South Florida Team a Force for Bariatric Excellence, Nationally and Regionally

Drs. Rosenthal and Szomstein lead a team of more than 17 full-time staff members exclusively dedicated to the care and well-being of obese and morbidly obese patients. The Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at Cleveland Clinic Florida has been named a Center of Excellence by the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS), and has full accreditation by The Fellowship Council in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery. With their colleague Emanuele Lo Menzo, MD, who joined Cleveland Clinic Florida in 2012, they have performed more than 5,000 bariatric surgeries to date, making it the largest bariatric program in Florida.

 

Under the guidance of Drs. Rosenthal and Szomstein, the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute has one of the largest training programs in the United States, mentoring four clinical and four research fellows on a yearly basis. Together they have conducted over 11 FDA trials, contributed to more than 400 publications, and both are invited speakers to national and international conferences.

In addition to his contributions through Cleveland Clinic Florida, Dr. Szomstein has led the fight against obesity and the advancement of surgical care for obese patients at the state level. He is currently serving a three-year term as president of the Florida Chapter of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the largest society for this specialty in the world.

 

Earlier this year, the ASMBS Florida Chapter, in conjunction with more than 35 bariatric programs across Florida, including Cleveland Clinic Florida, participated in a statewide obesity awareness campaign. Held on February 22, and called the 2/22 Pedometer Challenge, Floridians took more than six million steps “2 Better Health, 2 a Better Life, 2 Fight Obesity,” through a virtual walk across the state.

 

Approximately 26 percent of adults and 13 percent of children in Florida are affected by obesity. According to Dr. Szomstein, “Obesity adversely touches the lives of our families, friends, and communities. Although many advances have been made to combat this disease, obesity is predicted to rise to nearly 120 million in the United States over the next five years.”

 

Tackling this national epidemic has been a key motivator for Dr. Rosenthal, who will begin serving as president of the Executive Council of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in November 2015. The purpose of the society is to advance the art and science of metabolic and bariatric surgery by continually improving the quality and safety of care and treatment of people with obesity and related diseases.

 

Dr. Rosenthal’s service to the ASMBS supports increased public understanding of obesity. Locally and nationally, he fosters collaboration between health professionals for the multidisciplinary management of obesity. He also advocates for health care policy to ensure access to prevention and treatment of obesity.

 

In addition, Dr. Rosenthal is the current president of the ASMBS Foundation, the society’s fundraising arm, whose mission is to raise funds for conducting research and education, increasing public and scientific awareness and understanding, and improving access to quality care and treatment of obesity and morbid obesity. He will also assume the presidency of the Fellowship Council and the Florida Chapter of the American Council of Surgeons in October 2015.

 

“To push back the tide of obesity threatening the health of our nation, it is imperative that we increase scientific and public understanding of obesity as a disease, and that treatment of obesity and morbid obesity can prevent, improve or resolve many diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cancer,” says Dr. Rosenthal. “I’m proud to be part of an exceptional health care team at Cleveland Clinic Florida, and I’m honored to serve my peers across the country as we strive to improve access to quality care and treatment for Americans with obesity.”