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: Keri Seymour, DO
Vice President: Dustin Bermudez, MD
Secretary: David Moffat, MD
Treasurer: Fuzz Fernandez, MD
IH Chapter President: Open
STAR (State Access to Care Representative) (NC): Linda Youngwirth, MD
STAR (State Access to Care Representative) (SC): David Moffat, MD
IHS STAR (Integrated Health Section State Access to Care Representative) (NC/SC): Open
Past Presidents: Ken Mitchell, MD FACS FASMBS; 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
Chapter Contact
Dr. Ken Mitchell, Jr., MD FACS FASMBS
2093 Henry Tecklenburg Drive, Suite 202E
Charleston, SC 29414
Chapter Meetings & Updates
Joint meeting with Carolinas ACS meeting
July 12, 2025
The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC
Registration
- Medicaid healthcare coverage was expanded to cover more North Carolinians on December 1, 2023.
- 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 have worked to improve coverage for state employees and those covered by the dominant 3rd party payers. We have seen some successes and 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.
- Ongoing access issues with South Carolina state employee coverage and North Carolina Medicaid.
- Reversal of Blue Cross Blue Shield 6 months medical weight loss requirements
- Lobbying State of South Carolina for increased bariatric coverage