This weekend marked the first ASMBS State Chapter Presidents’ Summit.  The purpose of this face-to-face meeting of state leadership was to both share best practices in chapter development/functionality and to develop a State Chapters National Agenda for the upcoming year.

Chapter leadership from all over the country flew in to Dallas, Texas for this important collaboration.   There was remarkable attendance, with 26 states represented (19 current chapters, 6 preliminary chapters).  Attendees heard lectures and participated in discussions on Chapter Building, Advocacy, Addressing Access to Care Issues at the State Level, Education & Outreach, and the importance of state collaboratives within the MBSAQIP.

The meeting was very well-received by all participants, with a consensus that a State Chapter Presidents’ Summit should become an annual occurrence.  We extend a sincere thank you and congratulations to the meeting directors, speakers, and participants for a successful educational event.

Thank you!

Summit Director:  John Morton, MD, Chairman of ASMBS Access to Care Committee and ASMBS Secretary/Treasurer

Summit Co-Directors:
Lloyd Stegemann, MD, Immediate Past Chairman of State Chapters Committee
Michael Nusbaum, Chairman of State Chapters Committee

Summit Speakers:
Jaime Ponce, MD, ASMBS President
Robin Blackstone, MD, ASMBS Past-President
Joe Nadglowski, President & CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition
Chris Gallagher, President of Potomac Currents
Roger Kissin, President of Communication Partners

ASMBS Committee Leadership
Wayne English, MD, Chairman, Access to Care Committee
Michael Nusbaum, MD, Chairman, State & Local Chapters Committee
Christopher Joyce, MD, Co-Chair, State & Local Chapters Committee
Lloyd Stegemann, MD, Immediate Past Chair, State & Local Chapters Committee
David Provost, MD, Chairman, BSCOE and Chairman, Public Education Committee

Chapter Leadership/Attendees:
Kelvin Higa, MD, President California Chapter of ASMBS
Roc Bauman, MD, President, Bariatric Society of the Carolinas
John Scott, MD, STAR, Bariatric Society of the Carolinas
Michel Murr, MD, President Florida Chapter of ASMBS
Titus Duncan, MD, President, Georgia Chapter of ASMBS
Rami Lutfi, MD, President, Illinois Association of Bariatric Surgeons
Margaret Inman, MD, President, Indiana Chapter of ASMBS
Kuldeep Singh, MD, VP & President-Elect, Maryland Chapter of ASMBS
Matthew Weiner, MD, President, Michigan Chapter of ASMBS
Ashutosh Kaul, MD, President, New York Chapter of ASMBS
Mohammed Feteiha, MD, President, New Jersey Society of Bariatric Surgeons
Joseph Northup, MD, President, Ohio Society for Bariatric Surgery
Michael Bono, MD, President, Pennsylvania Society of Bariatric Surgery
Luciano DiMarco, MD, Secretary/Treasurer, Pennsylvania Society of Bariatric Surgery
Brandon Williams, MD, President, Tennessee Chapter of ASMBS
Peter Hallowell, MD, President, Virginia Bariatric Society
Kevin Wasco, MD, President, Wisconsin Obesity Coalition
Mervyn Deitel, MD, Secretary, Canada Chapter of ASMBS
Glen Ihde, MD, President, Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery
Steven Fowler, MD, Vice-President, Hawaii Chapter of ASMBS

Preliminary Chapter Leadership/Attendees:
Chris Eagon, MD, President, Missouri Chapter of ASMBS
Jaime Loggins, MD, President Maine Chapter of ASMBS
Rachel Moore, MD, President, Louisiana Chapter of ASMBS
Tom White, MD, President, Nebraska Chapter of ASMBS

If your state does not currently have a chapter and you would like to help organize one, contact Nooriel Nolan at nooriel@asmbs.org, or 352.331.4900 (for help getting the process started.)