(Press-News.org) Newberry, FL – July 9, 2025 – Richard M. Peterson, MD, MPH, FACS, FASMBS, DABS-FPMBS, 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 (ASMBS), the nation’s largest professional organization of metabolic and bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals focused on the treatment of obesity.
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 M. Enos, MPH, RDN, CAE, FAND, 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 utilization 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Department of Defense Bariatric Surgery program at the Air Force's Military Flagship hospital, where he established the first Laparoscopic Surgery Fellowship in the U.S. Department of Defense. Dr. Peterson 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.
“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 ASMBS President Dr. Peterson, MD, MPH, FACS, FASMBS, DABS-FPMBS. “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.”
In addition to his one-year term as ASMBS president, Dr. Peterson serves as the social media editor for Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD), the official journal of the ASMBS. He has written numerous peer-reviewed articles and authored several chapters on bariatric surgery, including one in each edition of The ASMBS Textbook of Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Peterson is past president of the Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery.
Dr. Peterson obtained his Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in biology from the University of California, Riverside. He then went on to obtain a Master of Public Health at the East Stroudsburg University in PA. He obtained his MD degree from the American University of the Caribbean, completed his general surgery residency at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD and his fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at the University of Southern California.
About Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Metabolic, bariatric, or weight-loss surgery, such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, is the most effective and long-lasting treatment for severe obesity. The operations improve or resolve diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure and lead to significant and durable weight loss. Its safety profile is comparable to some of the safest and most commonly performed surgeries in the U.S. including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy and knee replacement. The ASMBS reports more than 270,000 metabolic and bariatric procedures were performed in 2023, which represents only about 1% of those who meet eligibility requirements based on body mass index (BMI).
About Obesity
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity is 40.3% and 9.4%, respectively. Studies show the disease can weaken or impair the body’s immune system and cause chronic inflammation and increase the risk of scores of other diseases and conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
About ASMBS
The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the United States. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of severe obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in bariatric surgery, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved surgical outcomes for patients with severe obesity. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org.
END
Dr. Richard M. Peterson elected 39th president of American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
2025-07-09
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