Fellowship Program

Purpose

The fellowship program is intended for physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners interested in increasing their levels of knowledge in bariatric medicine. The fellowship provides participants with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of obesity and its associated conditions. This is accomplished via the completion of approximately 50 online instructional modules and on-site work with a seasoned bariatrician to gain clinical experience in pertinent areas of bariatric medicine.

Enrollment

To enroll in the fellowship program, physicians must complete an application and pay an enrollment fee. To access an application, click here. This form may be completed online and faxed to ASBP at 303.779.4834.

The enrollment fee is $1,800 for ASBP members or $2,000 for non-members. Enrollment is valid for three years.
Enrollment provides access to register for each of the 50 modules at a cost of $150/module for members or $170/module for non-members.
10 CME (AMA PRA Category 1) are awarded for completion of each module.
Enrolled physicians receive a 25 percent discount on registration fees for ASBP's annual and regional conferences.

Completion Requirements

Instructional Modules: Physicians enrolled in the fellowship program are required to participate in approximately 50 instructional module sessions. Content modules are offered each week, except during holidays and ASBP conferences. Although module webinars are recorded, participants are encouraged to attend live conference calls when possible to make the most of the fellowship experience. Instructional modules cover a variety of topic areas, including:

Pathophysiology of glucose intolerance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
Physical exam of the obese patient
Diet and nutrition
Inflammation
Pharmacotherapy
Behavior modification techniques

Fellows who register for modules receive:

Links to view past ASBP conference lectures pertaining to the module topic (when applicable).
Links to journal articles (some may require purchase) addressing the module topic.
Recommended text chapters (when applicable).
A two-hour webinar led by an expert on the module topic. A question-and-answer session is held as part of this webinar to allow fellows the opportunity to make the most of their fellowship experience. Sessions are held on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST.

Fellows are required to view the conference lectures, read the articles and take a test on the content prior to gaining access to join the module instructor for the weekly webinar.

Preceptorships: Physicians are required to work in a clinical setting with ASBP-approved preceptors to gain clinical experience in various topics. A total of 25 modules must be completed before beginning the preceptorship.

Participants are required to pay a $1,500 fee for the preceptorship. Preceptorships may vary in length (up to approximately five days) at individual sites and may cover more than one topic area.

Types of Clinical Experiences Required: Fellows are required to spend time with preceptors learning about each of the following areas to gain experience in various aspects of a bariatric practice:

Very Low Calorie Diet / Meal Replacement Program
Carbohydrate-Restricted Program
Medication-Dispensing Practice / Controlled Anorectics
Direct-Pay Practice
Insurance-Reimbursed Practice
Bariatric Surgery Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I become board-certified upon completing the fellowship?

No. Board Certification is offered through the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM).

Will my earned CME apply towards the ABOM certification exam?

Yes, all ASBP CME is accepted by ABOM.

How long will it take to complete the fellowship?

The 50 modules are offered weekly, except during holidays, ASBP conferences, unexpected cancellations, etc.; therefore, at a minimum, it takes slightly more than a year to complete the program. Enrollment is valid for three years from the date of purchase.

What are the required clinical experiences for the preceptorship?

- Very Low Calorie Diet / Meal Replacement Program

- Carbohydrate-Restricted Program

- Medication-Dispensing Practice / Controlled Anorectics

- Direct-Pay Practice

- Insurance-Reimbursed Practice

- Bariatric Surgery Program

What if I cannot attend a live webinar?

All webinars are recorded and made available for purchase upon completion.

May I attend the webinars without being enrolled in the fellowship?

No. Modules are only available to fellowship enrollees.

May I purchase a module and recorded webinar without being enrolled in the fellowship?

Yes. Modules are $170/each with the recorded webinar. These modules provide 10 CME (AMA PRA Category 1).

Do I have to be a member of ASBP to enroll?

No; however, members receive discounted enrollment fees. Become an ASBP member.

When may I enroll in the fellowship?

You may enroll at any time.

To learn more about the program, please contact ASBP at 303.770.2526 or by sending an e-mail to Office Manager & Membership Coordinator Karen Brenning at karen@asbp.org.