Dr. Shaimaa Alasfour, a medical doctor from Kuwait, is the first Kuwaiti to be awarded dual Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). After completing a specialized training and education program in bariatric science she was credentialed as both a Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (CBC) and a Board Certified Bariatric Educator (CBE).

Dr. Alasfour is a Consultant General Practitioner and VP of the Kuwait Lupus Group. Her professional memberships include, Kuwait Medical Association Society, World Organization of Family Doctors, International Bariatric Club, British Obesity Surgery Society, Royal College of General Practitioners, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and a senior fellow ofThe American Association of Bariatric Counselors and Educators.

She completed her medical training at Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization in Kuwait City and became Certified in Family Medicine at Royal College in London. In addition, she has done specialized fellowships in obesity management in the bariatric unit at Saint Mary Hospital, Imperial College, London.

Dr. Denise Hall, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist located in Norfolk, Virginia, has been awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). After completing a specialized training and education program in bariatric science she was credentialed as a Board Certified Bariatric Counselor (CBC).

Dr. Hall has more than 15 years of experience in private clinical practice with specialty in conducting the requisite psychological assessment and evaluations for patients seeking bariatric surgeries. Currently she is practicing at a bariatric division of Sentara Medical Group located in Norfolk, Virginia. She continues to conduct psychological evaluations as well as actively facilitate several support groups for patients post bariatric surgery.
She received her Master’s degree in Social Work from Washburn University in Kansas and then her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Walden University.

Louise Petrou CBC, is the first Australian health professional and member of the Australian & New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society, awarded Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). After completing a specialized training and education program in bariatric science she was credentialed as a Board Certified Bariatric Counselor (CBC).

Mrs. Petrou is an integral member of the Bariatric Surgery Team at Port Lapsurgery (Mid North Coast Bariatric & Hernia Centre), located in Port Macquarie, New South West Wales, Australia www.portlapsurgery.com.au/.

Dr. Clara Ramirez De Jerez, medical doctors from McAllen, TX, awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). After completing a specialized training and education program,shewas credentialed as Board Certified Bariatric Counselors (CBC).

Dr. Clara is administrator and health educator at ABC Primary Home Care Services, LLC in McAllen TX., as well as bariatric practitioner at Family Medical Clinic in Reynosa, Mexico. She has special interest in best practices for the care and treatment of all forms of obesities and has enhanced their medical education and has become credentialed senior fellow with the American Association of Bariatric Counselors.

Dr. Michelle Matoff is a psychologist in private practice, located in San Luis Obispo, California. She was Board Certified and credentialed as a Certified Bariatric Counselor in April of 2018.

Dr. Matoff treats adults and seniors and has 24 years of clinical therapeutic experience. She is also an adjunct professor at Brandman University and an accomplished and published researcher. For patients seeking bariatric surgery Dr. Matoff performs the required pre-operative assessment and evaluation as well as providing individual post operative bariatric counseling and is now establishing group sessions. Her recognition of the correlation between emotional distress/mental disorders and obesity and the need for specialized competency in bariatric science, inspired her post-doctoral training and certification with AABC.

Dr. Michelle Kasson has been a clinical psychologist for 30 years. She is currently a supervising psychologist at Children’s Day Hospital, a treatment program located in Manhattan and part of the Queens Children’s Psychiatric Center. Dr. Kasson works with children
who exhibit a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses and with parents in family consultation, parenting skills and the development of individualized behavioral programs.

Dr. Kasson also works with schools and parents in obtaining appropriate school placements and services for the children. She has offices for private practice in Manhattan where she sees children and families for individual therapy, family therapy, psychological/psychoeducational assessment, remediation and advocacy. She is a board member of the Walter Kaner Children’s Foundation, a charitable organization serving the special needs of children New York City.

Dr. Joseph Indelicato is Director of Research for the American Association of Bariatric Counselors. In addition to being an assistant professor at Touro College School of Health Science in New York City, Dr. Indelicato holds a variety of administrative positions at the college such as chair of undergraduate psychology, chairperson of the Health Sciences Institutional Review Board, and chairperson of the Building Education Bridges Committee. For Project Aspire, a public health initiative of the Children’s Health Education Foundation.

Dr. Indelicato has taught undergraduate courses in psychology, and graduate courses in statistics, research methodology, and social work policy. He also has provided thesis advisement on dissertations including statistical analysis and research design. He is a published author of numerous research articles and presentations.

Dr. Ahmed Alkhalaf, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, has been awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). After completing a specialized fellowship training and education program in bariatric science he was recently credentialed as a Board Certified Bariatric Counselor (CBC).

Dr Alkhalaf has 19 years of experience as a licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). He received a Bachelor of Psychology from King Saud University, then obtained a Master of Science in Abnormal Clinical Psychology from Wales University and a PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from Plymouth University in the UK.

Currently he serves as a clinical health psychologist consultant for Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare in the Psychiatry & Mental Health Services Department. He is an integral member of the bariatric team, conducting pre-bariatric surgery psychological evaluation and provides consultation with regard to the overall psychological care of bariatric surgery patients. In addition, he provides clinical supervision and training for psychologists and lectures to the psychiatry residency Saudi Board and Family Medicine Saudi Board.

Recognizing his vast experience and stature as a clinician, educator and researcher, AABC awarded him a fellowship in their Bariatric Certification and Credentialing Program.

Jumana, Registered Dietitian (RD) is a U.S. Registered Dietitian currently practicing at Abdali Hospital in Amman, Jordan. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics – Coordinated Program (With Distinction) from the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon. 

Jumana has over eight years of experience in the field of Obesity, Bariatric Surgery & Weight Management. She serves as an essential member of the multidisciplinary team in the Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Unit at Abdali Hospital.  

She is the MENA representative of the IFSO Integrated Health Committee, a Member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and a member of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. 

Jumana is equally involved in education; she has given numerous trainings and workshops in Obesity and Bariatric Surgery to health professionals from various disciplines. She is passionate about research and her latest contribution was as a co-author in the article entitled “American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Review on Fasting for Religious Purposes after Surgery” published in April 2022.