Pre-Conference Workshop

Michel Gagner, MD, FRCSC, FACS, FASMBS
Professor of surgery, Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine, FIU
Senior consultant, Hôpital du Sacre Coeur, Montreal

Dr. Gagner obtained, at the age of 22, his M.D. in 1982, and did his surgical training at McGill from 1982-1988.

He worked at the Cleveland Clinic where he co-founded the MIS Center (1995-1998). He was appointed Director of the MIS Center of Mount Sinai (NY), from 1998 to 2003. He then joined Weill-Cornell as Chief of Laparoscopic/Bariatric (2003-2007). He was Chair of Surgery at Mount Sinai (Miami), and is currently Professor at FlU, and senior consultant Montreal. In 2014, he founded WWO (World Without Obesity), for the education and development of metabolic surgery in Third World countries. He is also a board member of ASMBS foundation.

Dr Gagner is known for his contributions in MIS, in particular the first description of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (1992), laparoscopic pancreatectomy (distal/proximal) (1992-93), endoscopic neck surgery with parathyroidectomy in 1995, transgastric cholecystectomy in 1997 (NOTES), laparoscopic DS in 1999 and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 2000.

He has over 375 published articles, 47 book chapters, and 9 books on MIS surgery. He has held positions in more than 35 societies, and has served on the editorial boards of 12 surgical journals (Associate Editor of SOARD and Obesity Surgery). Dr Gagner was the President IFSO 2014 (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders) annual meeting and 5th International Conference on Sleeve Gastrectomy held in Montreal, August 26-30th, 2014. He also has been on the executive board of IFSO for the last 3 years, and president of the Canadian chapter of ASMBS, and program chair of ASMBS 2016.

---

Laurent Biertho, MD
Université Laval, 
Département de Chirurgie
Institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec

Dr. Laurent Biertho is Clinical Professor of Surgery at Laval University. After being trained in Biomedical Sciences (1993) and Medicine (1998) at the University of Liege, Belgium, he completed his residency in General Surgery (2004). He underwent post-doctoral training in Minimally Invasive surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, USA, and McMaster University, Canada (2004-2006). At the end of his training, he was appointed Assistant Professor at McMaster University. He was then offered a position as an Associate Professor of Surgery at Laval University, to introduce minimally invasive bariatric and metabolic surgery at the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de Québec. He is the director of the fellowship program in Bariatric and Metabolic surgery at Laval University and co-director of the Research Chair in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. He is also the president of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons. His research interests focus on 1) the long-term metabolic outcomes of bariatric surgeries 2) tailoring surgical approaches to the patients’ needs 3) the study and development of new bariatric procedures.  He is the current President of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons (CABPS).

Michel Gagner, MD, FRCSC, FACS, FASMBS
Professor of surgery, Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine, FIU
Senior consultant, Hôpital du Sacre Coeur, Montreal

Dr. Gagner obtained, at the age of 22, his M.D. in 1982, and did his surgical training at McGill from 1982-1988.

He worked at the Cleveland Clinic where he co-founded the MIS Center (1995-1998). He was appointed Director of the MIS Center of Mount Sinai (NY), from 1998 to 2003. He then joined Weill-Cornell as Chief of Laparoscopic/Bariatric (2003-2007). He was Chair of Surgery at Mount Sinai (Miami), and is currently Professor at FlU, and senior consultant Montreal. In 2014, he founded WWO (World Without Obesity), for the education and development of metabolic surgery in Third World countries. He is also a board member of ASMBS foundation.

Dr Gagner is known for his contributions in MIS, in particular the first description of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (1992), laparoscopic pancreatectomy (distal/proximal) (1992-93), endoscopic neck surgery with parathyroidectomy in 1995, transgastric cholecystectomy in 1997 (NOTES), laparoscopic DS in 1999 and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 2000.

He has over 375 published articles, 47 book chapters, and 9 books on MIS surgery. He has held positions in more than 35 societies, and has served on the editorial boards of 12 surgical journals (Associate Editor of SOARD and Obesity Surgery). Dr Gagner was the President IFSO 2014 (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders) annual meeting and 5th International Conference on Sleeve Gastrectomy held in Montreal, August 26-30th, 2014. He also has been on the executive board of IFSO for the last 3 years, and president of the Canadian chapter of ASMBS, and program chair of ASMBS 2016.

---

Vivek N. Prachand, MD FACS
Associate Professor, Section of General Surgery
Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Chief Quality Officer, Department of Surgery
Executive Medical Director for Procedural Quality and Safety
University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences

A Chicago native, Dr. Prachand pursued his undergraduate studies and medical school education at Northwestern University. After completing his surgical training at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and a fellowship at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 2001, he joined the faculty at the University of Chicago where he is Associate Professor of Surgery. In addition to being the Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Dr. Prachand's clinical interest is in the application of minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of severe obesity, gastrointestinal tumors of the foregut and surgical disorders of the hiatus and spleen. In 2002, he was the first surgeon in the Midwestern U.S. to perform a totally laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and has been performing laparoscopic-thoracoscopic esophagectomy for over a decade. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Prachand is the Chief Quality Officer for the Department of Surgery, and serves as the Executive medical Director for Procedural Quality and Patient Safety for University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences.

Dana D. Portenier, M.D., FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Division Chief, Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Chair, Department of Surgery, Duke Regional Hospital
Co-Director, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program
Duke University Medical Center
Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Dana Portenier, MD is the Division Chief of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He also serves as Chairman of Surgery at Duke Regional Hospital and is the Co-Director of the Duke Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program.

Dr. Portenier completed medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. He completed a general surgery residency at Providence Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. During training he received the Charles G. Johnston Excellence in Research Award by the Detroit Surgical Society. He also received the General Surgery Resident of the Year Award in 2003 and 2004. Dr. Portenier trained in upper gastrointestinal surgery as a traveling Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Fellow, completing rotations at Mayo Clinic (Minnesota), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), and Saint James University Hospital, Leeds (England). In 2006, Dr. Portenier completed an Advanced Fellowship in Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Duke University. Upon completion, he joined the division as an attending physician.

Dr. Portenier’s clinical interests include: minimally invasive approaches to upper gastrointestinal surgery for diseases of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, spleen, small bowel, and colon; complicated revisional foregut and bariatric surgery; developing new techniques in the field of single-incision surgery; weight loss surgery. Dr. Portenier has over 12 years’ experience in performing Bariatric Surgery and training MIS Fellows. He is a globally known leader in the field of Bariatric Surgery and is a frequent speaker at conferences around the world.

Dr. Portenier is a member of SAGES and ASMBS. Dr. Portenier resides in Durham, NC with his wife and two young sons. He enjoys boating and traveling.

---

Dr. Henri Atlas 

Dr. Henri Atlas received his medical degree in Belgium at the University of Louvain in 1961. An associate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1967, he began his career at Sacred Heart Hospital of Montreal in 1970. He grew the general surgery services and established the first Unit of Traumatology in Quebec in 1976. Always on the lookout for technology, he was one of the first to get on board with laparoscopic surgery in the 1990s. With that in mind he has, in recent years, spent most of his time in bariatric surgery by laparoscopy.  

Antonio M. Lacy MD, PhD, FASCRS (Hon)

Professor Antonio M. Lacy is the Head of the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department and Co-Coordinator of the Unit of Colorectal Cancer at the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona. He is a Professor of Surgery at the School of Medicine of the University of Barcelona and the Founder of AIS Channel (www.aischannel.com), a new approach to the communication of advances in cutting-edge surgical expertise, provided by renowned surgeons.

Professor Lacy and his team are global pioneers in the use of innovative minimal invasive technology in gastrointestinal cancer and metabolic syndrome and morbid obesity. He published in 2002 the first randomized study to prove the safety and feasibility of the laparoscopic approach vs the open approach for the treatment of digestive cancer, with excellent oncologic results. Professor Lacy’s team were also the first to perform a Total Mesorectal Excision (TME) by Transanal Approach on a patient in 2009, and have since improved the technique by using 3D imaging. Professor Richard J. Heald, the creator of the TME, the gold standard treatment in rectal cancer, supports this new approach as providing better oncologic outcomes than the conventional approach. 

His main areas of interest are currently Transanal ColoRectal Endoscopic Surgery (TACRES) (taTME, Transanal Proctectomy in IBD & Transanal Approach in Hartmann’s Reversal), the robotic approach to colorectal and esophageal pathologies and the use of the latest technologies and new surgical innovations such as the use of indocyanine green in all its applications (vascular perfusion, lymphatic mapping, metastasis identification….), visualization in 3D and currently in 4k. Professor Lacy participates in several international working groups, such as the international registry of transanal TME (led by Dr. Roel Hompes). He has performed over 400 taTME cases to date, and has chaired numerous TaTME courses all over the world. He is also member of international multidisciplinary working groups for bariatric surgery, type 2 diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome.

Professor Lacy is the founder of AIS Channel (www.aischannel.com ), the main global platform for surgical teaching, which seeks to bring surgeons from every corner of the world closer to the key opinion leaders and to the latest surgical innovations and technologies. 

Professor Lacy and his team’s clinical and research work has resulted in more than 180 publications, with an accumulated impact factor of 834,681 and a Hirsch Index of 44. He has also participated in 30 surgical reference book chapters and has been invited to deliver more than 400 lectures in congresses all over the world. 

Professor Lacy is member of and has been actively involved in international societies such as SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons), ASCRS (American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons), EAES (European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons) where he was President from 2007 to 2009, and ESA (European Surgical Association). He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the American Association of Colorectal Surgeons (ASCRS) in 2013 and he has been awarded the SAGES International Ambassador Award in 2017. 

Antonio J. Torres M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., FASMBS. Professor of Surgery
President of IFSO (2011-2012)
Chairman IFSO´s Board of Trustees (2015-
Governor Capítulo Español del American College of Surgeons (ACS)
Chief General Surgery Service Department of Surgery
Complutense University of Madrid. Hospital Clinico "San Carlos". Madrid.Spain

Dr. Antonio J. Torres was born in Coin (Málaga), Spain (17 December 1955). 

He received his M.D. degree from Málaga University School of Medicine in 1978 (License Number: 28551. He completed his training as a surgical intern and resident at the Carlos Haya University Hospital in Malaga (Spain) where he completed his residency in General and Digestive Surgery in 1981. Afterwards he completed his residency in Thoracic Surgery at the Complutense University School of Medicine (Clínico San Carlos Hospital) in Madrid in 1986.

Dr. Torres is certified by the Spanish Board of General and Digestive Surgery (1981) and Spanish Board of Thoracic Surgery (1986).

In 1983, he got his Ph Degree at the Complutense University School of Medicine in Madrid

After completing his residencies, Dr. Torres became staff of the General, Digestive and Thoracic Service at the Clínico San Carlos Hospìtal, in Madrid (Spain).

In 1986, Dr. Torres became Associate Professor of Surgery at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). In 2000, he became Professor of Surgery at the same University.

At present time, he is Professor of Surgery at the Complutense University of Madrid, and Chief of the General and Digestive Surgery Service at the Clínico San Carlos Hospital.

His main areas of interest have been: Bariatric Surgery, Metabolic Surgery, Obesity, Gatrointestinal Hormones, Intraabdominal  Infections, Surgical Oncology and Video-Endoscopic Surgery (anti-reflux procedures, hepatobiliopancreatic surgery, and obesity surgery procedures)

He is a member of 28 national and international professional associations including the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and metabolic disorders (IFSO), International Society of Digestive Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the European Association of Endoscopic Surgery and the Spanish Society of Surgeons.

Dr. Torres has authored or co-authored over two hundred peer-reviewed journal articles and serves as principal investigator on numerous studies including several grants funded by official institutions.

Dr. Torres was the President of SECO (2007-2011), and the European Representative at International Federation for Obesity Surgery (IFSO) General Council (2008-2011).

IFSO´s President (2011-12). Vice-Chairman of the IFSO´s Board of Trustees (2014-15)

At present time is Chairman of the IFSO´s Board of Trustees (2015-      ), and Governor of the American College of Surgeons Spanish Chapter (2015-      

Jacques Himpens
The European School of laparoscopic surgery
St Blasius general Hospital Dendermonde and St Pierre University Hospital Brussels, Belgium

Jacques Himpens, MD, PhD, graduated from Leuven University (1977), is an Associate Professor of surgery at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and Chief of Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery at the CHIREC hospital, Brussels, and the St. Blasius Hospital, Dendermonde, Belgium. He is president-elect (2017-2018) of IFSO.

Special achievements include: the world's first "robotic" procedure with the Intuitive Surgery "Mona" prototype (1997), the first laparoscopic gastric bypass in Belgium (1999), the first laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, the first biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (2001).

He is a prolific author, is co-editor for the "Obesity Surgery" journal and member of the editorial board of "SOARD".

---

Laurent Biertho, MD
Université Laval, 
Département de Chirurgie
Institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec

Dr. Laurent Biertho is Clinical Professor of Surgery at Laval University. After being trained in Biomedical Sciences (1993) and Medicine (1998) at the University of Liege, Belgium, he completed his residency in General Surgery (2004). He underwent post-doctoral training in Minimally Invasive surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, USA, and McMaster University, Canada (2004-2006). At the end of his training, he was appointed Assistant Professor at McMaster University. He was then offered a position as an Associate Professor of Surgery at Laval University, to introduce minimally invasive bariatric and metabolic surgery at the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de Québec. He is the director of the fellowship program in Bariatric and Metabolic surgery at Laval University and co-director of the Research Chair in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. He is also the president of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons. His research interests focus on 1) the long-term metabolic outcomes of bariatric surgeries 2) tailoring surgical approaches to the patients’ needs 3) the study and development of new bariatric procedures.  He is the current President of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons (CABPS).

---

Dr. Pierre Y. Garneau, MD, FRCS(C), FASMBS
Bariatric Surgeon
Chief of General Surgery, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal
Professor, University of Montréal

Dr. Pierre Garneau received his medical degree at Laval University in Quebec City in 1991. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University Laval, and had the opportunity to work with the team of Dr. Picard Marceau, one of the fathers of bariatric surgery. Dr. Garneau has been a member of the General Surgery team at Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal since 1997 and is currently chief of general surgery and Professor at the University of Montreal. Research interest include the impact of obesity surgery on fat tissues and revisional surgery.

Giovanni DAPRI, MD, PhD, FACS, FASMBS, HonFPALES, HonSPCMIN, HonBSS, HonCBCD
Professor of Surgery
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery
European School of Laparoscopic Surgery

Giovanni Dapri is Professor of Surgery at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Saint-Pierre University Hospital, Brussels (Belgium). He is Professor of Anatomy at University of Mons (Belgium). In his career, he has edited 5 books, published more than 110 scientific articles and more than 50 chapters in other books. He invented in 2008 an instrument set to operate in Single Incision Laparoscopy. He has performed more than 90 laparoscopic procedures in front of the audience in foreign countries.

Konrad Karcz MD, PhD, PHM
Head of Minimally Invasive Surgery, honorary adviser by World Elite Surgeons, Scientia potestas est
Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich | LMU · Deparment of General-, Abdominal-, Vasscular-, Thoracic- and Transplantation Surgery   

Alfons Pomp MD FACS FRCSC 
Leon C. Hirsch Professor of Surgery
Vice Chairman, Department of Surgery
Surgical Quality Officer
Chief GI Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Weill Cornell Medicine
GI Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Dr. Pomp is an internationally recognized expert in advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques. He is a graduate of McGill University and the University of Sherbooke. He completed his surgical training at the University of Montreal and Rhode Island and practiced in Montreal at the CHUM/Hotel Dieu before moving to the Mount Sinai Hospital and then the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. He is Chief of GI Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Leon C. Hirsch Professor of Surgery and is the Vice-Chairman of the Department of Surgery.
 
Dr. Pomp has written more than 100 PubMed cited articles and has been a speaker at over 250 national and international meetings.  He was funded as a Principal Investigator in NIDDK/NIH Bariatric Surgery Research - LABS (Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery). He has served on the executive boards of SAGES and ASMBS. His primary clinical expertise includes bariatric surgery, minimally invasive foregut, solid organ and hernia surgery. 

He serves on the Editorial board of SOARD and Obesity Surgery. He is one of Castle Connolly’s America’s Top Doctors; won the SAGES Clinical Excellence Award in 2013 and was honored as an ASMBS “Thirty Members Who Made a Difference 1983-2013”

---

Peter C. Ng, MD, FACS, FASMBS 

Dr. Ng is a North Carolina native who completed his undergraduate degree in history at Davidson College. He attended medical school, surgical residency, and post-surgical specialty training in bariatric surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He is the medical director of Rex Bariatric Specialists, and Chairman of North Carolina Surgery, a large multi-specialty surgery practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. His special interest include minimally invasive GI surgery, duodenal switch, and revision bariatric surgery.

---

Mehran Anvari, MB BS, PhD, FRCSC, FACS 
Chair, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Surgical Innovation
Professor, Department of Surgery, McMaster University

Dr. Mehran Anvari is a tenured professor of surgery at McMaster University, specializing in minimal access techniques, at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. Dr. Anvari was one of the first surgeons in Canada to use robotics in surgery, establishing the world's first telerobotic surgical service.

Dr. Anvari holds several clinical and administrative appointments. He is the past president and founding member of the Minimally Invasive Robotic Association, the scientific director and CEO of the Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation, and the founding director of the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery. Dr. Anvari is the clinical lead and chair of the Ontario Bariatric Network and the Chair of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Surgical Innovation at McMaster.

As a researcher, supervisor, mentor and advisor, Dr. Anvari has a continued commitment to teaching, education, publication and innovation. Dr. Anvari is the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, and the founding director of the McMaster Institute for Surgical Invention, Innovation and Education. He has authored over 150 publications; holds seven patents; and is the principle investigator of numerous studies related to obesity, gastrointestinal disease, and surgical robotic systems and techniques. He has been honored many times for his innovation and research: chosen as the McMaster Innovator of the Year in 2009, and awarded the ORION Leadership Award in 2010. Dr. Anvari's work with telerobotics has also been recognized by the federal and provincial government with the "Gold Medal of Distinction" and the "Diamond Award for Innovation in Technology".

Dennis Hong, MD, MSc, FRCS(C), FACS
Associate Professor at McMaster University
Staff Physician, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

Dr. Dennis Hong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at McMaster University. He specializes in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Hong was born in Seoul, South Korea. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biology from the University of Western Ontario in 1992. Dr. Hong received his medical degree (M.D.) from the University of Toronto in 1996. He completed his residency in the Department of Surgery, McMaster University Medical Centre in Hamilton, ON. Then in 2003, he completed a Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at the Legacy Health System in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.. He joined the Department of Surgery at McMaster University in 2010. He is Associate Director, Centre for Minimal Access Surgery, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, ON.

Muhammad Jawad, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Medical Director
Bariatric Surgery
Orlando Health
Assistant Professor of Surgery
UCF School of Medicine

Muhammad A. Jawad, MD, FACS is board certified through the American Board of Surgery and serves as the Medical Director of Orlando Regional Medical Center’s Bariatric Program. Dr. Jawad has been an expert in laparoscopic surgery since 1989, where he has performed complicated biliary, colon and endocrine surgery.
 
Dr. Jawad received his Medical Degree from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, graduating with honors. He completed a surgical internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL. Following his internship, he practiced at Jackson Hospital in Alabama. Before joining ORMC, Dr. Jawad served as a chief of surgery at Ocala Regional Medical Center in Florida following his position as chief of staff at Monroe Regional Hospital. While at Ocala Regional Hospital, Dr. Jawad served as a member of the board of trustees.
 
Serving as an expert in the laparoscopic field and performing bariatric surgery since 1984, he has performed more than 4,000 laparoscopic bariatric surgical cases since 2000, safely and with great success. He specializes in the laparoscopic gastric bypass, duodenal switch both traditional and single anastomosis, sleeve gastrectomy, as well as conversions and revision procedures. He has presented more than 45 presentations both nationally and internationally on laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. He has  published more than 40 papers in the literature of obesity surgery.
 
Dr. Jawad is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is a member of many organizations including the American Society of Bariatric Surgery, the Florida Medical Association, the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons and the Florida Physicians Association

Dr. C. Marchesini

Masters in Surgery from the Federal University of Paraná - Brazil
Affiliated Professor - Medical School of Mario Covas Hospital - Department of Endoscopia
International Member of The American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
Member of International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
Member of the Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
President of the Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery

---

Ranjan Sudan, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery
Vice Chair of Education
Department of Surgery
Division of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Dr. Ranjan Sudan is a nationally recognized leader in the field of bariatric surgery. He was the first to perform the duodenal switch using the da Vinci robot in 2000. He is widely published in bariatric surgery and surgical education with over fifty publications and over $200,000 in grant funding. 

Dr. Sudan has been engaged in surgical education for over 15 years. He served as medical director of bariatric surgery at University of Nebraska and at Creighton University where he established a COE and then joined Duke University Medical Center in 2008, where he is currently Vice Chair of Education and Director of Simulation Lab and has an active bariatric surgery practice.

Dr. Sudan is the Vice President for the Association of Surgical Education Board of Directors. He also serves on the continuing education committee of the Society for the Surgery of the Alimentary tract and. He has codirected several courses for clerkship directors and is a faculty member for the New Program Directors course at the APDS.  He co-chairs a task force of the American College of Surgeons that is working on a national core curriculum in surgery.

He is triple boarded in Adult Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry and General Surgery. He has published over fifty peer reviewed publications and book chapters. 

Gintaras Antanavicius, MD 
Associate Director, Institute for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
Abington – Jefferson Health

Gintaras Antanavicius, MD earned his medical degree from Vilnius University Medical School. He completed his residency in general surgery at Temple University in 2005, where he was awarded The Lester A. Dunmire Award for his clinical and scholarly achievements. He completed his fellowship in minimally invasive bariatric surgery at the University of Minnesota in 2008.  Dr. Gintaras Antanavicius (known as Dr. G) is a board certified, fellowship trained and highly experienced bariatric – metabolic surgeon. He has performed over 1700 bariatric operations. He specializes in advanced laparoscopic and complex robotic bariatric surgery including The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, vertical sleeve gastrectomy and revisional surgery. New technologies and techniques, such as endoscopic incisionless procedures and new Xi robotic system applications, are routine additions to his broad surgical repertoire.

Mitchell S. Roslin, M.D., F.A.C.S. FASMBS
Director Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital, NY, NY
Northern Westchester Hospital Center
Professor of Surgery Barbara and Donald Zucher School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell 

Mitchell S. Roslin is well known throughout the world for his work as a bariatric surgeon and thought provoking research.  Recently, he has been a visiting scholar and professor, operating and speaking in Brazil, Canada, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.  He is invited to lecture throughout the world and has written multiple articles of note in the medical literature. In the past year he has performed 6 live surgical demonstrations for international surgical meetings.

Dr .Roslin has focused on how different operations handle sugar, and he has been a  leading voice for a transition in bariatric procedures. His initial focus questioned whether dumping was a desirable aspect of a bariatric procedure.  He was probably the first surgeon to discuss what he believes will be an important issue in the future, glucose variability. He has advocated preserving the pyloric valve and has lectured about sleeve gastrectomy and duodenal switch globally.  He is linked to an increasingly popular operation, named SIPS, a modified duodenal switch.  He developed the concepts and provided the most important research in the area.  His opinion is sought by many sources, and he has appeared on national television countless times. He is the principal investigator of the national clinical study.  Additionally, he was the  principal investigator of the restore trial and the vagus nerve stimulation trial.

A native New Yorker, Dr. Roslin graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his MD degree from New York University in 1987.  He completed his internship in surgery at the UCSD Medical Center in San Diego and his residency/chief residency in surgery at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

After his residency, Dr. Roslin began his surgical career on the teaching faculty of the Maimonides Medical Center.  There, he developed one of the largest clinical treatment programs for morbid obesity in the United States.  In 2000 he was named Chief of Obesity Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and has developed an internationally known program. He has been voted one of the outstanding doctors in New York, by both Castle and Connolly and New York Magazine.  He recently has been selected as one of the best minimally invasive surgeons in New York.  He is the sounding president of the NYS-ASMBS and co chair of the access committee of ASMBS.

Dr. Roslin has long had a strong interest in research and improving treatment for the obesity.  He holds multiple patents and is actively involved in several research projects.  Despite being asked to appear throughout the world, and operate in numerous countries, He has an extremely active practice, performing approximately 400 major cases annually.  He has truly pioneered new procedures and ideas.  A major aspect of his practice is complex revisions.  He sees patients and performs surgery in New York City and in Westchester.

Dr Roslin has received grants from Medtronic, CardioDx,  CR Bard, Covidien, Johnson and Johnson and Cyberonics.  He is the associate editor of Obesity Surgery and on the editorial board of SOARD. He has mentored surgical residents and research fellows for his entire career and was named a full professor of surgery at the Hofstra/Northwell School of Medicine.

The program at Lenox Hill is involved in multiple aspects of research. Current studies include the SIPS trial, genetic changes following bariatric surgery, and basic science research with the department of endocrinology.   

Ranjan Sudan, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery
Vice Chair of Education
Department of Surgery
Division of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Dr. Ranjan Sudan is a nationally recognized leader in the field of bariatric surgery. He was the first to perform the duodenal switch using the da Vinci robot in 2000. He is widely published in bariatric surgery and surgical education with over fifty publications and over $200,000 in grant funding. 

Dr. Sudan has been engaged in surgical education for over 15 years. He served as medical director of bariatric surgery at University of Nebraska and at Creighton University where he established a COE and then joined Duke University Medical Center in 2008, where he is currently Vice Chair of Education and Director of Simulation Lab and has an active bariatric surgery practice.

Dr. Sudan is the Vice President for the Association of Surgical Education Board of Directors. He also serves on the continuing education committee of the Society for the Surgery of the Alimentary tract and. He has codirected several courses for clerkship directors and is a faculty member for the New Program Directors course at the APDS.  He co-chairs a task force of the American College of Surgeons that is working on a national core curriculum in surgery.

He is triple boarded in Adult Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry and General Surgery. He has published over fifty peer reviewed publications and book chapters. 

Vivek N. Prachand, MD FACS
Associate Professor, Section of General Surgery
Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Chief Quality Officer, Department of Surgery
Executive Medical Director for Procedural Quality and Safety
University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences

A Chicago native, Dr. Prachand pursued his undergraduate studies and medical school education at Northwestern University. After completing his surgical training at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and a fellowship at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 2001, he joined the faculty at the University of Chicago where he is Associate Professor of Surgery. In addition to being the Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Dr. Prachand's clinical interest is in the application of minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of severe obesity, gastrointestinal tumors of the foregut and surgical disorders of the hiatus and spleen. In 2002, he was the first surgeon in the Midwestern U.S. to perform a totally laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and has been performing laparoscopic-thoracoscopic esophagectomy for over a decade. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Prachand is the Chief Quality Officer for the Department of Surgery, and serves as the Executive medical Director for Procedural Quality and Patient Safety for University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences.

Helmuth T. Billy, MD
Director of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, St. John's Regional Medical Center, Oxnard California
Director of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Community Memorial Hospital Ventura California
President, California Chapter ASMBS
Chair, Insurance Committee ASMBS

Dr. Billy received his medical degree from the University of California in 1990.  Having completed a surgical internship in 1991 he was exposed to the early introduction of laparoscopy with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic hernia repairs.  Dr. Billy completed residency training in 1997 and performed his first laparoscopic RYGB in 1999.  Dr. Billy is Medical Director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at St Johns Regional Medical Center in Oxnard California and Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura California.  He is President of the California Chapter of the ASMBS and is the current Chair of the Insurance Committee for the ASMBS.  He has lectured nationally and internationally and is actively involved in teaching residents and fellows techniques in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery

Michel Gagner, MD, FRCSC, FACS, FASMBS
Professor of surgery, Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine, FIU
Senior consultant, Hôpital du Sacre Coeur, Montreal

Dr. Gagner obtained, at the age of 22, his M.D. in 1982, and did his surgical training at McGill from 1982-1988.

He worked at the Cleveland Clinic where he co-founded the MIS Center (1995-1998). He was appointed Director of the MIS Center of Mount Sinai (NY), from 1998 to 2003. He then joined Weill-Cornell as Chief of Laparoscopic/Bariatric (2003-2007). He was Chair of Surgery at Mount Sinai (Miami), and is currently Professor at FlU, and senior consultant Montreal. In 2014, he founded WWO (World Without Obesity), for the education and development of metabolic surgery in Third World countries. He is also a board member of ASMBS foundation.

Dr Gagner is known for his contributions in MIS, in particular the first description of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (1992), laparoscopic pancreatectomy (distal/proximal) (1992-93), endoscopic neck surgery with parathyroidectomy in 1995, transgastric cholecystectomy in 1997 (NOTES), laparoscopic DS in 1999 and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 2000.

He has over 375 published articles, 47 book chapters, and 9 books on MIS surgery. He has held positions in more than 35 societies, and has served on the editorial boards of 12 surgical journals (Associate Editor of SOARD and Obesity Surgery). Dr Gagner was the President IFSO 2014 (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders) annual meeting and 5th International Conference on Sleeve Gastrectomy held in Montreal, August 26-30th, 2014. He also has been on the executive board of IFSO for the last 3 years, and president of the Canadian chapter of ASMBS, and program chair of ASMBS 2016.

Simon Marceau, MD, FRCSC
Chef du département de chirurgie
IUCPQ-Université Laval

Dr. Marceau graduated from Laval University in medicine in 1991 and general surgery in 1996. He did a fellowship at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston in 1997-98. He joined the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie and Pneumologie de Québec (I.U.C.P.Q. formerly Hôpital Laval) in 1998 where his father had been practicing surgery for 35 years. The latter with Dr. Simon Biron has pioneered the development of bariatric surgery in Quebec and Canada and their work on the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch has had an impact internationally recognized. He is currently Chief of surgery at the IUCPQ.

Dr. Simon Marceau has contributed to more than fifty scientific papers, scientific articles, abstracts or book chapters.

---

Olivier Court, M.D., CM, FRCSC 

Dr. Olivier Court, M.D., CM, FRCSC has been Director of McGill University Health Centre since September 12, 2016. Dr. Court has been the Director of Bariatric Surgery at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) since 2012 and Director of the Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) of the MUHC since 2010. In addition, he has been an Attending Surgeon in Bariatric and General Surgery at the RVH, an Attending Intensivist at the RVH and Montreal General Hospital (MGH), and Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University since 2005.

Alfons Pomp MD FACS FRCSC 
Leon C. Hirsch Professor of Surgery
Vice Chairman, Department of Surgery
Surgical Quality Officer
Chief GI Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Weill Cornell Medicine
GI Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Dr. Pomp is an internationally recognized expert in advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques. He is a graduate of McGill University and the University of Sherbooke. He completed his surgical training at the University of Montreal and Rhode Island and practiced in Montreal at the CHUM/Hotel Dieu before moving to the Mount Sinai Hospital and then the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. He is Chief of GI Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Leon C. Hirsch Professor of Surgery and is the Vice-Chairman of the Department of Surgery.
 
Dr. Pomp has written more than 100 PubMed cited articles and has been a speaker at over 250 national and international meetings.  He was funded as a Principal Investigator in NIDDK/NIH Bariatric Surgery Research - LABS (Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery). He has served on the executive boards of SAGES and ASMBS. His primary clinical expertise includes bariatric surgery, minimally invasive foregut, solid organ and hernia surgery. 

He serves on the Editorial board of SOARD and Obesity Surgery. He is one of Castle Connolly’s America’s Top Doctors; won the SAGES Clinical Excellence Award in 2013 and was honored as an ASMBS “Thirty Members Who Made a Difference 1983-2013”

Dr. Francois Julien 
General and Bariatric Surgeon
Quebec City Heart and Lung Institute

Dr Francois Julien is a general and bariatric surgeon at the Quebec city Heart and Lung Institute.  He attended medical school at Université de Montréal and trained in general surgery at Université Laval, in Quebec City.  He pursued a minimally invasive and bariatric fellowship at the University of Ottawa and Université Laval. 

Dana D. Portenier, M.D., FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Division Chief, Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Chair, Department of Surgery, Duke Regional Hospital
Co-Director, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program
Duke University Medical Center
Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Dana Portenier, MD is the Division Chief of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He also serves as Chairman of Surgery at Duke Regional Hospital and is the Co-Director of the Duke Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program.

Dr. Portenier completed medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. He completed a general surgery residency at Providence Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. During training he received the Charles G. Johnston Excellence in Research Award by the Detroit Surgical Society. He also received the General Surgery Resident of the Year Award in 2003 and 2004. Dr. Portenier trained in upper gastrointestinal surgery as a traveling Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Fellow, completing rotations at Mayo Clinic (Minnesota), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), and Saint James University Hospital, Leeds (England). In 2006, Dr. Portenier completed an Advanced Fellowship in Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Duke University. Upon completion, he joined the division as an attending physician.

Dr. Portenier’s clinical interests include: minimally invasive approaches to upper gastrointestinal surgery for diseases of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, spleen, small bowel, and colon; complicated revisional foregut and bariatric surgery; developing new techniques in the field of single-incision surgery; weight loss surgery. Dr. Portenier has over 12 years’ experience in performing Bariatric Surgery and training MIS Fellows. He is a globally known leader in the field of Bariatric Surgery and is a frequent speaker at conferences around the world.

Dr. Portenier is a member of SAGES and ASMBS. Dr. Portenier resides in Durham, NC with his wife and two young sons. He enjoys boating and traveling.

M Mahir Ozmen MD, MS, FACS, FRCS, FEBS, FASMBS
Professor of Surgery
Medical Director Liv Hospital, ANKARA
Istinye University(ISU), School of Medicine, Department of  Surgery, Istanbul

Professor Ozmen graduated from Ankara University Medical School In 1989. He became a general surgery specialist in 1995 and received MS (Master of Surgery) degree - which is PhD equivalent - in the field of gastrointestinal surgery in 1997 at University of Southampton-UK. He became an Associate Professor of Surgery in 1999 and a Professor of Surgery in 2010 at Hacettepe University Medical School.

He acted as the Head of Emergency Medicine Department between 2011-2013 and worked as full-time Professor of Surgery at Department of General Surgery, Medical School, Hacettepe University, between 2010-2016. He has been working as Medical Director of Liv Hospital Ankara since june 2016. Currently, He is also working at Istinye School of Medicine, Department of Surgery as Professor of Surgery.

He worked in Southampton University, Southampton-UK and AZ Maria Middelares Hospital in Ghent-Belgium between the years of 1993-1996, in the fields of general, gastro-intestinal and advanced laparoscopic surgery; He worked in Norfolk and Norwich Hospital-UK and Southampton University-UK again at various times in 1996-1997 in the fields of gastrointestinal surgery; In 2000-2001 he worked in Cambridge University, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge and Kings College Hospital, London-UK in the field of multi-organ transplantation (kidney and liver). He received his sub-speciality diploma on surgical Oncology in 2012 

He was awarded with FACS from American College of Surgeons, USA and FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow, UK. Additionally he also has FEBS from UEMS-European Board of Surgery and FASMBS from American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. 

He is currently the president of Turkish Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (TSMBS); Vice-President of Turkish Association of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (TATES), member of the Education & Training Committee of European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), Governor for Endoscopic Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA) and Councillor for International Association for Trauma and Surgical Critical Care (IATSIC).

He has over 200 international scientific publications; over 50 book chapters and 15 books in the field of surgery. He has around 2000 citations. He acted and currently acting as editor, editorial board member or member of publication committee of many national and international scientific journals. He acted as publication committee member of popular science journals including NTV-Bilim and TUBITAK Bilim ve Teknik Dergisi.

His research interest includes changes after bariatric and metabolic surgery in both clinical and molecular levels and surgical oncology, tumor immunology and surgical education

Dana D. Portenier, M.D., FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Division Chief, Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Chair, Department of Surgery, Duke Regional Hospital
Co-Director, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program
Duke University Medical Center
Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Dana Portenier, MD is the Division Chief of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He also serves as Chairman of Surgery at Duke Regional Hospital and is the Co-Director of the Duke Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program.

Dr. Portenier completed medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. He completed a general surgery residency at Providence Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. During training he received the Charles G. Johnston Excellence in Research Award by the Detroit Surgical Society. He also received the General Surgery Resident of the Year Award in 2003 and 2004. Dr. Portenier trained in upper gastrointestinal surgery as a traveling Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Fellow, completing rotations at Mayo Clinic (Minnesota), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), and Saint James University Hospital, Leeds (England). In 2006, Dr. Portenier completed an Advanced Fellowship in Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Duke University. Upon completion, he joined the division as an attending physician.

Dr. Portenier’s clinical interests include: minimally invasive approaches to upper gastrointestinal surgery for diseases of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, spleen, small bowel, and colon; complicated revisional foregut and bariatric surgery; developing new techniques in the field of single-incision surgery; weight loss surgery. Dr. Portenier has over 12 years’ experience in performing Bariatric Surgery and training MIS Fellows. He is a globally known leader in the field of Bariatric Surgery and is a frequent speaker at conferences around the world.

Dr. Portenier is a member of SAGES and ASMBS. Dr. Portenier resides in Durham, NC with his wife and two young sons. He enjoys boating and traveling.

Jacques Himpens
The European School of laparoscopic surgery
St Blasius general Hospital Dendermonde and St Pierre University Hospital Brussels, Belgium

Jacques Himpens, MD, PhD, graduated from Leuven University (1977), is an Associate Professor of surgery at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and Chief of Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery at the CHIREC hospital, Brussels, and the St. Blasius Hospital, Dendermonde, Belgium. He is president-elect (2017-2018) of IFSO.

Special achievements include: the world's first "robotic" procedure with the Intuitive Surgery "Mona" prototype (1997), the first laparoscopic gastric bypass in Belgium (1999), the first laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, the first biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (2001).

He is a prolific author, is co-editor for the "Obesity Surgery" journal and member of the editorial board of "SOARD". mesenteric defect at the jejuno-ileal anastomosis are of the utmost importance to prevent this potentially lethal complication.

Michel Gagner, MD, FRCSC, FACS, FASMBS
Professor of surgery, Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine, FIU
Senior consultant, Hôpital du Sacre Coeur, Montreal

Dr. Gagner obtained, at the age of 22, his M.D. in 1982, and did his surgical training at McGill from 1982-1988.

He worked at the Cleveland Clinic where he co-founded the MIS Center (1995-1998). He was appointed Director of the MIS Center of Mount Sinai (NY), from 1998 to 2003. He then joined Weill-Cornell as Chief of Laparoscopic/Bariatric (2003-2007). He was Chair of Surgery at Mount Sinai (Miami), and is currently Professor at FlU, and senior consultant Montreal. In 2014, he founded WWO (World Without Obesity), for the education and development of metabolic surgery in Third World countries. He is also a board member of ASMBS foundation.

Dr Gagner is known for his contributions in MIS, in particular the first description of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (1992), laparoscopic pancreatectomy (distal/proximal) (1992-93), endoscopic neck surgery with parathyroidectomy in 1995, transgastric cholecystectomy in 1997 (NOTES), laparoscopic DS in 1999 and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 2000.

He has over 375 published articles, 47 book chapters, and 9 books on MIS surgery. He has held positions in more than 35 societies, and has served on the editorial boards of 12 surgical journals (Associate Editor of SOARD and Obesity Surgery). Dr Gagner was the President IFSO 2014 (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders) annual meeting and 5th International Conference on Sleeve Gastrectomy held in Montreal, August 26-30th, 2014. He also has been on the executive board of IFSO for the last 3 years, and president of the Canadian chapter of ASMBS, and program chair of ASMBS 2016.

Michel Gagner, MD, FRCSC, FACS, FASMBS
Professor of surgery, Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine, FIU
Senior consultant, Hôpital du Sacre Coeur, Montreal

Dr. Gagner obtained, at the age of 22, his M.D. in 1982, and did his surgical training at McGill from 1982-1988.

He worked at the Cleveland Clinic where he co-founded the MIS Center (1995-1998). He was appointed Director of the MIS Center of Mount Sinai (NY), from 1998 to 2003. He then joined Weill-Cornell as Chief of Laparoscopic/Bariatric (2003-2007). He was Chair of Surgery at Mount Sinai (Miami), and is currently Professor at FlU, and senior consultant Montreal. In 2014, he founded WWO (World Without Obesity), for the education and development of metabolic surgery in Third World countries. He is also a board member of ASMBS foundation.

Dr Gagner is known for his contributions in MIS, in particular the first description of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (1992), laparoscopic pancreatectomy (distal/proximal) (1992-93), endoscopic neck surgery with parathyroidectomy in 1995, transgastric cholecystectomy in 1997 (NOTES), laparoscopic DS in 1999 and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 2000.

He has over 375 published articles, 47 book chapters, and 9 books on MIS surgery. He has held positions in more than 35 societies, and has served on the editorial boards of 12 surgical journals (Associate Editor of SOARD and Obesity Surgery). Dr Gagner was the President IFSO 2014 (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders) annual meeting and 5th International Conference on Sleeve Gastrectomy held in Montreal, August 26-30th, 2014. He also has been on the executive board of IFSO for the last 3 years, and president of the Canadian chapter of ASMBS, and program chair of ASMBS 2016.

Mehran Anvari, MB BS, PhD, FRCSC, FACS 
Chair, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Surgical Innovation
Professor, Department of Surgery, McMaster University

Dr. Mehran Anvari is a tenured professor of surgery at McMaster University, specializing in minimal access techniques, at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. Dr. Anvari was one of the first surgeons in Canada to use robotics in surgery, establishing the world's first telerobotic surgical service.

Dr. Anvari holds several clinical and administrative appointments. He is the past president and founding member of the Minimally Invasive Robotic Association, the scientific director and CEO of the Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation, and the founding director of the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery. Dr. Anvari is the clinical lead and chair of the Ontario Bariatric Network and the Chair of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Surgical Innovation at McMaster.

As a researcher, supervisor, mentor and advisor, Dr. Anvari has a continued commitment to teaching, education, publication and innovation. Dr. Anvari is the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, and the founding director of the McMaster Institute for Surgical Invention, Innovation and Education. He has authored over 150 publications; holds seven patents; and is the principle investigator of numerous studies related to obesity, gastrointestinal disease, and surgical robotic systems and techniques. He has been honored many times for his innovation and research: chosen as the McMaster Innovator of the Year in 2009, and awarded the ORION Leadership Award in 2010. Dr. Anvari's work with telerobotics has also been recognized by the federal and provincial government with the "Gold Medal of Distinction" and the "Diamond Award for Innovation in Technology".

Ranjan Sudan, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery
Vice Chair of Education
Department of Surgery
Division of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Dr. Ranjan Sudan is a nationally recognized leader in the field of bariatric surgery. He was the first to perform the duodenal switch using the da Vinci robot in 2000. He is widely published in bariatric surgery and surgical education with over fifty publications and over $200,000 in grant funding. 

Dr. Sudan has been engaged in surgical education for over 15 years. He served as medical director of bariatric surgery at University of Nebraska and at Creighton University where he established a COE and then joined Duke University Medical Center in 2008, where he is currently Vice Chair of Education and Director of Simulation Lab and has an active bariatric surgery practice.

Dr. Sudan is the Vice President for the Association of Surgical Education Board of Directors. He also serves on the continuing education committee of the Society for the Surgery of the Alimentary tract and. He has codirected several courses for clerkship directors and is a faculty member for the New Program Directors course at the APDS.  He co-chairs a task force of the American College of Surgeons that is working on a national core curriculum in surgery.

He is triple boarded in Adult Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry and General Surgery. He has published over fifty peer reviewed publications and book chapters. 

Peter C. Ng, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Dr. Ng is a North Carolina native who completed his undergraduate degree in history at Davidson College. He attended medical school, surgical residency, and post-surgical specialty training in bariatric surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He is the medical director of Rex Bariatric Specialists, and Chairman of North Carolina Surgery, a large multi-specialty surgery practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. His special interest include minimally invasive GI surgery, duodenal switch, and revision bariatric surgery.

Presentation Overview
Duodenal switch and related malabsorption based operations continue to gain wider acceptance.  The traditional technical approaches focus on laparoscopic hand sewn techniques, which present some limitations with respect to both initial learning curve and procedure length.  We demonstrate in our technique video the duodenoileostomy by complete stapling and discuss the important keys to successful implementation.

Learning Objectives

1. Learn a novel stapling technique for duodenoileostomy, adaptable to both standard and loop DS
2. Review the potential limitations of the each technique and pearls to consistent technical results with stapling

Michel Gagner, MD, FRCSC, FACS, FASMBS
Professor of surgery, Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine, FIU
Senior consultant, Hôpital du Sacre Coeur, Montreal

Dr. Gagner obtained, at the age of 22, his M.D. in 1982, and did his surgical training at McGill from 1982-1988.

He worked at the Cleveland Clinic where he co-founded the MIS Center (1995-1998). He was appointed Director of the MIS Center of Mount Sinai (NY), from 1998 to 2003. He then joined Weill-Cornell as Chief of Laparoscopic/Bariatric (2003-2007). He was Chair of Surgery at Mount Sinai (Miami), and is currently Professor at FlU, and senior consultant Montreal. In 2014, he founded WWO (World Without Obesity), for the education and development of metabolic surgery in Third World countries. He is also a board member of ASMBS foundation.

Dr Gagner is known for his contributions in MIS, in particular the first description of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (1992), laparoscopic pancreatectomy (distal/proximal) (1992-93), endoscopic neck surgery with parathyroidectomy in 1995, transgastric cholecystectomy in 1997 (NOTES), laparoscopic DS in 1999 and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 2000.

He has over 375 published articles, 47 book chapters, and 9 books on MIS surgery. He has held positions in more than 35 societies, and has served on the editorial boards of 12 surgical journals (Associate Editor of SOARD and Obesity Surgery). Dr Gagner was the President IFSO 2014 (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders) annual meeting and 5th International Conference on Sleeve Gastrectomy held in Montreal, August 26-30th, 2014. He also has been on the executive board of IFSO for the last 3 years, and president of the Canadian chapter of ASMBS, and program chair of ASMBS 2016.

Dr. C. Marchesini

Masters in Surgery from the Federal University of Paraná - Brazil
Affiliated Professor - Medical School of Mario Covas Hospital - Department of Endoscopia
International Member of The American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
Member of International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
Member of the Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
President of the Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery

Dr. C. Marchesini

Masters in Surgery from the Federal University of Paraná - Brazil
Affiliated Professor - Medical School of Mario Covas Hospital - Department of Endoscopia
International Member of The American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
Member of International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
Member of the Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
President of the Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery

Dana D. Portenier, M.D., FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Division Chief, Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Chair, Department of Surgery, Duke Regional Hospital
Co-Director, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program
Duke University Medical Center
Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Dana Portenier, MD is the Division Chief of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He also serves as Chairman of Surgery at Duke Regional Hospital and is the Co-Director of the Duke Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program.

Dr. Portenier completed medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. He completed a general surgery residency at Providence Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. During training he received the Charles G. Johnston Excellence in Research Award by the Detroit Surgical Society. He also received the General Surgery Resident of the Year Award in 2003 and 2004. Dr. Portenier trained in upper gastrointestinal surgery as a traveling Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Fellow, completing rotations at Mayo Clinic (Minnesota), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), and Saint James University Hospital, Leeds (England). In 2006, Dr. Portenier completed an Advanced Fellowship in Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Duke University. Upon completion, he joined the division as an attending physician.

Dr. Portenier’s clinical interests include: minimally invasive approaches to upper gastrointestinal surgery for diseases of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, spleen, small bowel, and colon; complicated revisional foregut and bariatric surgery; developing new techniques in the field of single-incision surgery; weight loss surgery. Dr. Portenier has over 12 years’ experience in performing Bariatric Surgery and training MIS Fellows. He is a globally known leader in the field of Bariatric Surgery and is a frequent speaker at conferences around the world.

Dr. Portenier is a member of SAGES and ASMBS. Dr. Portenier resides in Durham, NC with his wife and two young sons. He enjoys boating and traveling.

Laurent Biertho, MD
Université Laval, 
Département de Chirurgie
Institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec

Dr. Laurent Biertho is Clinical Professor of Surgery at Laval University. After being trained in Biomedical Sciences (1993) and Medicine (1998) at the University of Liege, Belgium, he completed his residency in General Surgery (2004). He underwent post-doctoral training in Minimally Invasive surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, USA, and McMaster University, Canada (2004-2006). At the end of his training, he was appointed Assistant Professor at McMaster University. He was then offered a position as an Associate Professor of Surgery at Laval University, to introduce minimally invasive bariatric and metabolic surgery at the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de Québec. He is the director of the fellowship program in Bariatric and Metabolic surgery at Laval University and co-director of the Research Chair in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. He is also the president of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons. His research interests focus on 1) the long-term metabolic outcomes of bariatric surgeries 2) tailoring surgical approaches to the patients’ needs 3) the study and development of new bariatric procedures.  He is the current President of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons (CABPS).

Simon Marceau, MD, FRCSC
Chef du département de chirurgie
IUCPQ-Université Laval

Dr. Marceau graduated from Laval University in medicine in 1991 and general surgery in 1996. He did a fellowship at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston in 1997-98. He joined the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie and Pneumologie de Québec (I.U.C.P.Q. formerly Hôpital Laval) in 1998 where his father had been practicing surgery for 35 years. The latter with Dr. Simon Biron has pioneered the development of bariatric surgery in Quebec and Canada and their work on the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch has had an impact internationally recognized. He is currently Chief of surgery at the IUCPQ.

Dr. Simon Marceau has contributed to more than fifty scientific papers, scientific articles, abstracts or book chapters.

Vivek N. Prachand, MD FACS
Associate Professor, Section of General Surgery
Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Chief Quality Officer, Department of Surgery
Executive Medical Director for Procedural Quality and Safety
University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences

A Chicago native, Dr. Prachand pursued his undergraduate studies and medical school education at Northwestern University. After completing his surgical training at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and a fellowship at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 2001, he joined the faculty at the University of Chicago where he is Associate Professor of Surgery. In addition to being the Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Dr. Prachand's clinical interest is in the application of minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of severe obesity, gastrointestinal tumors of the foregut and surgical disorders of the hiatus and spleen. In 2002, he was the first surgeon in the Midwestern U.S. to perform a totally laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and has been performing laparoscopic-thoracoscopic esophagectomy for over a decade. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Prachand is the Chief Quality Officer for the Department of Surgery, and serves as the Executive medical Director for Procedural Quality and Patient Safety for University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences.

Helmuth T. Billy, MD
Director of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, St. John's Regional Medical Center, Oxnard California
Director of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Community Memorial Hospital Ventura California
President, California Chapter ASMBS
Chair, Insurance Committee ASMBS

Dr. Billy received his medical degree from the University of California in 1990.  Having completed a surgical internship in 1991 he was exposed to the early introduction of laparoscopy with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic hernia repairs.  Dr. Billy completed residency training in 1997 and performed his first laparoscopic RYGB in 1999.  Dr. Billy is Medical Director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at St Johns Regional Medical Center in Oxnard California and Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura California.  He is President of the California Chapter of the ASMBS and is the current Chair of the Insurance Committee for the ASMBS.  He has lectured nationally and internationally and is actively involved in teaching residents and fellows techniques in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery

Ranjan Sudan, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery
Vice Chair of Education
Department of Surgery
Division of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Dr. Ranjan Sudan is a nationally recognized leader in the field of bariatric surgery. He was the first to perform the duodenal switch using the da Vinci robot in 2000. He is widely published in bariatric surgery and surgical education with over fifty publications and over $200,000 in grant funding. 

Dr. Sudan has been engaged in surgical education for over 15 years. He served as medical director of bariatric surgery at University of Nebraska and at Creighton University where he established a COE and then joined Duke University Medical Center in 2008, where he is currently Vice Chair of Education and Director of Simulation Lab and has an active bariatric surgery practice.

Dr. Sudan is the Vice President for the Association of Surgical Education Board of Directors. He also serves on the continuing education committee of the Society for the Surgery of the Alimentary tract and. He has codirected several courses for clerkship directors and is a faculty member for the New Program Directors course at the APDS.  He co-chairs a task force of the American College of Surgeons that is working on a national core curriculum in surgery.

He is triple boarded in Adult Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry and General Surgery. He has published over fifty peer reviewed publications and book chapters. 

M Mahir Ozmen MD, MS, FACS, FRCS, FEBS, FASMBS
Professor of Surgery
Medical Director Liv Hospital, ANKARA
Istinye University(ISU), School of Medicine, Department of  Surgery, Istanbul

Professor Ozmen graduated from Ankara University Medical School In 1989. He became a general surgery specialist in 1995 and received MS (Master of Surgery) degree - which is PhD equivalent - in the field of gastrointestinal surgery in 1997 at University of Southampton-UK. He became an Associate Professor of Surgery in 1999 and a Professor of Surgery in 2010 at Hacettepe University Medical School.

He acted as the Head of Emergency Medicine Department between 2011-2013 and worked as full-time Professor of Surgery at Department of General Surgery, Medical School, Hacettepe University, between 2010-2016. He has been working as Medical Director of Liv Hospital Ankara since june 2016. Currently, He is also working at Istinye School of Medicine, Department of Surgery as Professor of Surgery.

He worked in Southampton University, Southampton-UK and AZ Maria Middelares Hospital in Ghent-Belgium between the years of 1993-1996, in the fields of general, gastro-intestinal and advanced laparoscopic surgery; He worked in Norfolk and Norwich Hospital-UK and Southampton University-UK again at various times in 1996-1997 in the fields of gastrointestinal surgery; In 2000-2001 he worked in Cambridge University, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge and Kings College Hospital, London-UK in the field of multi-organ transplantation (kidney and liver). He received his sub-speciality diploma on surgical Oncology in 2012 

He was awarded with FACS from American College of Surgeons, USA and FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow, UK. Additionally he also has FEBS from UEMS-European Board of Surgery and FASMBS from American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. 

He is currently the president of Turkish Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (TSMBS); Vice-President of Turkish Association of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (TATES), member of the Education & Training Committee of European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), Governor for Endoscopic Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA) and Councillor for International Association for Trauma and Surgical Critical Care (IATSIC).

He has over 200 international scientific publications; over 50 book chapters and 15 books in the field of surgery. He has around 2000 citations. He acted and currently acting as editor, editorial board member or member of publication committee of many national and international scientific journals. He acted as publication committee member of popular science journals including NTV-Bilim and TUBITAK Bilim ve Teknik Dergisi.

His research interest includes changes after bariatric and metabolic surgery in both clinical and molecular levels and surgical oncology, tumor immunology and surgical education

Jacques Himpens
The European School of laparoscopic surgery
St Blasius general Hospital Dendermonde and St Pierre University Hospital Brussels, Belgium

Jacques Himpens, MD, PhD, graduated from Leuven University (1977), is an Associate Professor of surgery at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and Chief of Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery at the CHIREC hospital, Brussels, and the St. Blasius Hospital, Dendermonde, Belgium. He is president-elect (2017-2018) of IFSO.

Special achievements include: the world's first "robotic" procedure with the Intuitive Surgery "Mona" prototype (1997), the first laparoscopic gastric bypass in Belgium (1999), the first laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, the first biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (2001).

He is a prolific author, is co-editor for the "Obesity Surgery" journal and member of the editorial board of "SOARD".

Prof. Luc Van Gaal, MD, PhD  
Antwerp University
Faculty of Medicine, Belgium

Luc Van Gaal, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Medicine at Antwerp University. He is a nationally and internationally recognized specialist in obesity whose main clinical research has been devoted to weight management programs, body fat distribution and pharmacotherapy for obesity. Dr. Luc Van Gaal is Head of the Department of Diabetology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition at Antwerp University Hospital and responsible for the Metabolic Unit in this department.

---

Dr. David Macklin, MD, CCFP 
Director of Weight Management at Medcan
Medical Director of Weight Management, High Risk Special Pregnancy BMI Unit, Mount Sinai Hospital
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Dr. Macklin is a physician trained in family practice at the University of Toronto. Dr. Macklin is the Director of the Weight Management Program at the downtown Toronto Medcan Clinic. Dr Macklin also runs the Weight Management Program at the Toronto Mount Sinai Hospital High Risk Pregnancy unit. Dr. Macklin has committed his career to the prevention and treatment of obesity and for over nine years has exclusively run multidisciplinary, evidence based weight management programs.