The Surgical Assistant Podcast

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 dis...

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...

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...

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...

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 indepen...

Join us in this insightful episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast as hosts John and Kelly welcome Dan Payson and Lou Magrone from Allstar Surgical Assist. Dan and Lou share their game-changing model designed to empower surgical assistants by simplifying billing and improving reimbursement rates. Discover how their approach is transforming the profession, offering independent surgical assistants...

A Year in Review: Celebrating Milestones and Looking Ahead Surgical Assistant Podcast Welcome to the latest episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast with Kelly and John. In this holiday-themed episode, Kelly and John reminisce about their favorite Christmas traditions and discuss the rapid pace of the holiday season. They reflect on the journey and growth of the podcast, celebrating one year of i...

Exclusive Interview with the New ASA President: Future of Surgical AssistantsIn this episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast, hosts John and Kelly welcome a special guest, Michael Morrison, the newly elected president of the Association of Surgical Assistants. Michael discusses his extensive experience in the field and shares insights into the future directions of the ASA under his leadership. T...

Welcome to the latest episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast! Join hosts John and Kelly as they welcome David Bartczak, owner of Mederi Surgical Billing Company, for an enlightening discussion on surgical assistant billing. David shares his 17 years of billing experience and 24 years in the operating room, providing a deep dive into the nuances of independent surgical assisting, billing, and co...

In this episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast, Kelly and John discuss the challenges and solutions for accommodating students in the operating room. They delve into the different types of students such as medical, nursing, and PA students, and share their personal experiences and stories from the OR. They emphasize the importance of being kind, respectful, and professional while teaching and g...

In this episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast, hosts Kelly and John welcome back special guest Jason Bonavito, a certified surgical first assistant from Charleston, South Carolina. The discussion focuses on the physical challenges faced by surgical assistants and the significance of fitness and well-being in the profession. They delve into practical tips and exercises to manage physical demand...

In this insightful episode of the Surgical Assistant Podcast, hosts Kelly and John dive into the intricate world of billing for surgical assistants with expert guest David Bartczak from Houston, Texas. David, an accomplished LSA and orthopedic P.A., shares his extensive knowledge and experience in both clinical practice and billing management. From understanding medical billing codes to navigating...

Welcome to the Surgical Assistant Podcast! In this episode, hosts John and Kelly are joined by Dr. Karishma Reddy, a renowned plastic surgeon from Virginia. They dive deep into various aspects of cosmetic breast surgery, discussing reduction mammoplasty, augmentation mammoplasty, techniques to avoid complications, and the latest in breast implant technology. Dr. Reddy also shares insights into her...

In this episode, John and Kelly interview Rob Blackstone, Program Director of the newly established Surgical First Assistant program at the College of Western Idaho. The discussion covers key aspects of the program, including admission prerequisites, laboratory training, tuition costs, and the structure of the clinical internship.

In this episode Kelly and John discuss traveling and give a few tips and tricks on finding an assignment. They also discuss how to find housing as well as some other pointers for finding your first assignment.

In this anesthesia part 1 episode Kelly and John begin with some practical pointers, tips, and tricks.

In this episode John and Kelly talk about the 2025 Joint NSAA/ASA spring Conference in Dallas, TX. They describe the preconference workshops as well as updates about both organizations. The creation of the American Academy of Surgical Assistants. Then give an overview of the presentations as well as legislative updates.

In this episode Kelly and John discuss and compare the idea of being a "Jack of all Trades" as a Surgical Assistant or having a broad skill base. Is it better to specialize in one surgical discipline or have a broad skill set over many of the common surgical specialties.

In this special episode for Surgical Assistant week John and Kelly interview the ASA President Fred Fisher. Learn about the history of Surgical Assisting as well what the profession was like in the early days. Also, hear Fred's advice for new Surgical Assistants. Learn what "Surgeonese" is and why it is so important for new Surgical Assistants to learn it!

In this episode John and Kelly discuss some of the most common positions for the surgical patient. They also discuss some of the specific devices and techniques for safely positioning a patient. Once you understand the principle behind safe positioning it allows you to be as creative as you need. Trenguard: https://www.steris.com/healthcare/products/surgical-table-accessories/trendelenburg-positio...

Kelly and John Discuss some of the available professional educational resources for Surgical Assistants. Kelly and John also share what resources they have and use. They discuss textbooks, conferences, podcasts, as well as other educational resources.00:00 "Scrubbing Up on Educational Resources"00:13 Introduction and Welcome00:23 Overview of Professional Resources00:57 Conferences: A Mus...

In this episode Kelly and John discuss the importance of reviewing the Patient's H&P before surgery. 00:00 Episode 10 H&P 00:09 Introduction and Greetings 00:36 Upcoming Conference Announcement 02:05 Importance of Attending Conferences 03:58 Introduction to Patient History and Physical (H&P) 04:45 Key Elements of H&P for Surgical Assistants 06:00 Challenges and Best Practices in Re...

In this Episode John and Kelly are joined by Jason Bonvito, CSA, to discuss the post mastectomy patient and the different options available for reconstruction. Jason shares his experience, insights as well as tips and tricks. This is the second in a three part series. 00:00 Introduction to the Surgical Assistant Podcast 00:37 Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy 01:22 Expert Insights with Jason...

John and Kelly in part 1 of a 3 part podcast series on the breast discuss some of the diagnosis criteria and what it means for the Surgical Assistant. They also discuss positioning, equipment, as well as relevant anatomy. Stay tuned for part 2 which will cover post mastectomy reconstruction with a special guest. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:17 Overview of Breast Surgery Series 02:20 Breast...

In this episode Kelly and I talk about C-sections. Where it originated, Why we do them, and how you can help. We also share a story or two from our experience. We also give you some tips and tricks. 00:00 Introduction to the Surgical Assistant Podcast 00:25 Personal Experiences with C-Sections 02:06 The Emotional Impact of C-Sections 03:59 History of C-Sections 07:17 Global Statistics on C-Section...