The Pass Machine – General Surgery Recertification Exam Success Stories

Last year was crazy - I am a vascular surgeon. I have not done general surgery in over 10 years. I didn’t even have to take the gen surg recert exam. Feeling obligated to still recert in gen surg, I took your course in Chicago the last week of September because I was going to be there anyway to give a lecture elsewhere… I finished the course, gave a lecture at a separate meeting in Chicago the last weekend of the course on critical limb ischemia. The very next Wednesday, (Sept 30, 2009) I took the VASCULAR SURGERY RECERT exam and passed it. From the day of my vasc recert exam until I took the gen surg recert in early December, I did not study anything else for the gen surg recert, at all. I did not even open a book. My entire prep for that exam was sitting in the lectures in Chicago, staying awake and letting the info soak in. I did review the practice tests and questions prior, but, after the course, I did nothing else what so ever. I guess that’s why they call it the "Pass Machine!" So, I passed two ABS recert exams within three months! So, I thank you very much for the outstanding course! I would be more than happy to formally share my testimony for your company! Please tell Dr. Jack hello!
- Paul Vaughn, MD, Mesa, AZ

Without the course, I felt overwhelmed at the sheer amount of material to read and learn. However, the course brought the material to life, and allowed me to focus on the material which was most important.
- Ali Aurangzeb, MD, Meriden, CT

I feel more confident about recertification after taking this course.
– Pam Howard, MD, Little Rock, AR

An excellent course. I would not want to face the exam without the information provided in this course.
– Christopher Capel, MD, Casa Grande, AZ

I found this course comprehensive, focused for recertification and practical. I highly recommend it for practicing general surgeons.
– Shanmugam Lakshmanan, MD, Salem, IL

Excellent review and preparatory course. Thank you.
– Farid Said, MD, Norwalk, OH

Excellent course. Helps guide me and has improved my knowledge. I feel confident as the exam approaches.
– Todd Sachs, MD, Los Angeles, CA

This is an excellent review course! I’ll recommend it to my colleagues.
– Fernando Estrada, MD, Bethlehem, PA

This is a better use of my time than sitting at a desk reviewing alone.
– George Woodman, MD, Memphis, TN

Very good overall review that I believe will be instrumental in obtaining a passing score on the recertification exam.
– Stephen McElmurry, MD, Clarksville, AR

Excellent tool to assure passing the examination.
– Slobodon Jazarevic, MD, Fort Pierce, FL

A comprehensive review course geared to prepare a physician for the boards in a very short period of time.
– Ela Timbadia, MD, Phoenix, AZ

Overall a very good course – speakers were knowledgeable and approachable.
– Joseph Pearson, MD, Florence, SC

Very positive. Very educational.
– Adel Armanious, MD, Latrobe, PA

The webinar format for this course was fantastic. It allowed me to watch lectures and review subjects at my own leisure, without the hassle of travel and accommodations. Great job. In addition, the practice exams allow one to review their knowledge base.
– Anthony Lowham, MD, Lander, WY

Very easy to access, and a great way to ensure a solid preparation for General Surgery Board Certification.
– Patrick Gonzalez, MD, Tampa, FL

THANK YOU for your help in the recent recertification general surgery exam. I found your review course very useful and practical. You have an excellent team of teachers. Needless to say, as we get older it is very difficult to sit and read books to prepare for exams. I am glad I took your course – it helped me to pass the exam with ease. I highly recommend your course to anyone who is to take the recertification exam. Please convey my sincere thanks to everyone in your team.
– Shanmugam Lakshmanan, MD, Salem, IL

The course is an excellent home study option. It offers a concise “need to know” presentation of materials required to pass the recertification exam. It is an efficient and effective use of time.
– Elizibeth Suh, MD, Florence, MT

I have attended several review courses, but this one is by far the best.
– William Noell, MD, Silva, NC

As an online participant, the course format made me feel as though it was my personal course.
– Anne-Marie Regal, MD, Corte Madera, CA

An excellent course with great technological enhancements and many relevant sample questions.
– Robert Weiner, MD, Kalaheo, HI

If you are considering a single source or course to use to prepare for general surgery recertification, The Pass Machine should be at the top of the list. I just successfully completed my third recertification and found that The Pass Machine definitely works. Try it – you’ll like it! (Don’t plan on using the guarantee in case of failure).
– Phillip Lindsay, MD, Alexandria, CA

I took the Home Study Course and found it to be very comprehensive. IT prepared me very well for the recertification examination which I passed the first time taken. This course truly is a great tool to prepare one for the recertification exam.
– Steve Duras, MD, University Place, WA

Great course. It will help you pass your exam for ABS.
– Eric Cornwell, MD, Lodi, CA

The American Physician review course for General Surgery was the most complete and comprehensive I have attended. The faculty was excellent – they seemed so sincere in wanting to teach us so we can pass the recertification test. For a busy practicing solo surgeon with limited time, it was a pleasure for me having them (the faculty & staff) be so interested in our recertification and testing.

- Steven Feldhaus, MD, Omaha, NE

Great course – well organized.

- Craig Wilkerson, MD, SCC, Utah

Excellent course. Dr. Krasuski and his staff have obviously spent a significant amount of time on preparing for this course. The presenters really focused on key topics and pointed out the important principles to take home. I would highly recommend this course to anyone preparing for the recertifying exam.
- Anonymous

Great review – both clinical and basic knowledge for the busy general surgeon.
- Kassem Charara, MD, Dearborn, MI

I thought the course was very helpful, especially in the areas that I don’t specifically practice (gynecology, head and neck, urology, vascular). The lectures were very well-organized and concise.
- David Redd, MD, Lookout Mountain, TN

I thought the presentations were very thorough. The review questions were more difficult than those on the exam. The topics were well-covered and the information up-to-date.
- Harry Ballard, MD, New Bern, NC

Great material - especially the multiple choice questions.
- Majed Jandali, MD, Kenosha, WI

Overall, excellent review course – best taken online. This was an enormous advantage. Well worth the cost.
- Eric Young, MD, Marion, SC

Very complete, informative and practical.
- Mario Mancheno, MD, Weehawken, NJ

I took the course online. That made it very convenient. I could do it at my own speed and it filled hours normally wasted while I am sitting in the surgeon’s lounge waiting for my cases to start.
- Howard Berger, MD, Brick, NJ

This course represents a component of one’s efforts to continue the education process – studying for a test for recertifying is admittedly daunting and intimidating. A course like this gives one the satisfaction that they have covered a large amount of testable/current information and for me represents a source of confidence as I continue in my preparations.
- Thomas Boyle, MD

I have never been able to stay awake and interested for as long and for as much material as I did for this meeting – excellent!
- Arthur Jones, MD

I have practiced trauma & surgical critical care for 20 years. I am taking my third recertification for General Surgery. I needed a review of the other areas of general surgery. This course exceeded my expectations for this review. The staff was helpful in getting me in to the course. I will recommend this course to my colleagues.
- Ed Racek, MD

I have been at another pre-test course – I found this course was more focused and concise. I feel more confident heading into the exam having been here and having the materials from this course to study at home.
- Louis Blaum, MD

Enjoyed the course.
- Mohammad Jabbar, MD

Very organized.
- Mary Limback, MD

The course was excellent and I learned a lot.
- Chikara Ohtake, MD

Excellent course for preparing you for the Board Exam.
- Brook Dejere, MD

The course speaks for itself.
- Charles Saletta, MD

I appreciated how each lecture highlighted critical study areas and clarified their learning. I am hopeful for a successful exam.
- Ramon Quinones, MD

Well-organzied and intense. Worth the money and time.
- Stewart Gifford, MD

This course streamlines the vast amount of surgical information into relevant tools necessary for surgical exams and clinical practice.
- Michael Banda, MD

This year I will be taking my 3rd recertification examination. I had taken 3 recertification review courses before. I believe yours is the best of all I have experienced.
- John Chacko, MD

Overall the course was excellent .By far, the best speaker of the course was Dr. Louis Portugal – not only was he excellent in his knowledge, he made it very interesting and fun.
- Rajendra Shrivastav, MD

Very valuable.
- Abdul Arshad, MD

I enjoyed the directed approach. The additional advantage si that the material can be applied to daily practice.
- Hu Blake, MD

Well organized. A quick way to update your knowledge on the latest information available.
- Ascension Torres, MD

I found this to be a very helpful review. My practice is devoted to breast surgery and much has changed since my training and my first recertification, therefore this overview has helped my study tremendously. Most of the speakers are truly excellent, some outstanding.
- Diane Radford, MD

Outstanding review. Well done.
- Garron Lukas, MD

The course highlighted my weaknesses and gave information to improve this . The slides are excellent and concise. The speakers are very good. All in all an excellent experience. I have no doubt I will pass the exam.
- Thomas O’Callaghan, MD

This was a fantastic course. The audio-visual was well done. It is so much nicer to do the internet course at your own pace instead of sitting in a room for 8 hours a day. Plus you could go over the lectures as many times as you want. The test question bank was an excellent guide. Some of the questions were actually on the test. The folder of slides was also a very good study guide to refer to.
- Manjula Jeyapalan-Noone, MD, Los Gatos, CA

Fast, efficient, effective.
- Robert Knowles, MD, Norfolk, VA

The internet course worked really well. Passed Recert exam on the first try. Strongly recommending internet course to multiple colleagues.
- John Mast, MD, Tracy, CA

Passed recertification exam without difficulty.
- Herman Houin, MD, Grosse Pointe, MI

This was a very targeted and helpful course for the recert exam. The online home study option was a huge plus for me personally.
- William Greiser, MD, Colorado Springs, CO

Dr. Krasuski: This was a unique learning experience for me. This was the first time I took a home study course. My practice is very much limited to breast and elective general surgery, hence I was apprehensive to fast approaching recertification examination. After registering and receiving the course material via internet connection, learning became much fun. All speakers were outstanding. I regained my confidence and I took my examination on December 9, 2008. I believe I did well. Keep the good work! Sincerely yours,
- Qamar Amiruddin, MD, North Baldwin, NY

Dear Rafael: I took my Board Exam this past Friday 12/5/08. I am indebted to you. This is my fourth Board Examination, I am going on 64 years of age and have been in practice since 1975. My last Board Exam was 9 years ago and it was very much like the SESAP courses that I had taken. I have taken every SESAP course including the last one (13). Quite frankly, I did not feel like I learned anything from these last SESAPs. Since your course could be taken on line, I got interested in it. I found most of your lectures and lecturers to be excellent material and I enjoyed most of them, for the sole purpose of learning, it was a pleasure. But I did not like your test materials. I thought there were too easy and not representative of what the real exam would be like. Boy, was I wrong. You hit it right on the button. In fact, how can you avoid being accused of "cheating" since your style of questions, and questions themselves are so close to the exam? I know I can not discuss the questions on the exam, but if someone were to ask me what it was about, I would say, take "The Pass Machine"! I do believe that I might have passed the exam without your help, but that is a mighty big "might". There was only one question that I had no idea what the answer might have been. There were many questions that I could answer correctly because you taught how to reason the answers and questions. There were many questions that you directly addressed in your three recertification exams. And your lectures taught way over the exams. Needless to say, I am very glad I took your course. I will be filling out your course evaluation form, and I will be in touch to tell you the final results. Again, thank you, thank you very much.
- George H. Pfaltzgraff, MD, Hampton, IA