Learning and Sharing: Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team heads to Orlando

David Sarwer, PhD, director of clinical services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders and member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, discusses Penn’s involvement with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and attendance at the upcoming annual meeting.

In mid-June, several members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program head to Orlando. Instead of going on the rides at Disney World or enjoying the marine shows at Seaworld, we are attending the 28th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the largest bariatric society in the world.

The leading bariatric surgeons and health care providers from across the United States share the latest research, treatments, news and industry developments at the ASMBS annual meeting. During the week-long meeting, members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team attend and present sessions about cutting-edge developments in the field of bariatrics.

Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has been actively involved with the ASMBS since its inception over 20 years ago. All of Penn’s bariatric surgeons are members of the ASMBS as are various other members of the team, including program coordinators, dietitians and psychologists.

For the past several years, I have had the good fortune of serving as a co-course director of the behavioral health program at the meeting, which spans two days. During the program, I meet and talk with approximately 200 psychologists and mental health professionals who also specialize in the psychosocial care of individuals preparing for weight loss surgery. I am also presenting on various topics in the behavioral health program, including two original research studies under way at Penn Medicine.

Attending the ASMBS annual meeting and serving as co-course director of the behavioral health program are two of the biggest professional highlights of my year. I enjoy sharing Penn Medicine’s research studies and clinical developments with other professionals in the field as well as hearing about studies and advancements in their programs. The ASMBS meeting is a special opportunity for all bariatric health care providers to share and learn from each other so we can all continue to improve our programs and provide the most advanced and highest quality care to our patients.

- David Sarwer, PhD