You probably don't need to study harder.
You need to know what's actually costing you points.
Take the free ABSITE readiness diagnostic and identify the weak domains most residents don't catch until exam day — then fix them systematically at a two-day live intensive in Chicago.
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25 questions. 25 minutes. The baseline most residents wish they had.
Most residents are studying hard. Many are still studying inefficiently.
The problem usually isn't effort. It's fragmented preparation.
The ABSITE does not reward random studying. It rewards pattern recognition, structured preparation, and repeated exposure to high-yield concepts under pressure.
The goal is not more studying. The goal is knowing exactly what to fix — before January.
Five minutes to find what actually matters.
The ABSITE Readiness Diagnostic is calibrated against real exam patterns — pacing, distractor logic, and the recurring topic distribution every general surgery resident faces in January.
It identifies
- High-risk weak subject areas — where percentile drops are coming from
- Uneven preparation patterns — over-studied vs. under-studied domains
- Likely blind spots — topics residents systematically avoid
- Pacing exposure — what timed pressure does to your accuracy
You receive
- Score interpretation — what your baseline actually means
- Weak-domain analysis — ranked by yield, not by feel
- Readiness category — At-Risk, Recoverable, Competitive, or High Performer
- Structured next-step recommendations — what to do this week
One diagnostic. One weekend. One exam.
A clear four-step path from finding your weak spots today to walking into the ABSITE with a targeted plan.
Diagnostic
Identify your weak domains in 25 minutes.
Intensive Review
High-yield correction across 22 chapters.
Timed Mock ABSITE
Pressure-test your performance under exam conditions.
January Exam
Walk in with a targeted plan and a tested foundation.
Why December is the critical window.
Baseline forms
Study habits — good and bad — get locked in. Most residents don't yet know where they're weak.
Patterns harden
Uneven preparation patterns accumulate. Strong domains get over-studied. Weak ones get avoided.
Last window to correct
Still enough time to rebuild high-yield weak domains. Not enough time to start from scratch.
Exam week
Whatever you've built is what you take in. No more time for foundational work.
By December, most residents have already accumulated uneven preparation patterns. January is too late to rebuild from scratch — but it is enough time to systematically correct high-yield weak domains before the exam.
A concentrated two-day review built for the January exam.
Not passive board review. The conference pressure-tests your preparation through high-yield instruction, a timed mock ABSITE, and structured weak-spot correction.
High-Yield Systems Review
Structured systems-based review across core ABSITE domains — taught the way the test actually asks the material, not the way textbooks teach it.
- Fluids, electrolytes, acid-base
- Trauma & critical care
- Hepatobiliary & pancreas
- Colorectal & small bowel
- Endocrine surgery
- Vascular surgery
- Optional cohort dinner
Timed Mock ABSITE + Debrief
A full timed mock examination followed by live debriefing, weak-spot correction, and a practical study plan for the final weeks before January.
- Timed mock ABSITE (full conditions)
- Live debrief & failure-pattern analysis
- Transplant immunology
- Plastics, skin, soft tissue
- Faculty Q&A over lunch
- Final 4 weeks: a study plan
- Departure 14:00
Residents leave with a clear preparation framework, identified weak domains, prioritized study targets, and a practical strategy for the final stretch before January.
Taught by a fellowship-trained surgeon and current Department Chair.
MD, MBA, FACS
- Fellowship · Trauma & Acute Care Surgery
- Fellowship · Abdominal Transplantation
- Fellowship · Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine
- Author · ABSITE Smackdown!
- Editor · Textbook of Modern Medical Simulation
- Founder · Orange Park Surgical Residency
Dr. Kashmer is the author of ABSITE Smackdown! and the creator of a comprehensive chapter-by-chapter ABSITE review system — built from years of surgical education, board preparation, and resident teaching experience.
Every chapter, slide, and question in this conference is authored by him — not licensed, not crowdsourced, not generic.
When I was a program director, I watched residents pour energy into ABSITE prep and not get the percentile jump their effort deserved. The conference is the system I wish had existed then.
What program directors and residents are saying.
Endorsements from across the surgical education community.
The Smackdown format and the textbook gave my residents a structured way to study that we'd never had before. Scores moved.
This is the resource I wish I'd had as a PGY-2. The way concepts get linked across chapters is what makes it stick under exam pressure.
A rare combination — the academic depth of a board-prep textbook and the directness of someone who has run a residency. Strongly recommended.
Three registration windows. Lock yours.
Pricing escalates as the conference fills. To preserve the timed mock-exam format and direct faculty interaction, attendance is capped at 120 residents — we expect to sell out before November.
- Two-day live intensive review
- Timed mock ABSITE
- Printed workbook & question packet
- All meals included
- Post-event study plan
- Everything in Early Bird
- Full recorded session access
- Weak-spot diagnostic prework
- Cohort Slack channel
- Priority seating
- Everything in Standard
- Subject to seat availability
- No group discount applies
Send your whole program — $795 per resident
Five or more residents from the same program qualify for the group rate. Most program directors cover this from institutional education funds — we make it easy with a one-pager and W-9 ready to go.
Most residents don't pay personally.
Nearly every general surgery program has an annual resident education stipend or GME line item that covers exactly this type of conference. We hand your coordinator everything they need to approve and pay.
- Reimbursement documentation
- One-page program information packet
- W-9 and EIN ready for AP
- Invoice generated directly to the institution
- Coordinator-friendly approval materials
- Faculty CV and CME context (if applicable)
One registration. The full toolkit.
- Two-day live intensive review
- Timed mock ABSITE with full debrief
- Structured weak-spot analysis
- Printed workbook & question packet
- High-yield review framework
- Post-event study recommendations
- All meals across both days
Optional Add-Ons
- Recorded session access90-day access to full session recordings — $295
- Program licenseCo-residents who can't attend get the recordings — $495
- Individual coaching30-minute 1:1 with Dr. Kashmer on your weak spots — $300
Who this is — and isn't — for.
This is built for residents who…
- Are PGY-1 through PGY-5 in general surgery
- Want a structured ABSITE preparation framework
- Are concerned about specific weak domains
- Are preparing for remediation
- Are aiming to improve percentile performance
- Learn better with cohort accountability than alone
This isn't the right fit for residents who…
- Want passive lecture attendance only
- Won't pressure-test their preparation
- Aren't planning to seriously prepare
- Prefer purely solo study with no live component
- Can't travel to Chicago for a weekend
Things residents actually ask.
Is this only for residents struggling on the ABSITE?
No. The conference is designed for both remediation and performance optimization. Residents in the 30th–80th percentile see the biggest jumps, but high performers benefit from the timed mock and pressure-testing as well.
Can my residency program pay for this?
Yes — and most do. Almost every general surgery resident has an annual education stipend or GME-funded line item that covers exactly this type of conference. Request the PD packet above and hand it to your coordinator; we invoice your institution directly.
Will recordings be available?
Yes. Recorded access is available as an optional $295 add-on for in-person attendees, or as a standalone $495 program license for co-residents who can't travel.
Is this beginner-friendly?
Yes. The curriculum is designed for PGY-1 through PGY-5 residents. Sunday morning breakouts separate by PGY level so the weak-spot work matches your stage.
What makes this different from passive board review?
The conference includes structured weak-spot identification and a timed mock ABSITE designed to pressure-test your preparation before January. You don't leave with a stack of slides — you leave with a personalized study plan.
What's the refund policy?
Full refund minus a $95 admin fee through September 30. 50% refund through October 31. After November 1, seats are transferable to a co-resident at no charge but are not refundable. Venue and catering commitments make exceptions impossible.
Where exactly in Chicago?
Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine — Chicago campus. Hotel partners blocks away offer a discounted room rate for attendees. Full venue details, hotel codes, and travel guidance are sent at registration.