Integrated Health Support Group Committee

Andrea Rigby, PsyD
Chair

Emily Thompson, RD, CSOWM
Co-Chair

Nini Peterson, PhD
IHLC Liaison

Members

  • Kirsten Tychonievich, MS, SRPN, ANP-C
  • Jill Welshans, RN, MSN, AG-ACNP
  • Aimee Rothe, BSN, RN, CBN
  • Beth Czerwony, MS, RD, CSOWM
  • Chelsea Price, MS, RD, LDN
  • Hannah Farnsworth, PsyD
  • Allison Holgerson, PhD, ABPP
  • Lisa Baro, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC
  • Stephanie Shaw, BSN, RN
  • Sheethal Reddy, PhD
  • Lauren Zidek, MSN, RDN, LD

ASMBS Staff Liaison

Karen Loerzel, MS, CMP, ODCP

Description

The mission of the IH Support Group committee is to promote the development of the concept of support groups in the care of bariatric surgical patient; identify the needs of support group leaders and develop strategies to meet these needs; identify, develop and distribute resources for support groups and support group leaders; and encourage the exchange of ideas and networking among support group leaders.

Projects

  • Support Group Quarterly Networking Series 2025
  • Support Group Manual
  • Literary paper on Systematic Review
  • Webinar on Using Support Groups for Patient Advocacy
  • Survey of Support Group Leader Needs
  • Support Group Facilitator’s Training Program uploaded to ASMBS LMS

ASMBS Mission(s) Met by the Committee

  • Improve outcomes through the multidisciplinary approach to the care of patients affected by obesity
  • Increase awareness of the critical role the multidisciplinary approach plays throughout the continuum of care
  • Optimize patient access to comprehensive obesity treatment
  • Promote best practices and an evidence-based approach to the treatment of patients affected by obesity
  • Cultivate and support a knowledgeable, skilled and empowered membership

Committee Objectives

  • Maintain the Support Group Leader Manual and provide resources for the education and advancement of support group leaders.
  • Support group leader/participant survey to gather feedback, informing future initiatives and improvements.
  • Maintain accurate and relevant ASMBS support group listing and program information about support groups, enhancing membership access to these valuable resources.
  • Raise awareness among membership of the benefits/necessity for support groups and improve patient access to them.
  • Further development, implementation, and advancement of support groups for bariatric surgery patients by facilitation of the exchange of ideas and networking among support group leaders.

Short-Term Goals

  • Complete the presentations needed to implement the Support Group Facilitator Training Program
  • Update the Support Group manual with virtual resources
  • Present at the annual conference in Dallas

Long-Term Goals

  • Keep the support group manual up to date and continue to market it to ASMBS members.
  • Continue to provide various resources for support group facilitators
  • Establish and publish best practices for running virtual support groups

2025 Completed Projects

  • Presented at the annual meeting in June 2025
  • Launched the Support Group Facilitator Training Program on the ASMBS LMS

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