Washington State Chapter

Incorporated November 2011

Executive Officers

President: Sara Martin del Campo, MD FACS FASMBS DABOM
Vice President: Shireesh Saurabh, MD
Past Presidents: Thien Nguyen, MD, Judy Chen, MD ABOM FASMBS; Alana Chock, MD FASMBS; Ross McMahon, MD; Robert Michaelson, MD; Jeffrey Hunter, MD
Secretary: Mimi Tan, MD
Treasurer: Monica Young, MD
Integrated Health Chair: Beth Blankenship, PA-C
STAR (State Access to Care Representative): Mohan Mallipeddi, MD & OPEN

Member at Large: OPEN

Board Member

Open

Contact

Sara E. Martin Del Campo. MD, FACS, FASMBS, DABOM
Swedish Weight Loss Services – First Hill
1124 Columbia Street, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98104

Mission Statement

The Washington State Chapter of the ASMBS is an independent, nonprofit group of multidisciplinary health care providers committed to addressing the concerns of the obese population of Washington State and those whom provide valuable, complex, life-saving treatment to these individuals. We encourage fellowship among members and sharing of best practices as a platform for continuous improvement of quality of care of the bariatric patient. This dedicated group raises awareness of the disease obesity through advocacy and education of community, healthcare providers, healthcare administrators, insurance administrators, and government officials. The Washington State Chapter of the ASMBS works to improve fair and just access to care as well as eliminate discrimination toward those suffering from the disease obesity. We strive to engage those in our communities in order to speak with one voice for the patients in our state. Our ongoing commitment and dedication to this mission is based on our core values of fairness, equality, compassion, respect of the individual, integrity and advocacy.

Chapter Meetings

  • Journal club with WA Obesity Society
    February 1, 2024, 7 – 8.30 PM.
    Location: Zoom
  • ASMBS WA State Chapter Reception
    Thursday, February 29, 2024, 6-9 PM
    Daniel’s Broiler South Lake Union, 809 Fairview Place North, Seattle WA 98109
  • 2024 Spring Symposium with Washington Obesity Society.
    March 16, 2024, 9:00 AM – 4.15 PM
    Hotel Interurban, 223 Andover Park E, Tukwila, WA
    Click here to register
  • ACS Oregon/Washington Meeting
    September 13-15, 2024
    Skamania Lodge, Stevenson WA
    For information regarding the meeting and to register, please go to the website, Click HERE
    Please consider registering and booking your hotel rooms. It is a great place to bring your family along for a weekend away.

Chapter Updates

  • Working with the ASMBS Access to Care Committee regarding Regence (BCBS) and Asuris NW and their review of bariatric policies – email sent on November, 20, 2020.

  • September 26, 2020 – ASMBS Virtual Walk from Obesity

  • Walk for Obesity: Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Volunteer Park; Sponsored by Swedish, Danyell Walker is the Chair

  • Journal Club/Case Reviews – monthly meetings are held on a rotating basis at local bariatric surgical practices the evening of the third Thursday of the month – September through May. Topical issues in the literature are addressed. Interesting/difficult cases are presented to discuss and draw from the collective regional experience. Guest Lectures are periodically held as speakers become available:

    • June 16, 2016, TBA by New Administration
    • May 19, 2016, Marcelo Hinojosa, MD UW, SADS/SADI-S at UW
    • Apr 21, 2016, Eric Wilson, MD Memorial Herman/UT Houston, Robotic Bariatric Surgery at Overlake
    • Mar 17, 2016, Laura Frank, PhD, MPH, RDN, CD, Nutrition Concerns in Bariatric Surgery at NWWLS
    • Feb 18, 2016, Jonathan Stoehr, MD, PhD, Endocrinology VM, Medical Complications following Bariatric Surgery at Virginia Mason
    • Jan 21, 2016, Rick Lindquist, Ten Minute Talks: Recap of Obesity Week at Swedish
    • Dec 17, 2015 None, Happy Holidays
    • Nov 19, 2015, Peter Billing, Novel Procedures in Weight Management at Puget Sound Bariatrics
    • February 19, 2015, Mike Larsen, MD, Interventional Gastroenterology and Bariatrics
    • May 21, 2015, David Cummings, MD, DM2 and Bariatric Surgery
    • February 19, 2015, Mike Larsen, MD: Interventional Gastroenterology and Bariatrics
    • September 18, 2014, Mitchell S. Roslin, MD, Update on SIPS

  • June 22, 2016 – The Chapter has been working with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, submitting a written response and providing testimony a public hearing. We contributed to bringing our state’s Essential Health Benefits package into alignment with recent guidance from the federal government regarding coverage for obesity. While this falls short of a benefit for Bariatric Surgery – the state is now requiring that insurers provide “obesity related services” as provided by the Affordable Care Act.

  • The Chapter worked with the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) – Health Technology Assessment (HTA) through 2014 and 2015 providing expert opinion and peer review of draft documents. This combined with public testimony at committee hearings has contributed to a favorable decision by the HCA providing coverage for bariatric surgery in Washington. On May 15, 2015, the Health Technology Clinical Committee (HTCC) made recommendations to the HCA regarding coverage for bariatric surgery as follows: Bariatric Surgery for patients aged 18 and older is a covered benefit with conditions:
    Limitations of Coverage
    For patients age ≥ 18 years of age bariatric surgery is covered for the following conditions:

    • Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 40
    • BMI 35 to < 40 with at least one obesity-related co-morbidity
    • BMI 30 to < 35 with Type II Diabetes Mellitus
    • When covered, patients must abide by all other agency surgery program criteria (e.g., specified centers or practitioners; pre-operative psychological evaluation; participating in pre- and post-operative multidisciplinary care programs)
      • These recommendations were accepted for Final Adoption July 10, 2015, and are applicable to the following Washington State agencies:Labor and Industries, Public Employees Health Plan, and Washington State Medicaid.

  • The Chapter is currently working with the State in an effort to get bariatric surgery a covered benefit through the State Health Benefit Plan (Exchange).

Support Groups

Center for Weight Management – Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle/Lynnwood)
All patients welcome: preop and post-op.
Second Wednesday of each month from 6:00 – 7: 30 pm via Zoom
To register or for information, send an email to vmbariatricsurgery.virginiamason@commonspirit.org

Center for Weight Management – St Michael Medical Center, Silverdale WA
All patients welcome: preop and post-op.
Third Wednesday of each month (time varies based on location). In-person and virtual options available.
To register or for information, send an email to keriann.dunning@vmfh.org

CHI Franciscan Medical Center – Lakewood Campus
Third Monday of the month 6:30-7:30 pm
Contact 1-888-825-3227

Overlake Medical Center
Twice a month with schedule online
https://www.overlakehospital.org/services/weight-loss/support-group

Rockwood Clinic – Multicare Health System
Third Wednesday of every month from 6-7 pm
Virtual attendance only – register online at https://www.multicare.org/classes-events/?query=&searchloc=&coordinates=&startDate=2022-02-09&radius=&eventCategory=47

St. Francis Hospital: Federal Way
Offered the second Tuesday of each month from 1-2 p.m. through Zoom
Call 253-944-2080 for more information.

Swedish Weight Loss Services
First Tuesday of the month from 4:00-5:30 pm via Zoom
Contact 206-215-2090

University of Washington Medical Center – Center for Weight Management Metabolic Surgery
Weight Management Clinic
First Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7 pm
Contact: Ruth Foster Koth LISW at 206-598-1752

VMFH Center for Weight Management – Federal Way campus
Second Tuesday of the month 1-2 pm
Contact (243) 944-2080

Advocacy Information