A selection of our past students

foreign medical graduate, SA-C

Kevin Santos

“I was looking for a solution and found it completely in Dr. Kane’s Surgprep program. He has been supportive and encouraging in every possible aspect while helping me to hone the skills I needed to apply for a license as a Surgical Assistant. He identified my learning needs and provided high quality fundamental and extensive additional training and exposure in those areas. With Dr. Kane at the helm, this a very individualized and mentored program. I appreciated Dr. Kane’s honest and direct feedback which allowed my opportunity to improve and succeed. He has helped me to get on the path necessary to meet my career goals and expand my overall life opportunities. I could not recommend this program more to anyone wanting to further their career or looking for guidance from an exceptional teacher with a big heart and big picture thinker with a lifetime of experience.”

D.O., S.A.-C, U.S. Air Force Captain

Darwin Nelson

Dr. Darwin Nelson is a graduate of Touro College of Medicine in N.Y. city. He is also a captain in the United States Air Force. He searched the internet for a clinical training program to fine tune his surgical skills and eventually found SurgPrep. Dr. Nelson visited Chicago and completed our course in 4 weeks and completed the ABSA exam becoming a licensed surgical assistant. He is now awaiting the completion of his surgical residency.

“A real hands-on clinical experience, working one on one with highly experienced and empathetic surgeons, nurses and technical staff. This course is worth its weight in gold these days. As a supplement to the great fund of knowledge acquired from medical school, SurgPrep focuses, with surgical precision, on developing motor and hand skills through an intensive boot camp as a bona-fide surgical assistant. Plastic surgery, orthopedics, spinal surgery and endoscopic procedures are all part of the clinical course at SurgPrep.”

foreign medical graduate, M.D., surgical assistant

Jesus Morao

Dr. Jesus Morao had completed a 3 year general surgical residency prior to immigrating to the U.S.A. and while working at Associated Surgical Center here in Chicago decided to take SurgPrep and upon completion of our course he completed the ABSA exam and is now a licensed surgical assistant enjoying assisting in surgery every day.

B.S.N., R.N., surgical assistant, office manager for orthopedic clinic

Monica Najera

Monica Najera is currently working in a successful orthopedic surgical practice here in Chicago. The surgical assistance license has allowed Monica to take a giant step into the operating room scene.

“SurgPrep allowed me to enter the surgical workforce feeling prepared. The hands on clinicals and cadaver lab were effective and productive. Instructors were readily available, always had feedback, and provided plenty of flexibility for our group of already busy professionals.”

D.C., P.T.A, surgical assistant

Carlos Garavito

Dr. Garavito is a very successful Chiropractor and physical therapist practicing in Chicago. He is now able to refer his patients in need of surgical intervention to the appropriate surgeon but now he is able to be involved directly in the surgery as a licensed surgical assistant.

“I would like to thank SurgPrep for giving me the education to offer my patients more than just examination, diagnostics and treatment therapies. Despite having been in the medical field for over 24 years, licensed in both physical therapy and as a chiropractic physician, I wanted to give my patients more. With certification and training from SurgPrep, I can provide preoperative, operative and postoperative insight to both patients and their surgeons. Most importantly, I am able to give my patients more than theoretical surgical book knowledge, but also hands on surgical experience which culminates into better postop therapies and patient outcomes.”

“Realice la preparación para el Examen con el Dr. Kane, y valió la pena no solo para prepararme para el examen de asistente quirúrgico, también fue muy útil para mejorar y aprender nuevas habilidades quirúrgicas. Mi preparación fue teórica y práctica que sin duda fue completa y de ayuda. Disfrute y esto muy satisfecho sobre todo con las prácticas con cadaveres que el ofrece donde mejora habilidades y aprendi nuevas técnicas, así como ampliar conocimientos de instrumental quirúrgico. 100% recomendado.”

“I completed the surgprep course with Dr. Kane, and it not only prepared me for the ABSA exam but it was also very helpful in improving my surgical skills and even learning new techniques. My preparation was both theoretical and practical, which was undoubtedly was very helpful. It was enjoyable and I am very satisfied, especially with the practices with cadavers that surgprep offers New and improved skills and new techniques, as well as extends knowledge of surgical instruments. 100% recommended. SurgPrep is a must!”

… and you could be the next!

John F. Kane, Jr.

John has had a desire to work in the medical and surgical field since he was in high school. Once he graduated from high school he was unable to find any training programs that would accommodate recent high school graduates. His search ended when he found SurgPrep. After getting his break and completing the SurgPrep 5 day course John, qualified for the Royal Academy of Surgical Assisting training program which he completed on-line while obtaining his associate degree. Once he graduated from RASA, he completed the 4 week SurgPrep course and eventually qualified for the ABSA exam, earning him a surgical assistant license. John is our youngest licensed graduate. John is now completing his bachelors degree in Biology at the University of Illinois in Champaign. When he has a break from class, he returns to Chicago and assists in surgery at a local surgical center. This provides both a means of income and allows him to further his skills.

Volodimir Kisil, DDS, BCND, CSA

“First of all, I would like to extend my most profound gratitude to Doctor Kane for his assistance with every aspect of the training process and I cannot emphasize enough how valuable and helpful this training was for me.

My case is pretty special as I am dentist and without me being trained at surgprep, I don't think it would have been possible to proceed in this field. Everything I was shown, taught and assisted with came extremely handy.

So, now I have privileges at Huntley Hospital and working to get privileges at Elmhurst Hospital, which are both a part of NorthWestern Medical.

I would be delighted to provide my feedback and will definitely recommend anyone who is seeking to enhance their chances to become a successful and well-trained Surgical Assistant in a short period of time to jump on this opportunity and enroll into surgprep course.

Please let me know if I could be of any further assistance.

Thank you again, Doctor Kane and hope to meet with you again soon!

Yours Truly,

Volodimir Kisil"

Fahad Anwer

Fahad had little to no medical experience, but as a busy and successful businessman in Chicago he desired to enter the medical field and was very interested in surgery. Fahad originally contacted SurgPrep to qualify to take the Royal Academy of Surgical Assistants training program. Once he completed the didactic training at RASA Fahad completed the SurgPrep 4 week course and logged many of the required surgery necessary to qualify for the ABSA exam. After logging additional surgical cases Fahad successfully completed his exams and is now licensed as a surgical assistant working in a local hospital here in Chicago. You may recognize him, he’s the surgical assistant with the big smile!

Marie Mina, Student

The 5-day SurgPrep program was truly one of the most enriching and beneficial medical experiences I have ever participated in. It provided me with an in-depth understanding of the surgical aspect of medicine and the opportunity to meet, collaborate, and network with talented board-certified surgeons who eagerly shared their expertise. They taught me valuable skills in the operating room, including suturing, making incisions, handling instruments, and other surgical techniques.

Being able to scrub into and assist with a variety of orthopedic, plastic, and general surgeries was incredibly exciting and an amazing hands-on learning opportunity. SurgPrep has been an invaluable experience, deepening my passion for medicine and providing me with practical knowledge that will be essential as I work towards a future in the medical field.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in SurgPrep and at Associated Surgical Center for their mentorship and support!

Previous students, current success stories