ASA Virtual Conference Wrap Up 17 October 2026

Kelly and John recap the Surgical Assistant Podcast’s first fall virtual conference, sharing why it exceeded their expectations, delivered useful CEUs, and featured standout presenters. They review the opening business meeting (81 attendees) financial and legislative updates in Ohio, Nevada, and Massachusetts; growing membership and new sponsor partnerships; progress toward forming the American Academy of Surgical Assistants and an eventual merger; and details for the sold-out April joint ASA/NSAA conference in Tampa. They summarize key lectures on high-reliability OR communication, total vs unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, building a robotic program from zero with emergency undocking policies and drills, hysterectomy approaches, shoulder instability management, GLP-1 medications and gastric ultrasonography to reduce aspiration risk, laparoscopic hernia repair techniques, and urologic prosthetics. They close with election updates, registration reminders, and a tribute to longtime ASA advocate Paul Beal, who passed away Oct. 13. Gordon Graham on High Risk Low Frequency Events:    • High Risk/Low Frequency Events in the Fire...