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RALEIGH, NC — Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) announces the addition of four new members to its Board of Directors to replace appointees whose terms have expired. Board members represent stakeholders in bariatric surgery, including health plans, professional liability groups, patient advocates, medical device manufacturers and surgeons. The board is responsible for determining organizational policy and providing overall governance and oversight. New members include:
John W. Baker, M.D., FACS — A private practitioner in Little Rock, Arkansas since 1992, Baker is also President-elect of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He will serve on the board until his term as ASMBS president begins in June 2009.
Michael Kerner — Kerner is Chief Executive Officer of Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System and represents hospital and health system stakeholders.
Jaime Ponce, M.D., FACS — A private practitioner in Dalton, Ga. and Chattanooga, Tenn., Ponce is the newly appointed Chair of SRC’s Bariatric Surgery Review Committee. Through his BSRC role, Ponce serves on both the board and its Executive Committee.
Jim Fivecoat — Manager, Retirement Plans, Michelin North America Inc. and Chairman of the Board for the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is the consumer representative on the SRC Board. His position at Michelin also brings representation from the large employer groups. From OAC he brings experience with patient advocacy — education, access to medical treatments for obese patients, safe and effective treatments and elimination of the negative stigma associated with all types of obesity. Fivecoat is a bariatric surgery patient who remains successful with his weight loss.
James W. Saxton — An active trial lawyer and partner with Stevens & Lee in Lancaster, Penn., Saxton is Co-chair of the Health Care Department and Chair of the Health Care Litigation Group. He advises and develops risk reduction strategies for health care providers and organizations nationwide and helped create NOVUS, a risk retention group for bariatric and general surgeons. He represents professional liability stakeholders and will serve on the board’s Executive Committee.
The Board of Directors announced the appointment of Walter J. Pories, M.D., FACS, as Chair Emeritus. Pories, an SRC founder and mentor and Interim Chairman of SRC’s Research Advisory Committee, served as its chairman from 2004 to June 1, 2008. He was succeeded by Neil Hutcher, M.D., FACS, a private practitioner in Richmond, Virginia, and past president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
“This appointment recognizes and honors the tremendous contribution that Dr. Pories has made to the development and nurturing of SRC and helping to bring it to fruition in such a short period of time,” said Hutcher. “It also allows us to continue to take advantage of the past chair�s knowledge.”
“It's always an honor to be recognized by those for whom you hold the highest respect,” said Pories. “In fact, it’s the best gift that one can ever get.”
Other members of the Board include:
Robin Blackstone M.D., FACS, Medical Director of the Scottsdale Bariatric Center
Don Bradley M.D., MHS-CL, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President for Healthcare at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Henry Buchwald, M.D., Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota Medical School
Morgan Downey, Executive Vice President of The Obesity Society
Jim Fivecoat, Manager, Retirement Plans, Michelin North America Inc. and Chairman of the Board for the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC)
Gary M. Pratt, Chief Executive Officer of Surgical Review Corporation
Christopher Still, D.O., Director for the Center for Nutrition and Weight Management at Geisinger Health Care System
“SRC welcomes these new individuals to the board,” said Hutcher. “I am honored to lead a group of such talented individuals. SRC will benefit significantly from the breadth and depth of their experience and commitment to promote the excellence that our patients deserve.”
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