Pediatric Committee

Jeremy Aidlen, MD FACS FAAP
Chair

Joy Collins, MD
Co-Chair

Ann O’Connor, MD MBA
Co-Chair

Marina Kurian, MD FACS DABOM DABS-FPMBS FASMBS
Board of Directors Liaison

Members

Marwa Abu El Haija, MBBS
Lina Alkhaled. MD
Aleksander Bernshteyn, MD
Allen Browne, MD 
Matias Bruzoni, MD
Judy Chen, MD FASMBS
Artur Chernoguz, MD
Anita Courcoulas, MD MPH
Robert Cywes, MD PhD
Amy D’Angelo, MPH RD LDN
Daniel DeUgarte, MD 
Nestor de la Cruz-Munoz, MD
Laura Fischer, MD MS FACS FASMBS
Jason Fraser, MD FACS FAAP
Thomas Inge, MD PhD  
Edmund Lee, MD
Sanita Ley, PhD
Lori Lynch, DNP APRN CPNP CBN
Kristin McCoy, MD
Marc Michalsky, MD FASMBS
Carl Pesta, DO FASMBS
David Podkameni, MD FASMBS
Janey Pratt, MD FASMBS, Senior Past Chair
Fred Qafiti, MD MSBE
Faisal Qureshi, MD MBA
Kirk Reichard, MD, Senior Past Chair
Kamran Samakar, MD
Toghrul Talishinskiy, MD FACS FASMBS
Jessica Wright, MD
Mark Wulkan, MD
Jeffrey Zitsman, Immediate Past Chair

Ad Hoc Member

Jaime Moore, MD MPH, The Obesity Society (TOS)

ASMBS Staff Liaison

Leslie Vinson

Charge

In alignment with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) mission to elevate global health and quality of life by significantly reducing the impact of obesity and its related illnesses, the Pediatric Committee is tasked with developing, fostering, and promoting best care practices and resources for pediatric bariatric patients. In response to the increasing prevalence of severe obesity within the pediatric population and the rise in weight loss surgeries, the committee continues to carry out its strategic mission to address this public health crisis.

Description

The Pediatric Committee is dedicated to improving the care and treatment of pediatric patients suffering from obesity. With a focus on advocacy, communication, research, and education, the committee strives to enhance understanding, resources, and access to care for pediatric bariatric surgery.

Objectives

  • Provide leadership on pediatric bariatric surgery to ensure the development and implementation of evidence-based practices, guidelines, and standards tailored to pediatric patients.
  • Expand membership to adult surgeons, nursing, behavior sciences, and other relevant disciplines to address access to care and the multifaceted aspects of pediatric bariatric care.
  • Develop and maintain resources for existing and developing centers that provide care for pediatric patients, promoting standardization, consistency, and excellence in pediatric bariatric care delivery across healthcare settings.
  • Develop and maintain web content for bariatric pediatric professionals to facilitate knowledge dissemination, education, and collaboration among healthcare providers involved in pediatric bariatric care.

Goals

  • Establish leadership in pediatric bariatric surgery as the trusted authority in pediatric bariatric surgery.
  • Increase diverse membership representation, fostering innovation and comprehensive care delivery.
  • Provide standardized comprehensive resources for pediatric bariatric care centers.
  • Enhance professional education through web content development tailored for professionals.

2024/2025 Current Projects

  • ASMBS Pediatric Guidelines 2018 Update
  • ASMBS Website Update Phase 2 – Pediatric Toolkit

2023/2024 Completed Projects

  • 2023 ASMBS Annual Meeting Session “New Rules and New Tools: Pediatric Obesity Care”

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