Dr Richard Peterson elected 39th President of ASMBS

Dr Richard M Peterson, Professor and Chief of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at UT Health San Antonio, TX, has been elected the new president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the largest professional organisation of metabolic and bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals focused on the treatment of obesity in the US.

“The theme of my presidency is ‘No One Left Behind.’ This is to convey that far too few people are receiving evidence-based treatments including metabolic and bariatric surgery that could otherwise significantly improve their health and change their lives forever,” said new ASMBS President, Dr Richard Peterson. “People may opt for the newer GLP-1 drugs, which are effective with continuous use, but neither they nor their doctors can overlook the gold standard bariatric surgery has become in terms of its safety, effectiveness, durability and cost. We’re going to work very hard so patients have both the access and the opportunity for the treatment or combination of treatments that works best for them. No patient will be left behind in this new era of obesity treatment.”

Dr Peterson has been a member of the ASMBS for nearly 20 years and a board member since 2019. He has chaired the society’s program, public education, and communications committees and is a contributing author to the accreditation standards for bariatric surgery. He also serves as one of the Chairs of the Standards and Verification Advisory Council to the American College of Surgeons’ MBSAQIP Program.

“Obesity remains the public health issue of our time and is the root cause of so many other chronic diseases,” said Dr Diane Enos, Chief Executive Officer, ASMBS. “Despite this fact, relatively few receive treatment. Only about 1% of those who would be eligible for bariatric surgery receive it in any given year. Dr Peterson will lead ASMBS to increase utilisation of this life-saving treatment so that it is truly available to those who could benefit.”

After becoming a bariatric surgeon, Dr Peterson served in two combat tours of duty in the US Air Force from 2007 to 2010 reaching the rank of Major where he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service, teaching and accomplishments related to metabolic and bariatric surgery. He led the expansion of the largest US Department of Defense Bariatric Surgery program at the Air Force's Military Flagship hospital, where he established the first Laparoscopic Surgery Fellowship in the US Department of Defense.

He was awarded two Air Force Commendation Medals – one for Deployed Surgical Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and the other for contributions related to the advancement of laparoscopy in combat trauma care during Operation Iraqi Freedom.