Newberry, FL – July 9, 2026 – Joe Northup, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN has been elected the 40 th 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 dedicated to the treatment of obesity and related diseases.
Since becoming a member in 2005, Dr. Northup has held multiple leadership positions including president-elect, vice-president, member of the Board of Directors and chair of the Access to Care Committee, where he helped spearhead state and national efforts to expand insurance coverage for metabolic and bariatric surgery. He also served as an officer and board member of ASMBS state chapters in Illinois, Ohio/Kentucky and Virginia.
“New therapies, including GLP-1s, changing payer policies, and growing recognition of the safety, effectiveness and durability of metabolic and bariatric surgery are reshaping obesity care,” said Dr. Northup. “As more patients seek treatment, ASMBS will work to ensure they and their clinicians understand where metabolic and bariatric surgery fits within the full continuum of evidence-based, comprehensive obesity care.”
Dr. Northup has received numerous distinctions and awards from ASMBS, including the National LEAD Award for Excellence in Clinical Care, the Distinguished Service Award for Advocacy and the Committee of the Year Award for the group’s efforts in expanding access to metabolic and bariatric surgery. He also serves as Associate Editor of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases ( SOARD ), the official journal of ASMBS.
Board certified in general surgery with a Focused Practice Designation in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery from the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Northup has authored numerous scientific publications, contributed to national clinical guidelines on obesity, and is an editor and co-author of the forthcoming third edition of The ASMBS Textbook of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery .
“Dr. Northup is a proven and experienced leader whose unwavering commitment to patients, education and advancing the field of metabolic and bariatric surgery makes him exceptionally well equipped to lead ASMBS and navigate new opportunities for both clinicians and patients during such a transformative period in obesity care,” said Dr. Diane M. Enos , EdD, MPH, RDN, CAE, FAND, Chief Executive Officer, ASMBS.
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 only about 1% of those who meet eligibility requirements based on body mass index (BMI) undergo metabolic and bariatric surgery in any given year. About 200,000 procedures were performed in 2024, the latest estimates available.
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 .
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