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 (June 2022-June 2024)
President-Elect: Keri Seymour, DO
Secretary: Dustin Bermudez, MD
Treasurer: David Moffat, MD
IH Chapter President: Jaime Bull, PA-C
STAR (State Access to Care Representative) (NC): Linda Youngwirth, MD
STAR (State Access to Care Representative) (SC): David Moffat, MD
IH STAR (State Access to Care Representative) (NC/SC): 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
Joint meeting with Carolinas ACS meeting
August 23-25, 2024
Wild Dunes (Hyatt) Resort
Isle of Palms, SC
Chapter Updates
- 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
- Ongoing access issues with NC Medicaid
- Reversal of Blue Cross Blue Shield 6 months medical weight loss requirements
- Lobbying State of South Carolina for increased bariatric coverage