years.
Brian Burrier, MSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, Perioperative Nursing Professional Development Specialist, at Saint Francis, at the Periop ConneCT Conference.
The 2025 event was a two-day conference and had an incredible turnout of nurses, surgical technicians, and sterile processing technologists from all over New England. It was the second year that included AST credit certification for surgical technologists and the first year that included CBSPD and SHPA credits for sterile processing technologists.
The conference included educational seminars, lunch and learn opportunities with surgical vendors, and a Vendor Hall with over 30 exhibitors. Saint Francis was represented with three poster presentations.
Sonja and Brian, who are both Perioperative Nursing Professional Development Specialists at Saint Francis, are incredibly proud of the work they put into the event, done with a huge passion for perioperative nursing. Saint Francis was well represented by nurses and surgical technologists in attendance, joined by other Trinity Health Of New England colleagues.
“We are hoping for another exciting conference next year,” said Brian. “In the meantime, we’d like to encourage every nurse, tech, or other colleague to get involved in local governing body chapters. The AORN CT Chapter 0701 does so much to promote perioperative nursing for Connecticut year-round. There are several charity opportunities, journal clubs, free educational dinners, and social gatherings to attend!”
Submitted by Brian Burrier, MSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, Perioperative Nursing Professional Development Specialist, Saint Francis Hospital.
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