ASMBS Foundation News and Update—January 2017
Connie Stillwell
Ms. Stillwell is the Executive Director of the ASMBS Foundation.
Meet The Board
Stacy Brethauer, MD, FASMBS
Dr. Brethauer is a Staff Physician in the Section of Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Cleveland Clinic. He is the Director of Bariatric Surgery at Fairview Hospital and Associate Program Director for the Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship program. Dr. Brethauer is also President of the ASMBS.
Dr. Brethauer, Why do you serve on the ASMBS Foundation Board?
I serve because the Foundation serves as an important extension of the ASMBS society as a whole and allows the membership to direct their contributions to the specific mission of the Foundation, namely research, education, and advocacy.
Board members receive no compensation, and fundraising is often difficult. What motivates you?
The mission of the ASMBS and the Foundation motivates me. Those of us that treat obesity are unique because we can make such a positive impact on our patients’ lives. The fact that so many people with the disease of obesity go untreated or can’t get access to effective treatment drives us to work toward that common goal.
How has the ASMBS Foundation supported the ASMBS vision; “to improve public health and well-being by lessening the burden of the disease of obesity and related diseases throughout the world”?
The Foundation provides research grants that can get an investigator started on their quest to answer specific questions about obesity or how our operations work. Additionally, the advocacy and education efforts that are supported by the Foundation have opened the door to treatment for many patients in need and educated physicians and trainees in other specialties that are affected by obesity.
How do you view the future of metabolic and bariatric surgery? And how critical is the ASMBS Foundation to actualize these goals?
The future of our specialty is incredibly exciting. There is so much energy and talent in our society and as our field moves forward, I hope that bariatric surgery will become even more mainstream along with other specialties. With the support of the Foundation, we are piloting a new bariatric surgery curriculum and striving to achieve recognition as a unique specialty by the American Board of Surgery, we are providing educational apps and websites to engage medical students and residents about bariatric surgery, and we continue to innovate and investigate less invasive treatment options.
The ASMBS Foundation Welcomes New Members to the Board of Directors. Happy New Year! I hope everyone is ready for a fantastic 2017! The ASMBS Foundation has big plans for this year and we hope to have your support! Joining our Board of Directors this year are Paul Enochs, MD; Corrigan McBride, MD; Stephen Scott, MD; and Erik Wilson, MD.
LEAD Awards 2017. The Foundation will continue to host the LEAD awards this Fall in conjunction with ObesityWeek 2017 in Washington, DC. The LEAD awards program is a significant fundraiser for the Foundation and since its inception has raised almost $300,000. We hope you can join the celebration again this year as we honor leaders in the field of metabolic and bariatric surgery. For a list of past winners, please visit www.asmbsfoundation.org.
United We Step. The United We Step virtual step challenge will also be held in conjunction with ObesityWeek 2017. Dr. Keith Kim’s “Team Celebration” is the defending champion with the most steps taken and top fundraising team. He is challenging colleagues, hospitals, practices, and patients to form a team and take home the golden trophy. Registration will open in May and more information will be available in the coming weeks.
ASMBS Foundation to Release New Cookbook. We are excited to announce that we have started the design and layout phase on our new cookbook, “Deliciously Healthy Recipes from Around the Country.” Over 100 submissions from 23 states have been submitted. All proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will benefit the mission of the ASMBS Foundation. Be on the look out for the final product this summer.
Walk From Obesity. To date, the Walk from Obesity has raised over $6 million! The ASMBS Foundation’s Walk for Obesity is the only national walkathon of its kind. With events held in 20 to 30 cities coast to coast, the Walk from Obesity reaches thousands of individuals to raise awareness of the disease of obesity and the treatment options that are available. Get your community involved today by applying to host a Walk from Obesity event this spring. The deadline to apply is February 3, 2017. Visit www.WalkfromObesity.com/host to get started.
Category: ASMBS Foundation News and Update, Past Articles
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