Members of The Foundation for Surgical Fellowships meet for the first time— pledge to maintain transparency and continue postgraduate education in bariatric surgery

May 2010 Editorial Message

Dear Readers:

I just returned from the 12th annual World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery, meeting in Washington, DC, and, as is always the case, I was impressed with the precise organization and size of the meeting. I would like to congratulate Drs. Salky, Herron, and Schlachta for organizing this fantastic program. Congratulations also go to Dr. Daniel Smith for an outstanding job as president of The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).

More than 2,300 surgeons from around the globe participated in excellent scientific sessions, with the single-incision laparoscopic surgery courses being the most attended courses during the meeting. By now, you all know how I feel about this new technique.

The highlight of the meeting, however, took place in a small room far away from the eyes and ears of the attendees when a group shaped by the most prestigious surgeons in the United States gathered for the first time as members of the Foundation for Surgical Fellowships. Because of the new regulations and restrictions to collaborate with industry, this new foundation was charged with the difficult task of helping to maintain and administer the endowment for postgraduate surgical education of non-Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) programs. Those involved in bariatric surgical training should be relieved by the establishment of this society since it will enable us to maintain transparency and continue postgraduate education. We should be thankful to the Fellowship Council who, under the leadership of Drs. Lee Swanstrom and Bruce Schirmer and with the help of Barbara Berci, Owner and Chief Executive Officer for BSC Management, Inc., was able to set up this organization in record time.

This issue of Bariatric Times presents our readers with multiple exciting articles. I would strongly recommend you to read “Laparoscopic Greater Curvature Plication: An Alternative Restrictive Bariatric Procedure,” by Ramos et al. Although still experimental, this new approach might one day become an interesting treatment modality that will certainly compete with sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding.

Speaking of sleeve gastrectomy, we all welcomed the good news that another major healthcare provider, Aetna, has joined United Healthcare and decided to cover sleeve gastrectomy as a valid treatment option for morbid obesity. Hurray!

Sincerely,

Raul J. Rosenthal, MD, FACS
Editor, Bariatric Times

Tags: Dr. Raul Rosenthal

Category: Editorial Message, Past Articles