How important is our organization's name? If you ask any branding expert, they will tell you it is quite important to our success. Our name tells people more than who we are - it says a lot about what we do, how we do it, who we are trying to reach, and more.

ASBP is proposing to change its name to the Obesity Medicine Association. With the proposed name change, we seek to better align our organization with the direction the health care industry is taking with regards to obesity and its recognition as a chronic disease and to emphasize our members' clinical expertise in medically treating patients affected by obesity. Although patients might currently perceive the word "obesity" negatively, the use of the term is widely used among industry professionals, and using it in our new name will build our credibility and recognition within the medical community.

The current name, American Society of Bariatric Physicians, is centered on the oft-misunderstood term, "bariatric physician." Frequently, when patients hear "bariatric," they associate it with surgery. But ASBP is not an organization that represents bariatric surgeons. ASBP represents physicians and other specialists who treat obesity using medicine - defined as the science and art of treating and preventing disease. At first blush, referencing "physician" in the current name makes sense because physicians make up 82 percent of ASBP members. However, it says nothing of the other specialists who play a role in the integrated team of caregivers who treat the patient affected by obesity. Additionally, removing the reference to "American" in the current name will support our initiative to have a more global focus, as obesity becomes an issue worldwide.

What's in a name says a great deal about what we do and where our industry is going. As an example, the American Society for Training and Development recognized that the training and development field had changed since its founding 71 years earlier. They changed their name to the Association for Talent Development to adopt a more global approach and to reflect and support the diversity and influence they now have in the profession.

We need our organization to be easily recognized and understood by the medical community, patients, media, students and consumers. Changing our name to Obesity Medicine Association will allow that. It will remove misunderstood terminology and replace it with words that will pique interest and invite further investigation. We also need a name that shows we are progressive. Changing our name to Obesity Medicine Association puts us in a position to lead the health care industry in our continued efforts to recognize, prevent, and medically treat the disease of obesity.

In next week's newsletter, we will explore the concept of brand identity and the process of branding an organization. Also, mark your calendars for July 8, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, when we will host an online Q&A for all members to address questions about the name change and rebranding of ASBP. In the meantime, if you have any questions related to ASBP's brand updates, please contact Rachel Nevers at rachel@asbp.org.

The Practical Manual of Clinical Obesity, by Drs. Robert Kushner, Victor Lawrence, and Sudhesh Kumar, is now available for purchase in the online store. This manual is a helpful resource for health care professionals who encounter patients affected by obesity or who have an interest in medical obesity management. It is also a recommended study aide for the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) exam. Visit the online store to order your copy.

Novo Nordisk, Inc., is running a series of free webcasts through Sept. 1. The two topics of the webcasts are: 1. Targeting weight regulation through the GLP-1 pathway, and 2. Strategies for effective weight management. Click here to view the schedule of upcoming webcasts and register online.

Read a recap of Obesity Medicine 2015 in this month's issue of Bariatric Times. Obesity Medicine 2015 took place in Denver in April, and this article highlights the memorable moments from the conference. Read the full June issue of Bariatric Times, or download ASBP's article. Missed Obesity Medicine 2015? Order your recordings online, and don't miss our next conference, Overcoming Obesity 2015, in DC this fall.

 

Earlier this month, Drs. Ethan Lazarus and Carolynn Francavilla attended the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), where they, among other supporters, introduced a resolution to improve obesity education for medical students and physicians in training. Associations Now, a daily email newsletter distributed to thousands of association professionals, recognized ASBP's critical role in the AMA's decision to accept the resolution. Read more about the resolution in the article by Associations Now.

 

Congratulations to Dr. Robert Krause from Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., for winning ASBP's renewal reward drawing for May! If you renew your ASBP membership early (prior to your expiration date), you will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card. (Don't forget to use AmazonSmile and select the Obesity Treatment Foundation as your charity -- Amazon will donate to OTF every time you make a purchase!) Renewal notices are sent out four months in advance of your expiration date, and the sooner you renew, the more chances you will have to win. Questions? Contact membership@asbp.org.