2026 Joint ASA/NSAA Conference in Atlanta, GA Recap

59th Mattox Trauma Critical Care & Acute Care Surgery Conference Wrap Up

Kelly and John discuss John’s experience attending the Maddox Trauma Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Conference and the Medical Disaster Response conference in Las Vegas, highlighting why these events are valuable for surgical assistants. John shares meeting Dr. Kenneth Maddox and keynote speaker Dr. Frank Butler, and explains how the conference offers cutting-edge trauma, acute care, and disaster-response education, panel Q&As, vendor innovations, and substantial CE opportunities. They cover practical logistics and cost-saving strategies such as early registration, requesting discounted rates, hotel deals, possible hospital reimbursement, and combining the trip with a vacation. John also notes key takeaways like ransomware preparedness, AI in the OR, ongoing debates such as REBOA, and recommends a reusable bowel suturing simulator from LifeLike BioTissue for at-home practice. For Information on the Mattox Conference: https://www.trauma-criticalcare.com/ For Lifelike 2 layer Bowel Simulated Tissue: https://lifelikebiotissue.com/

2026 Joint ASA/NSAA Conference in Atlanta, GA Recap

John interviews co-host Kelly about her experience at the recent joint ASA/NSAA conference in Atlanta, which sold out with 173 attendees and over 200 including vendors. Kelly explains the typical conference flow, from Friday registration and optional pre-conference workshops to the State of the Association updates and keynote, followed by Saturday’s scientific sessions, vendor hall networking, and raffles. She shares highlights including a stapling technologies workshop with historical devices, standout vendor products like the SYLK incision dressing, and impactful talks on complex deformity correction, colorectal surgery, bariatric duodenal switch, wound closure principles, and neurosurgical considerations. Kelly notes strong professional energy, cross-mingling between organizations, progress toward unification under the American Academy of Surgical Assistants, and announces next year’s conference in Tampa, April 16–17, 2027.

Educational Spotlight: FTCC SFA Program

In this episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast, host John interviews Dr. Terry Herring, division chair for surgical services and director/founder of the Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) Surgical First Assistant program, launched in 2019. Herring explains the program is entirely online with a paid, work-based learning clinical component where students count cases at their current employer under surgeon preceptorship. Admission requires candidates to be credentialed surgical technologists and already hold an associate degree. They discuss certification expectations, professional organization membership, and why SFA roles are growing as a cost-effective hospital model. For Information of enrolling in FTCC's SFA program or program questions please contact Dr. Herring at: herringt@faytechcc.edu

Hernia Series - Part 1: Inguinal Hernia

Welcome to Season 2 of the Surgical Assistant Podcast! In this episode, Kelly and John dive into the world of hernias, starting with inguinal hernias. They discuss the basics of what a hernia is, the differences between direct and indirect inguinal hernias, and highlight key anatomical landmarks. They also touch on the historical evolution of hernia surgery and offer practical tips on prepping and draping for these procedures. Stay tuned for insights on mesh types, surgical techniques, and more to keep you informed and at the top of your game in the OR. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 00:00 Welcome to Season Two 00:30 Introduction to Hernia Series 01:22 Understanding Hernias 03:44 Inguinal Hernia Anatomy 05:07 Direct vs Indirect Hernias 09:22 Hernia Repair Techniques 11:39 Historical Evolution of Hernia Surgery 14:24 Anatomical Landmarks and Surgical Considerations 14:40 Triangle of Pain and Triangle of Doom 17:17 Robotic and Laparoscopic Approaches 25:06 Critical Anatomy in Hernia Surgery 25:33 Regional Variations in Surgical Techniques 26:23 Prepping and Draping for Inguinal Hernia Surgery 32:10 Open Inguinal Hernia Repair: Step-by-Step 34:43 Mesh Types and Techniques in Hernia Repair 39:21 Robotic and Laparoscopic Hernia Repair 42:26 Tips and Tricks for Surgical Assistants 49:02 Conclusion and Upcoming Events https://youtu.be/lscA6BPhE70?si=UaF3cKJzm390EUnf https://youtu.be/pSy5zOeV4N8?si=E_9eSC4DdpcFSURB https://www.youtube.com/@drlourie/videos

The Game Changer for Surgical Assistants: All-Stars Surgical Assist Revolutionary Billing Model

Welcome to another episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast! Join John and Kelly as they sit down with Dan Payson and Lou Magrone from Allstar Surgical Assist, a New Jersey-based company aiming to revolutionize the field of surgical assisting. This episode delves into the innovative billing model introduced by Allstar Surgical Assist, which sets out to provide a game-changing solution for independent surgical assistants. Learn how this model alleviates the common headaches tied to insurance reimbursements and variability in income, allowing surgical assistants to control their schedules and focus on what they do best. Listen in as Dan and Lou share their insights, the onboarding process, and how they support providers in growing their own first assist businesses. This episode is jam-packed with valuable information for anyone in the surgical assisting field or those considering making the switch to an independent practice. Don't forget to check out the links in the description for more information! https://allstarssurgical.com info@allstarssurgical.com