Incorporated June 2007
Mission Statement
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the ASMBS will foster awareness of the issues facing Bariatric Surgeons and Allied Health in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, while working to assure safe and ethical treatment options for our patients.
Executive Officers
President: Maria Altieri, MD MS
Past Presidents: Ann Rogers, MD FACS DABS-FPMBS FASMBS, James Ku, MD, Michael D. Bono, MD, Fernando Bonanni, MD FACS FASMBS
Vice President: Faiz Shariff, MD FACS DABS-FPMBS FASMBS
Secretary/Treasurer: Luciano Dimarco, DO
Integrated Health Chair: Cynthia Hipszer, RN MSN CNML CBN
STAR (State Access to Care Representative):
Integrated Health STAR (State Access to Care Representative): Cynthia Hipszer, RN MSN CNML CBN
Founding Members: Amjad Ali, MD, Fernando Bonanni, MD FACS FASMBS, Michael D. Bono, MD, Alan Brader, MD, Scot Currie, DO FACOS FASMBS, DO, Luciano DiMarco, DO
Executive Director: Allen J. Cwalina
Contact
Allen J. Cwalina
Central PA Surgical Associates
875 South Arlington Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17109
Chapter Meetings
- Pennsylvania Chapter American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Annual Meeting and Conference
April 5, 2024
Crowne Plaza Philadelphia King of Prussia, 260 Mall Blvd, King of Prussia, PA 19406
Click Here for Full Agenda and Registration
Chapter Updates
2016 Activity
- Discussing potential partnership with the ACS state chapter meeting.
- In the final stages of PA ASMBS Chapter website development – considering a website video library for common procedures, complications, and revisions as a learning tool for members.
2015 Activity
- Email to all ASMBS members in PA to support local ACS and PAMED to increase voice – PAMED (as all state medical societies) has tools to improve access to care.
- Discussions with Terrance Clark, MD, President NY Chapter regarding Tri-state meeting.
- Discussion with PA Medical society and ACS PA – only boarded surgical subspecialties are recognized – for bariatric to be heard must go through local American College Surgeons Chapter.
- Letter to Insurance Commissioner regarding improving ACA coverage for obesity treatments – requested meeting – no response.
- Discussions with Rep. John Payne: PEBTF (Pennsylvania Employee Beneficiary Trust Fund) – some discussion, no action – state employee insurance not supporting bariatric surgery – over 80,000 employees and 200,000 extended insurance recipients – continued meetings with Secretary of Budget, Administration, and Health – pilot study concept declined by the state.
- Star Representative appointed to ACS Health Advisory Council.
- Website Development – final stages of interactive state site template for the other states; includes web blog, surveys, insurance information, and advice to members (on hold until further discussion re: mandatory state membership).