American Society of Bariatric Physicians 63rd Annual Obesity & Associated Conditions: Symposium Preview

This column is dedicated to providing information on the medical management of obesity, which includes diet, exercise, behavioral change, and medication.

Column Editors: Craig Primack, MD, FAAP, Medical Bariatrician/Certified Medical Obesity Specialist/Co-Medical Director, Scottsdale Weight Loss Center PLLC, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Wendy Scinta, MD, MS, FAAFP, Medical Director, Medical Weight Loss of NY, BOUNCE Program for Childhood Obesity, Fayetteville, New York; Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.

This month’s column by Heidi Gordon

Heidi M. Gordon is Director of Marketing & Communications, American Society of Bariatric Physicians, Aurora, Colorado.

Bariatric Times. 2013;10(9):22.

The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) will host its next symposium, Overcoming Obesity: Diagnose Personalize Treat, on October 9 to 13, 2013 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona. Whether you are interested in obesity medicine certification, seeking leadership inspiration, or simply furthering your knowledge about the latest discussions taking place in the exciting field of obesity medicine, this conference has something for you. (To access a PDF with session descriptions, please visit http://www.asbp.org/images/PDFs/Events/ASBP_Overcoming-Obesity2013-web.pdf)

Obesity Medicine Certification Review Course
CME hours: 12.5
Dates: Wednesday, October 9 to Thursday, October 10, 2013
Course overview: Provides preparation to those planning to take the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) certification exam. Physicians preparing for the ABOM exam should attend this course, as well as physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants interested in incorporating obesity medicine as part of an existing practice. Note: The entire Overcoming Obesity Symposium offers up to 30 hours of continuing medical education, which fulfill the live conference attendance requirement on the ABOM exam application, including for the 2013 exam. Simply submit your registration receipt with your exam application and other completed CME transcript requirements.
Course highlights:
• Childhood & Adolescent Obesity (Dr. Wendy Scinta)
• The Adipocyte
(Dr. Eric Westman)
• Endocrine (Dr. Jeffrey Sicat)
• Pharmacotherapy (Dr. Ayaz Virji)
• So, You Want to Become a Diplomate… (Reception)

Innovate 2013: Cultivate the Leader in You
CME hours: 12.5
Dates: Wednesday, October 9 to Thursday, October 10, 2013
Course overview: A new course that offers advice on how to complete marketing, communication, advocacy, and research that can amplify your voice as an obesity medicine expert. Established obesity medicine physicians and other providers interested in becoming innovative leaders in this field should attend this course.
Course highlights:
• Leading from Within: Three Keys to Living a Life with Purpose & Passion (Greg Giesen)
• The Experience is the Marketing (Cindy Haskell)
• Advocacy: Increasing Awareness and Spreading the Word (Christopher Gallagher)
• Clinical Research: How to Get Started (Dr. Harold Bays)

Obesity Course
CME hours: 17.5
Dates: Friday, October 11 to Sunday, October 13, 2013
Course overview: Provides a wide selection of plenary and breakout sessions focused on trending topics in obesity medicine. Existing obesity physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, or those interested in developing an obesity medicine practice, should attend this course. The best part is that on Saturday, attendees can individualize their education path by choosing from three breakout areas each hour: pediatric, business and clinical.
Course highlights:
• Obesity: A Panoptic Perspective (Dr. Lee Kaplan)
• Discussing Weight Control with Adolescents (Dr. Billy White)
• Trends and Outcomes in Bariatric Surgery (Dr. Ninh Nguyen)

If you are thinking about attending an ASBP conference for the first time, please consider being part of the new mentorship program. Seasoned and emerging obesity medicine specialists can make connections and share advice about obesity treatment options and professional development. Read more on p3 of the preliminary program (http://www.asbp.org/images/PDFs/Events/ASBP_Overcoming-Obesity2013-web.pdf), and then select your interest on your registration form.

Visit www.overcoming-obesity.org or download a copy of the complete symposium program (http://www.asbp.org/images/PDFs/Events/ASBP_Overcoming-Obesity2013-web.pdf) to learn more about individual course topics, speakers, and sessions. Visit the online store at www.asbp.org for online registration. Please note that early symposium registration rates end September 13, 2013. Please consider making your hotel reservations for the Arizona Biltmore (http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/Accommodations/Default.aspx) by September 16, 2013 to take advantage of the special room rates, which start at $199 (plus taxes & resort fee).

Want a sample of the education offered before you decide to attend? Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8iByGQA00g&feature=youtu.be to watch a lecture from the last ASBP conference.

Funding: No funding was provided for this article.

Financial disclosures: Ms. Gordon reports no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

Category: Medical Methods in Obesity Treatment, Past Articles