IFSO Observership Program

 Dr. Zundel is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Department of Surgery University at Buffalo, NY. Additionally, functions as a consultant for the Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery of Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota, and as Bariatric Surgeon at Jackson North Medical center in Miami.Dr. Zundel has extensive experience with Minimally Invasive and bariatric surgical procedures. He is an active member of the following societies, serving on various committees and executive boards: ACS, ASMBS, SAGES, IFSO, IFSES, FELAC, ABE, ASGE, ALACE. Dr. Zundel has served as a Founder, Active or/and Honorary member of Surgical, Laparoscopic and/or Bariatric Societies in 46 Countries around the world.He was / is the President of several international surgical societies and meetings including the World Congress 2013-2015), the VI IFSO LAC Congress in Los Cabos, Mexico, (July 8-11,2015) and International Federation for Obesity Surgery (IFSO) (2015-2016),. He was former President and now currently serves as Governor for the ACS South Florida Chapter. Also, President of IFSES (2020-2023).Dr Zundel was elected Executive Director of FELAC on March 2017, a Federation that comprises around Thirty Thousand-General Surgeons from Latin America for the next 8 years.Dr Zundel was also voted by his peers and was a member of ASMBS Executive Council for the past 4 years.He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, books chapters, and other educational platforms. He is Editor of or Co-Editor of 8 Books. He currently serves on several editorial boards including: Bariatric Times, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD), Obesity Surgery, Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy, Percutaneous Techniques, Surgical Endoscopy, Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care in the US, along with 6 other international publications. He is an Ad-hoc reviewer for JACS, World Journal of Surgery, and Annals of Surgery.Dr Zundel has lectured extensively all over the world on Minimally Invasive and Bariatric topics. He also trained and proctored hundreds of surgeons, fellows and surgical residents on Bariatric and Minimally invasive procedures. He has been very active in developing, real and simulation training programs, like the LAP Project. Dr Zundel or his research has received more than 37 awards both nationally and internationally.He received the SAGES International Ambassador Award in 2015, the ASMBS Master Educator Award in 2017, the ASMBS Surgical Innovation Award 2018, Walter Pories Award in Washington D.C in 2021, and now the biggest honor for a Surgeon in his native country Colombia: Master of Colombian Surgery, given in a ceremony in November 2021. He will be awarded with the IFSO Life membership in 2022 and also, the Surgical Innovator Award IFSO 2022.Dr. Zundel was awarded the academic rank of Professor of Surgery at various universities in 4 different Countries.