Dr. Radu Pescarus, MD, FRCSC, D-ABOM

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology at McGill University, Dr. Radu Pescarus continued his medical studies at the University of Montreal. He pursued his general surgery training in the hospitals of the University of Montreal, followed by a one-year fellowship in Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery at McMaster University. Subsequently, he underwent a second clinical fellowship in Portland, USA to further his knowledge of esophago-gastric surgery as well as advanced gastrointestinal therapeutic endoscopy. Upon his return to Quebec, he joined the surgery department of the Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal and is currently an Associate Professor at Université de Montréal. His clinical practice specializes in minimally invasive bariatric surgery, foregut surgery, as well as gastrointestinal therapeutic endoscopy, including third space endoscopic procedures. 

Dr. Pescarus is currently the President of CABPS and is equally involved with the clinical and research training of international bariatric surgery fellows, as well as senior residents during their minimally-invasive surgery rotation every year. His academic interests include clinical outcomes research in revisional bariatric surgery and the endoscopic treatment of upper gastrointestinal surgical complications. 

Tamara Cohen, PhD, RD

Dr. Tamara Cohen is a Registered Dietitian and Associate Professor in Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Dr. Cohen is also the Director of Dietetics at UBC, an investigator at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, and the Associate Dean of Students- EDI for her faculty. She completed her BSc, MSc, and PhD in Nutritional Sciences at McGill University. Her work applies behaviour change science to one of the most persistent challenges in bariatric care: helping patients sustain nutrition habits that support their health after surgery. Dr. Cohen also supports the multidisciplinary team at the Centre of Excellence in Adolescent Severe Obesity at Montreal Children’s Hospital, collaborating on strategies to strengthen adherence to post-operative nutrition recommendations. Across these roles, she is committed to bridging research and practice so that clinicians leave with strategies they can use with patients right away.

Patricia Acosta, MSc

Patricia Acosta is a PhD/MND student in Human Nutrition at the University of British Columbia and a trainee with the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre. Her doctoral research focuses on dietary patterns and eating behaviours before and after metabolic bariatric surgery, and their relationship with nutritional and health outcomes. She is also co-developing a nutrition education tool to support protein intake following metabolic bariatric surgery.