Carolinas

Chapter Information

Incorporated May 2008

Mission Statement

The mission of the Bariatric Society of the Carolinas is to enhance awareness of bariatric surgery in communities, fight for increased access to bariatric care, provide a platform for collaboration, and promote fellowship among bariatric surgical providers in the great states of North and South Carolina.

Executive Officers

President: Ken Mitchell, MD FASMBS
President-Elect: Keri Seymour, DO
Secretary: Eric DeMaria, MD FASMBS
Treasurer: Dustin Bermudez, MD
IH Chapter President: Jaime Bull, PA-C
STAR (State Access to Care Representative): Keri Seymour, DO
IH STAR (State Access to Care Representative): Jaime Bull, PA-C
Past Presidents: Dana Portenier, MD; Rana Pullatt, MD MS MRCS FASMBS; David Wayne Overby, MD; Jason Johnson, DO; Ranjan Sudan, MD FASMBS; John Scott, MD FACS FASMBS; Roc Bauman, MD FACS FASMBS
Program Director: Keri Seymour, DO
IH Program Director: Jaime Bull, PA-C

Chapter Contact

Dana Portenier, MD
407 Crutchfield Street
Durham, NC 27704

Chapter Meetings

South Carolina & North Carolina Chapters American College of Surgeons and Bariatric Society of the Carolinas 2022 Joint Chapter Meeting July 8 – 10, 2022
ASMBS Carolinas Chapter Meeting Saturday, July 9, 2022
Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes
8400 Costa Verde Drive, Myrtle Beach SC 29572

ASMBS Carolinas Chapter Meeting Agenda
SC NC ACS Agenda
NC/SC ACS Joint 2021 Annual Meeting July 23-25, 2021
Bariatric Society of the Carolinas Chapter Meeting – Saturday July 24, 2021
The Omni Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave.
Asheville, NC 28804
Agenda
July 10-12, 2020 – 2020 JOINT ANNUAL MEETING South Carolina & North Carolina Chapters of the American College of Surgeons, South Carolina Vascular Surgical Society, and Bariatric Society of the Carolinas is cancelled.
The Integrated Health Committee hosted the 4th Annual Integrated Health Workshop in a VIRTUAL format for 2020 on Friday 8/7/2020 from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM. We are pleased to offer 2 Continuing Education Credits through the ASMBS/Taylor College in Los Angeles, and registration is FREE! The VIRTUAL Meeting Presentations have been recorded and are available for viewing and Continuing Education Credits through Taylor College until 12/31/20. To view and get credits, please email Nina Crowley at crowleyn@musc.edu.
Be sure to join our Facebook page for Integrated Health Members
Bariatric Society of the Carolinas Chapter meeting at ObesityWeek 2019 for Surgeons and Integrated Health
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Time: 5:15pm-6:15pm Pacific
Where: Mandalay Bay, Reef B Room – Level 2; 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89119
Please email me with any questions pullattr@musc.edu
July 19-21, 2019 – 2018 JOINT ANNUAL MEETING South Carolina & North Carolina Chapters of the American College of Surgeons, South Carolina Vascular Surgical Society, and Bariatric Society of the Carolinas
Bariatric Society of the Carolinas Chapter Meeting – Saturday July 20, 2019
Pinehurst Resort
80 Carolina Vista Dr
Pinehurst, NC 28374

#CarolinaACS19

https://www.ncfacs.org/meeting/
https://scfacs.org/meetings/2019-annual-meeting/

3rd Annual Integrated Health Workshop in conjunction with the Bariatric Society of the Carolinas (SC/NC) Meeting: We are pleased to offer 3 Continuing Education Credits through the ASMBS/Taylor College in Los Angeles.
Carolinas Chapter Meeting at ObesityWeek 2018
- Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2018
- Time: 5:15pm-6:15pm
- Where: Omni Nashville Hotel, 250 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203, Cumberland 6 Room
July 13-15, 2018 – 2018 JOINT ANNUAL MEETING South Carolina & North Carolina Chapters of the American College of Surgeons, South Carolina Vascular Surgical Society, and Bariatric Society of the Carolinas
Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes
8400 Costa Verde Dr, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Saturday, July 15, 2017 – Annual Meeting in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons NC Chapter 2017 Annual Meeting
Pinehurst Resort
80 Carolina Vista Drive
Pinehurst, NC, 28374
12pm-5pm
Keynote Speaker: ASMBS President Stacy Brethauer, MD
- Medtronic sponsored dinner symposium for surgeons at 7pm on Friday evening at Southern Prime Steakhouse in Pinehurst
- Surgeon dinner sponsored by Ethicon Saturday
- Sunday will be on your own to either attend any of the ACS sessions, or enjoy any of the golf or spa amenities that Pinehurst has to offer Click here for more information
- ASMBS Bariatric Society of the Carolinas (BSC) First Annual Integrated Health (IH) Workshop – we will begin with Lunch and the Keynote address and then breakout into the IH sessions from 1-4 pm, and rejoin the group for the Closing Session from 4-5 pm; After the formal program, please plan to join us for an Integrated Health Networking Happy Hour sponsored by Bariatric Advantage from 5-7 pm to get to know your peers over some drinks and appetizers!
Carolinas Chapter Meeting at ObesityWeek 2016 in New Orleans, LA
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
6:15-7:15pm Central
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Marlborough Room
Saturday July 16, 2016 – Annual Meeting in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons NC Chapter 2016 Annual Meeting
Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes
8400 Costa Verde Drive
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29572
State Chapter Meeting at ObesityWeek 2015 in Los Angeles, CA:
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
6pm-7pm Pacific Time
L.A. Convention Center Room #405
July 18, 2015 – Pinehust, NC
Annual Meeting held in conjunction with American College of Surgeons NC Chapter 2015 Annual Meeting
July 2014 – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
July 2015 – Pine Crest, North Carolina

Chapter Updates

The IH team secured both sponsorship from our industry partners and continuing education from the ASMBS for the workshop, proving that the ASMBS IH members are an interested and valuable part of the state chapter membership. In addition to educational sessions, our members had opportunities for networking and sharing best practices within and across states. The IH section has been active using social media with a facebook group used for networking questions, and as a platform to stream live educational sessions to those who could not attend the meeting.
The BSC has worked to represent practices across both states to overcome some insurance coverage barriers and provide a forum for members to network, share clinical experiences, and provide continuing education.
Access to care continues to challenge patients in our states. Members including John Scott, MD (ASMBS Super STAR and Chapter Past President) and Ranjan Sudan, MD (ASMBS STAR and Chapter Past President) have worked to improve coverage for state employees and those covered by the dominant 3rd party payers. We have seen some successes; one of our SC Medicaid plans, Select Health has lowered the BMI threshold for people with diabetes to BMI 30-35. We hope to see coverage for bariatric surgery for the State Health Plan Employees of South Carolina, which has been limited since the benefit was dropped in 2005.
The BSC chapter continues to work to improve access to care for people living in SC and NC who struggle with obesity and we hope to continue to have active, engaged membership throughout the year, between meetings. We are already looking forward to what Dr. John Scott has planned for our July 2020 meeting in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Ongoing access issues with South Carolina state employee
Ongoing access issues with NC Medicaid
Selection of New Officers in 2013
Reversal of Blue Cross Blue Shield 6 months medical weight loss requirements
Lobbying State of South Carolina for increased bariatric coverage