Surgeon and Physician Members Categories
Download the Surgeon/Physician Application with Instructions
Download the Regular Member Sponsor Letter of Recommendation Form

The requirements for Regular,  International and Candidate membership has recently changed. Please review the sections below for changes before submitting your application.

Regular Member
A general surgeon working in the field of bariatric surgery who is certified by the American Board of Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery and/or is a Fellow of the American or Royal College of Surgeons. The surgeon must also have completed a minimum of 25 bariatric surgeries as the primary surgeon within the last two years. The applicant is required to submit Letter of Recommendation Forms from two current Regular or Senior (previously Regular) members.

Affiliate Surgeon Member*
A general surgeon working in the field of bariatric surgery who is NOT certified by the American Board of Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery and/or is NOT a Fellow of the American or Royal College of Surgeons and/or has completed less than 25 cases as the primary surgeon in the last two years.  The applicant is required to submit a Letter of Recommendation Form from a current Regular or Senior (previously Regular) member.

International Member
A licensed medical doctor or osteopath practicing outside the United States who does not meet the requirements for Regular membership. The surgeon must have completed a minimum of 25 bariatric surgeries as the primary surgeon within the last two years. The applicant is required to submit either one letter of recommendation from a Regular or Senior (previously Regular) member OR two letters of recommendation including one letter from an International Member and one letter from the Chief Administrator of the applicant’s primary hospital in support of the application.

Affiliate Physician Member
A medical doctor or osteopath working in the field of bariatric surgery who does not perform bariatric procedures. Requires submission of a Letter of Recommendation Form from a current Regular member.

Candidate Member
Download the Candidate Application

Medical students, residents or fellows training in the field of bariatric surgery. Requires verification of current enrollment in an accredited training program and must be renewed annually. Candidate members are encouraged to reapply for full ASMBS membership upon completition of training.

*Affiliate Surgeon member who have met the requirements for Regular membership (see requirements above), must send documentation that these requirements have been met in order to upgrade to Regular membership.

Integrated Health Members Categories
Download the Integrated Health Application with Instructions
Download the IH Letter of Recommendation Form

Associate Member
Health Care Professionals working in the field of bariatric surgery (i.e., nurse, psychologist, dietitian, physician assistant, exercise physiologist, researcher). Requires a Letter of Recommendation from a Regular (surgeon) Member.

International Associate Member
Health Care Professionals working in the field of bariatric surgery outside of the United States. Requires a Letter of Recommendation from an International (surgeon) Member.

Affiliate Associate Member
Persons actively employed in a bariatric surgical practice or hospital based bariatric program who do not otherwise meet the requirements for Associate membership. Requires a Letter of Recommendation from a Regular (surgeon) Member.

International Affiliate Associate Member
Persons actively employed in a bariatric surgical practice or hospital based bariatric program outside of the United States, who do not otherwise meet the requirements for Associate membership. Requires a Letter of Recommendation from an International (surgeon) Member.

Student Member
Full-time Students in a relevant Integrated Health Discipline. Documentation of Full time enrollment in
the course of study must be included. Requires a Letter or Recommendation from a Regular (surgeon) member.

Other Members Categories

Distinguished Member
Member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of bariatric surgery.

Senior Member
ASMBS members who have been in good standing for 25 or more years and has reached the age of 65.

Honorary Member
Nonmember who has made outstanding contribution to the field of bariatric surgery.

FASMBS – Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

The FASMBS designation may be bestowed upon a Regular Member of the ASMBS in good standing who presents evidence acceptable to the Society of active participation in a program of periodic, verifiable reporting of bariatric surgery outcomes data as approved by the Society.

All Regular member surgeons are FASMBS eligible who meet the following:

•  Designated as an ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE) and utilize Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal Database℠ (BOLD℠)
• An applicant in the ASMBS BSCOE program and utilize BOLD℠
• Participant in the American College of Surgeons Bariatric Surgery Center Network Accredited Program (ACS BSCN) and utilize NSQUIP*
• Participate in BOLD as a non-COE – BOLD participation by smaller non-COE centers offers the potential to change COE requirements by demonstrating good outcomes with lower surgery volumes

IFASMBS - International Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

This new designation may be bestowed upon an International member in good standing who presents evidence acceptable to the Society of active participation in a program of periodic, verifiable reporting of bariatric surgery outcomes as approved by the Society. Previously only open to Regular members and at the urging of the International Development committee, the program was opened to the growing number of international members who are engaging or want to engage in the submission of bariatric surgery data.

All International member surgeons are IFASMBS eligible who meet the following:

• Designated as an ICE or COE in the ICE program or other COE program administered by SRC in Brazil, Mexico or India and I utilize the Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal Database℠ (BOLD℠)
• Applicant in the ICE program or other COE program administered by SRC in Brazil, Mexico or India and utilize BOLD℠
• Participant or plan to participate in the American College of Surgeons Bariatric Surgery Center Network Accredited Program (ACS BSCN) and utilize NSQUIP*
• Utilize a bariatric surgery outcomes data reporting program in your home country