Jaime Ponce, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Bariatric Surgeon and Medical Director of CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care
Jaime Ponce, MD, FACS, FASMBS, received his medical degree from I.T.E.S.M. School of Medicine in Monterrey, Mexico. He completed his general surgery residency at East Tennessee State University and has been practicing bariatric surgery since 1998. He has extensive experience with the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, gastric sleeve procedures, endoscopic procedure, revisional surgeries, and gastric bypass. Dr. Ponce has trained surgeons across the U.S. and internationally.
Dr. Ponce served as president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) from 2012-2013 and was vice president and founding member of the ASMBS Tennessee State Chapter. From 2013-2014, he served as president of the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity North America Chapter. Dr. Ponce is certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) as an ABOM diplomate. Dr. Ponce was awarded the 2023 National Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Bariatric Surgery by the TREO Foundation for his career achievements in the field of Bariatric Surgery and advocacy for patients suffering from obesity.
Dr. Ponce is the medical director of CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care. CHI Memorial is a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®) Center. He served as medical director of the bariatric surgery program at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, Georgia.
Dr. Ponce has treated thousands of morbidly obese patients and has dedicated his career to advocate and support obesity care by working with insurance companies and lawmakers to establish better policies for the surgical treatment of obesity.
Known throughout the country, he was the principal investigator for the "C" trial with the Lap-Band® and the Swedish (Realize™) Band trial. He has spoken internationally about his research.
Dr. Ponce provides bariatric surgery consultation and care at CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care, 7405 Shallowford Road, Suite 160, Chattanooga, TN 37421. To schedule an appointment, call (423) 899-1000.
CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care
7405 Shallowford Road Suite 160
Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 899-1000
Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.