Tampa General Hospital’s Standout Bariatric Center Earns Full Reaccreditation for Adult and Adolescent Obesity Program
Published: Jul 30, 2025
Tampa, FL (July 30, 2025) – Tampa General Hospital (TGH) today announced that the TGH+USF Health Bariatric Center has earned its sixth consecutive accreditation as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). MBSAQIP is a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) that sets national standards for bariatric surgery centers with a goal of advancing safe, high-quality care for metabolic surgery patients. TGH is one of only two hospitals in Florida, and one of only 40 in the nation, that is accredited as a comprehensive center in bariatric surgery, adolescent and obesity medicine qualifications.
“Tampa General’s weight loss programs have a track record of innovation, positive outcomes, and excellent patient safety protocols, and we are proud to be among the few accredited MBSAQIP programs that recognizes our qualifications in bariatric surgery as well as adolescent and obesity medicine,” said Dr. Lindsay Wiles, medical director of the obesity medicine program at the TGH+USF Health Bariatric Center. “This achievement is a reflection of our team’s high-quality metabolic and bariatric programming and commitment to supporting as many patients as possible, including those deemed high-risk."
To be accredited, a bariatric surgery center must undergo an independent, voluntary and rigorous peer evaluation as well as a site visit, in accordance with nationally recognized bariatric surgical standards. Site reviewers perform an in-depth review of at least 10 complication charts during an accreditation site visit. Achieving accreditation indicates that the program meets specific MBSAQIP standards for clinical outcomes and patient care capabilities. The accreditation program promotes uniform quality and safety standards across the industry and recognizes centers that have demonstrated continuous quality improvement initiatives.
“Our approach to metabolic patient care centers on our multidisciplinary team — including bariatric surgeons, adult and adolescent obesity medicine physicians, psychologists, registered dietitians and health coaches — who collaborate closely to establish a care plan specific to the unique needs and context of each patient,” said Dr. Francesca Dimou, medical director of the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center and associate professor of surgery at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “This thorough and personalized approach has helped create a center that the accreditation team noted as a beacon adult and adolescent metabolic center, and a truly excellent metabolic program.”
In addition to the sixth consecutive accreditation, three TGH and USF Health physician leaders earned recognition as MBSAQIP-verified surgeons:
The TGH+USF Health Bariatric Center is a comprehensive program offering surgical and non-surgical options for both adults and adolescents, including obesity medication management, weight loss surgery, endoscopic treatment for obesity and revisional surgical options for those experiencing complications from prior bariatric surgery. As a nationally recognized leader in complex weight loss management, the TGH+USF Health Bariatric Center is home to the largest multidisciplinary team in the Tampa Bay area.
Visit https://www.tgh.org/institutes-and-services/digestive-diseases-institute/bariatric-center to learn more about the TGH+USF Health Bariatric Center.