SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 94

WHEREAS, Dr. Richard M. Peterson of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has been elected the 39th president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; and

WHEREAS, ASMBS is the nation's largest professional organization of metabolic and bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals focused on obesity treatment; Dr. Peterson has been involved in the group for nearly two decades, and he has been a member of its board since 2019; over the years, he has chaired the program, public education, and communications committees, and he has distinguished himself as a contributing author to the accreditation standards for bariatric surgery; he also serves as social media editor for the organization's official journal, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases; in addition, he co-chairs the Standards and Verification Advisory Council of the American College of Surgeons' Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Peterson is currently the chief bariatric and metabolic surgery director at UT Health San Antonio, where he also serves as a professor and the assistant director of surgery student clerkship, and he oversees CHRISTUS Weight Loss Institute in Westover Hills as medical director; a respected leader in his field, he is a past president of the Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery; he holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of California, Riverside, a master's degree in public health from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, and a doctoral degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine; he completed his residency at Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore and his fellowship in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery at the University of Southern California; and

WHEREAS, A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Peterson served two combat tours of duty and attained the rank of major; during his military career, he led the expansion of the largest U.S. Department of Defense bariatric surgery program at the air force's military flagship hospital, where he established the DOD's first laparoscopic surgery fellowship; his honors include the Meritorious Service Medal and two Air Force Commendation Medals; and

WHEREAS, The dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence demonstrated by Dr. Richard Peterson make him an invaluable asset to ASMBS, and he may reflect with pride on his many achievements; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Richard M. Peterson on his election as president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Dr. Peterson as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Menéndez

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on August 15, 2025.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate