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Scott Shikora, MD, named President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Director of Tufts Medical Center’s Obesity Consult Center is first New England physician to lead largest society for bariatric surgery
WASHINGTON (June 19, 2008) – Scott Shikora, MD, FACS, director of Tufts Medical Center’s Obesity Consult Center, today was named President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at the society’s 25th annual meeting.
Shikora has long been active with the society, which is the world’s largest organization dedicated to bariatric surgery. Tufts Medical Center’s program, designated a Center of Excellence by the society’s Surgical Review Corporation, has performed more than 3,000 bariatric surgeries.
“I am very pleased to be chosen to lead the society at such an exciting time for bariatric surgery,” Shikora said. “Bariatric surgeons are on the forefront of combating two of the most serious public health crises of our time – rising rates of obesity and diabetes – and we are in the position of being able to offer patients safer, more reliable and effective solutions than ever before.”
Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, limits the amount of food the stomach can hold by surgically reducing the stomach’s capacity to a few ounces. In addition to reducing food intake, some weight loss surgeries alter the digestion process, which curbs the amount of calories and nutrients absorbed.
An estimated 15 million adults in the U.S. suffer from morbid obesity, a condition defined as having a body mass index of 35 or more. In 2007, about 205,000 people, or 1 percent of the clinically eligible population, had the surgery. In addition to enabling weight loss, studies show that the surgery also often puts Type II diabetes into remission, frequently immediately after surgery even before weight loss begins.
In the year in which he will serve as president, Shikora plans to work with the society to improve health care access and outcomes for obese patients.
“As president, I would like to increase societal awareness of the plight of the severely obese, and of the multitude of benefits from bariatric surgery,” Shikora said. “I also hope to improve access to appropriate health care for obese patients.”
About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Founded in 1983, the society’s mission is to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery. It does so by supporting clinical and laboratory investigations, promoting ethical patient selection guidelines, developing educational programs and promoting quality assurance and evidence-based practices.
About Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children
Tufts Medical Center is an exceptional, not-for-profit, 451-bed academic medical center that is home to both a full-service hospital for adults and the Floating Hospital for Children. Conveniently located in downtown Boston, the Medical Center is the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine. Founded in 1796 as the Boston Dispensary, Tufts Medical Center is the oldest permanent medical facility in New England and one of the first hospitals in the nation. For more than 200 years, Tufts Medical Center has pioneered innovative programs in clinical care and research and is a recognized leader in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, organ transplantation and pediatrics.