Arizona State Chapter

Incorporated May 2009

Mission Statement

The Arizona Chapter of the ASMBS was incorporated as a non-profit
corporation in May 2009.  The specific purpose of the corporation is to
study morbid obesity and advance the art and science of bariatric
surgery by:

  • The encouragement of its members to pursue investigations both in the clinic and laboratory
  • The interchange of ideas, information and experience pertaining to bariatric surgery
  • The establishment of guidelines for patient selection and care
  • The promotion of guidelines for patient selection and care
  • The promotion of improved perioperative and long-term care of patients and the reduction of patient risk
  • The fostering of educational programs for physicians, paramedical persons and lay people
  • The promotion of outcome studies and quality assurance

Executive Officers

President: David Podkameni, MD
Vice President: James A. Madura, MD FASMBS
Secretary: Christine Lovato, MD FACS FASMBS
Treasurer: Maria Brown, MD
Executive Director: Flavia C. Soto, MD FACS FASMBS
STAR (State Access to Care Representative): Christine Lovato, MD FACS FASMBS
IH STAR (State Access to Care Representative): Open

Contact

Sandra Eckelberry
1920 N Higley Road
Suite 306
Gilbert, AZ 85234
Phone: 480-543-2934
Fax: 480-543-2672

Chapter Meetings

No chapter meetings scheduled at this time.

Chapter Updates

2023 Activities:

  • Planning to reinstitute walk from obesity

2016 Activities:

  • Planning pedometer challenge in 2017
  • Planning to potentially host a Walk from Obesity event 2017
  • Establishing a bariatric collaborative among 4 major bariatric programs in Arizona

2015 Activities:

  • Arizona will be heading up the formation of the Southwest Chapter‎, which will include the states of Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
  • Successful first year of Bariatric Fellowship at Banner Gateway Medical Center in addition to the already successful MIS Fellowship at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona
  • Chapter was able to establish numerous avenues to better access to care:
    • We have created and maintained a working relationships with our state legislature by building mutually beneficial partnerships with national and regional corporations interested in bariatric patient success
    • Over the past year, we established access and influenced the choices of health care plans developed for the Arizona exchange
    • We were able to lobby the legislator and executive branches to insert bariatric coverage for the Arizona exchange
    • We successfully accomplished our goals – all plans have maintained bariatric coverage
    • Plan is to establish further coverage for Sleeve Gastrectomy on some of the state plans
  • Planning a pedometer challenge
  • Planning to potentially host a Walk from Obesity event
  • Banner Gateway Medical Center’s bariatric fellowship program received designation as an accredited program from the Fellowship Council, lasting 3 years (2015 through 2018)

2014 Activities:

  • Website continues to be used as a vehicle for membership recruitment
  • We have a good relationship with bariatric surgeons in the Southwest area (including Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Alaska) and we have extended membership and participation to them
  • Conjoined meeting with ACS/ASMBS Arizona chapter, good response
  • Held meeting for Chapter meeting at ASMBS/ Obesity week 2014
  • Effort again will be made to extend membership and participation to bariatric surgeons in neighboring “Mountain” states including, New Mexico, Utah, where current ASMBS Chapters do not yet exist to establish concept for a “collaborative”. So far, response from Utah
  • Chapter is exploring numerous avenues to better access to care. We hope to establish effective working relationships with our state Legislature and build mutually beneficial partnerships with national and regional corporations that are interested in bariatric patient success. Over the past year we were able to gain some access and somewhat influence the choices of health care plans that are being planned for the Arizona exchange, and we were able to effectively lobby the legislator and executive branches to insert bariatric coverage for the Arizona exchange.
  • Local Phoenix program established the first fellowship in Bariatric Surgery for the State

2011-2012 Activities:

  • Arizona chapter Web site was established in August, 2011
  • Membership drive to “Mountain States” region by mail in fall of 2011 with poor response
  • Website continues to be used as a vehicle for membership recruitment
  • Decision not to pursue a Meeting until membership is
  • Officers met for dinner meeting May, 2012 to discuss plans for future development of chapter
  • Plans for Chapter meeting at ASMBS
  • Effort again will be made to extend membership and participation to bariatric surgeons in neighboring “Mountain” states including, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada, where current ASMBS Chapters do not yet exist to establish concept for a “collaborative”
  • Chapter is exploring numerous avenues to better access to care. We hope to establish effective working relationships with our state Legislature and build mutually beneficial partnerships with national and regional corporations that are interested in bariatric patient success

Support Groups

  • Banner Gateway Medical Center (Gilbert)
  • Banner Estrella Medical Center (Phoenix)
  • Banner University Medical Center (Phoenix)

*All free support groups, no need to have had Bariatric surgery within Arizona.

Advocacy Information