Bariatric Surgery Training Committee

Committee Mission

The mission of the Bariatric Surgery Training Committee is to elevate education, certification, and professional development standards in bariatric surgery.

An Interview With The Chair

What about this committee’s mission is the most important to you? 

“The most important part of our mission is to uphold the ASMBS Mission to advance the science and practice of metabolic and bariatric surgery and to improve the well-being of individuals affected by obesity by ensuring practitioners of bariatric surgery, whether still in training or in practice, are well-equipped to deliver high quality care through our rigorous training standards and educational programs.“

How has being part of this committee benefited you professionally or personally? 

“I am humbled and honored to participate as a member of the BST Committee since 2017. The ASMBS President from 2016-2017, Dr. Stacy Brethauer, strongly encouraged me to apply for this committee. As a newly practicing bariatric surgeon, I truly appreciated his sponsorship and support. Since joining, I have found an educational home and a home within ASMBS where I feel I can add to the mission of ASMBS and improve the education of trainees and practicing surgeons. All the past chairs and co-chairs have demonstrated true inclusive leadership where all members of the committee have a voice, including mine. Dr. Corrigan McBride, Dr. Matt Martin, Dr. Adrian Dan, and Dr. Kunoor Jain-Spangler have been instrumental in demonstrating humble leadership. There examples have influenced how I try to lead both within ASMBS and in my career at Duke University as Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery.

Personally, I learn from every lecture, webinar, happy hour, and course I participate in, which have helped me evolve my career and continue to learn myself. After each FELLOW lecture, Dr. Rickesha Wilson and I marvel at how much we personally took away from the guest speakers. Serving on the BST Committee and participating in the educational mission of ASMBS improves my approach to treating obesity and teaching about obesity and bariatric surgery. I am reinvigorated to maintain my own learning and education because of the ASMBS BST Committee.“

What of this committee’s accomplishments are you most proud of? 

“The BST Committee continues to lead multiple educational missions that allow us to consistently impact the educational mission of ASMBS.

• The ASMBS Fellow Certification which is foundational to our committee and requires the help of all committee members.
• The ASMBS Happy Hour led by Faiz Shariff and Juyeon Park
• The ASMBS FELLOW Project led by Rickesha Wilson, Kamran Samakar, Marc Neff, and myself
• The ASMBS START Program led by Scott Schimpke and Adrian Dan

Because of our broad impact, Dr. Adrian Dan and Dr. Kunoor Jain-Spangler led the BST Committee to being the ASMBS Committee of the Year at the 2024 ASMBS Annual Meeting.“

Final Thoughts on the Bariatric Surgery Training Committee?

“If you are interested in shaping how we educate current and future obesity and bariatric surgery experts, join the BST Committee!“