Sheetal Nijhawan, MD FACS
Chair
Joshua Pfeiffer, MD FASMBS
Co-Chair
Carl Pesta, DO FASMBS
Board of Directors Liaison
ASMBS Staff Partner
Nicola Field, PMP CNP
Members
Immediate Past Chair: Blake Movitz MD FACS
Rural Sub Committee Chair: Linden Karas MD FACS
Peter Billing MD FACS
Helmuth Billy MD
Pascal Bortz MD FACS DABS-FPMBS
Katie Chapmon MS RD
Benjamin Clapp MD FASMBS
Robert Cunningham MB BCh BAO MRCS MPH FACS DABOM
Kati Duncan PsyD
Joseph Eid MD FACS
Paul Enochs MD FACS FASMBS
Alexander Fondaw MD BA
Donald Fridley DO FACOS FASMBS
Shawn Garber MD FACS
Jaci Gill MBA RD LDN
Magdy Giurgius MD FACS
Peter Habib DO
Abi James MD
Michael Joannides MD
Linden Karas MD FACS
Paul Kemmeter MD
Marina Kurian MD FACS DABOM DABS FASMBS
Richard Kutz PsyD ABPP
Matthew Lange DO
Saniea Majid MD FACS ABOM FASMBS
Blake Movitz MD FACS
Joe Northup MD FASMBS
Lucian Panait MD MBA
Joshua Pfeiffer MD FASMBS
Jaime Ponce MD FACS FIFSO DABOM FASMBS
Walter Pories MD
Raza Shariff MD FACS
Kyle Thompson MD
Matthew Weiner MD
Brigid Zarbock PsyD BCBC HSP
Charge
In alignment with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) mission to elevate global health and quality of life by significantly reducing the impact of obesity and its related illnesses, the Community/Independent Practice Committee is entrusted with representing the interests of independent practitioners within the field. Their mandate includes identifying unique challenges faced by independent practitioners and providing practice-based solutions, addressing best practice guidelines within diverse practice models, monitoring trends in bariatric surgery and endoscopy, and offering educational courses to maximize practices’ success.
Description
The Community/Independent Practice Committee includes surgeon and integrated health section members, and focuses primarily on the clinical aspects of bariatric surgery. Members of the committee hail from various practice settings, including private practices, community hospitals, and nonacademic healthcare systems. Their collective expertise and dedication aim to serve the community and enhance the quality of care in metabolic and bariatric surgery.
Objectives
- Represent the interests of independent surgeons and integrated health section ASMBS members and in general.
- Identify and address unique challenges of independent surgeons and integrated health section professionals in the metabolic and bariatric field.
- Develop educational courses, webinars and videos to address best practice guidelines in diverse practice models, promoting consistency and quality in patient care and resource utilization.
- Monitor trends in bariatric surgery and endoscopy, communicate results, opportunities and solutions with ASMBS membership.
Goals
- Enhance advocacy for independent surgeons and integrated health section professionals in the metabolic and bariatric field.
- Develop practical solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by independent practices to facilitate sustainability and success.
- Promote consistency and quality in patient care through adherence to best practice guidelines, and empower independent practice members through education and training.
- Ensure a proactive response to emerging trends.
Apply to Join a Committee
