Bariatric surgery
Methods, complications, revision approaches, and outcomes.
6-7 November, 2026 · Yerevan
OBESITY4th International Interdisciplinary Conference
In collaboration with the V Dr. Raffy Hovanessian International Medical Conference
4th Obesity International Interdisciplinary Conference · In collaboration with the 5th Raffy Hovanessian Conference
4th"OBESITY" Annual Conference
2 DaySurgical and Therapeutic Specialties
37Scientific Presentations and Clinical Cases
InternationalSpeakers from Armenia and Abroad
DoubleTree by Hilton Yerevan is our official hotel partner for the event, conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from the event venue and a 5-minute walk from Republic Square.
All event participants are eligible for a special discounted rate on hotel rooms.
To make a reservation, please email evnye.hotel@hilton.com with your requested stay dates and mention the promotional code OBESITY26 to benefit from the special rate.
To Reservation
Our Partner Hotel – Best Western Plus Congress Hotel Yerevan
We are pleased to announce that Best Western Plus Congress Hotel Yerevan is an official partner of the 4th International Interdisciplinary Obesity Conference 2026.
Conference participants and guests can enjoy a special accommodation discount by entering the promo code OBESITY26 when making their reservation.
Conveniently located in the heart of Yerevan, the hotel is just a 5–7-minute walk from the Gabriel Sundukyan National Academic Theatre, the conference venue.
Promo Code: OBESITY26
Enjoy a comfortable stay in Yerevan and take advantage of exclusive accommodation rates offered to our conference participants.
Hotel Websit
“The 4th Obesity International Interdisciplinary Conference in collaboration with the 5th Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Conference,
Yerevan, Armenia 06/11/2026 - 07/11/2026, has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical
Education (EACCME®) with 12.0 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of
credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.”
“Through an agreement between the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes and the American Medical Association,
physicians may convert EACCME® credits to an equivalent number of AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Information on the
process to convert EACCME® credit to AMA credit can be found at https://edhub.ama-assn.org/pages/applications .
“Live educational activities, occurring outside of Canada, recognised by the UEMS-EACCME® for ECMEC®s are deemed to be
Accredited Group Learning Activities (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.”
About the Conference
The treatment of obesity goes beyond the scope of a single specialty
The two-day conference brings together bariatric and metabolic surgeons, endocrinologists, pharmacists, psychologists, gastroenterologists, pediatricians, gynecologists, and specialists from related fields on a single platform.
The program is structured around not only presentations but also practical discussions, clinical cases, and multidisciplinary decision-making—covering topics ranging from surgical technologies to GLP-1 therapy, women's health, pediatric obesity, and post-bariatric care.
GLP-1 and Pharmacotherapy
Modern pharmacological approaches and combination with surgery.
Women's and Children's Health
PCOS, pregnancy, adolescence, and childhood obesity.
Post-bariatric care
Nutrition, drug absorption, neurological and structural changes.
“MedProgress” Healthcare Foundation
Organizer
Knowledge, Collaboration, and Progress for the Advancement of Healthcare
“MedProgress” Healthcare Foundation contributes to the development of Armenia’s healthcare system, the improvement of medical education, the strengthening of professional collaboration, and the promotion of evidence-based medicine.
The founder and project director of the Foundation is Tatevik Khachatryan.
“MedProgress” organizes conferences, educational programs, professional training courses, and public health initiatives, promoting knowledge exchange and the integration of modern scientific advances into clinical practice.
The History of the International Conference on Obesit
Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease whose prevention and treatment require interdisciplinary collaboration.
In response to this need, in 2023, the “MedProgress” Foundation initiated the first multidisciplinary conference dedicated to obesity, creating an educational and scientific platform where the issue is addressed as a complex medical and public health challenge.
In 2024, the Armenian Association of Minimally Invasive Surgeons (SAMIS), led by Levon Grigoryan, joined the organization and development of the conference. This collaboration contributed to strengthening the links between surgical and therapeutic specialties.
In 2026, ICPD, under the leadership of Professor Ara Babloyan, also joined the initiative as a scientific partner.
The Fourth International Conference on Obesity, taking place in Yerevan on November 6–7, 2026, continues this development by bringing together specialists from Armenia and abroad.
The Mission of the Conference
The mission of the conference is to promote the development of evidence-based, modern, and patient-centered approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of obesity in Armenia.
The conference brings together specialists in endocrinology, metabolic and bariatric surgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, pediatrics, nutrition, clinical pharmacology, psychology, and other related fields.
The program addresses pharmacological and surgical treatment options, the management of comorbidities, prevention, as well as the elimination of weight-related stigma and discrimination.
The conference promotes the recognition of obesity as a complex chronic disease and emphasizes the need for continuous and multidisciplinary care.
Vision
The vision of “MedProgress” is to develop the conference into a leading regional scientific and educational platform, promoting the exchange of international experience, professional collaboration, and the improvement of obesity care in Armenia.
Our long-term goal is to establish a sustainable collaborative environment that brings together medical associations, scientific and educational institutions, researchers, and other healthcare stakeholders.
Our goal is to transform knowledge into higher-quality medical care and improved patient health.
Scientific Program
Two Days։ One complete clinical picture.
Choose a day or search by speaker, topic or organization.
International Experience
Speakers from leading medical centers
The program features specialists from Armenia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the USA, Qatar, Georgia, Russia and the UAE.
Armen Darbinyan
Professor; Doctor of Science in Economics
More info Yerevan, ArmeniaBiography of Professor Armen Darbinyan
Professor Armen Darbinyan, Dr. of Science in Economics is one of the creators of Armenian liberal economic model serving in early 1990-s as first deputy Chairman of the Central Bank, Finance Minister, Prime-Minister (1998-1999). He played a prominent role in Armenia's banking and financial systems formation, was one of the Armenian key figures in Armenia's transition strategy. Then he returned to Academic life taking position of the Chairman and Rector of Armenian-Russian University, which became one of the regional leaders of Science and Education during his notable 22-years leadership. Professor Darbinyan is the Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), member of the National Academy of Science. His public statements, interviews and professional analyses are in а great demand in Armenian professional community. Professor Darbinyan is also known as a poet, composer, and singer.
Thais Sarian, RD
Nutritionist, Center for Obesity and Diabetes, Oswaldo Cruz German Hospital Lead Nutritionist and Clinical Research Co-Investigator, Dr. Ricardo Cohen's Multidisciplinary Team; Member of Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SBCBM); Member of International Federation for the Surgery and Other Therapies for Obesity (IFSO)
São Paulo, Brazil
Aghavni Kolyan, PhD
Clinical psychologist specializing in weight management and eating behavior; certified Gestalt therapist, supervisor, group facilitator, and lecturer at Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE)
Moscow, Russia
Ricardo Cohen, PhD, MD
Bariatric surgeon; Director, Center for Obesity and Diabetes, Oswaldo Cruz German Hospital; IFSO President-Elect; President, Brazilian Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (SBCBM), 2011-2012; President, IFSO Latin American Chapter, 2018-2019
São Paulo, Brazil
Tatevik Khachatryan
Director of MedProgress HealthCare Foundation
Yerevan, Armenia
Narek Varzhabedyan
Clinical Pharmacist, ClinChoice
Yerevan, Armenia
Nour El Hage Chehade, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology Cleveland Clinic
USA
Yuri Yashkov, MD, PhD, DSc, Professor
Surgeon, IFSO Executive Board Member; Founder and Honorary President Society of Bariatric Surgeons of Russia (SBSR)
Moscow, Russia
Omar Ghanem, MD
Chair, Division of Metabolic and Abdominal Wall Reconstructive Surgery, Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Koba Sakhechidze, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Bariatric Surgery, American Hospital Tbilisi
Tbilisi, Georgia
Aleksandr Neymark, MD, DSc, Professor
Almazov National Medical Research Centre
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Davit Sargsyan, MD, PhD, FEBS,FACS, FASMBS
Senior Consultant in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Qatar Metabolic Institute; Clinical Instructor in Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar; Expert in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Qatar Ministry of Public Health
Doha, Qatar
Haris Khwaja, DPhil (Oxon), FRCS
Co-founder, International Bariatric Club; Consultant Upper GI/ Bariatric Surgeon & Honorary Senior Lecturer Chelsea and Westminster Hospital & Imperial College
London, United Kingdom
Samvel Zakaryan, MD, PhD
Surgeon; Head, Department of General and Endoscopic Surgery No. 2
Yerevan, Armenia
Suren Stepanyan, MD, PhD, Professor
Head of Department of Abdominal Surgery of YSMU; Head of Clinic of Surgery of Mikaelyan University Hospital
Yerevan, Armenia
Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD
Intensivist, Izmirlian Medical Center
Yerevan, Armenia
Grigor Papoyan, MD
Head of the Department of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Deputy Chief Doctor for Surgery in Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center
Yerevan, Armenia
Levon Grigoryan, MD
President, Society of Armenian Minimally Invasive Surgeons, Head of Robotic Surgery & Endoscopy 'Slavmed Medical Center', General, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Surgeon
Yerevan, Armenia
Haykanush Hambardzumyan, MD
Endocrinologist, Founder and President of the AOP, Wigmore Hospital
Yerevan, Armenia
Lidia Ayvazyan, MD
Physician-Nutritionist; President, Armenian Association of Dietitians and Nutritionists
Yerevan, Armenia
Aram Terteryan, MD, PhD
Cardiologist; Lecturer, Department of Cardiology, Yerevan State Medical University; Head, Emergency Cardiology Service, Yerevan University Hospital No. 1
Yerevan, Armenia
Vahe Ter-Minasyan, PhD
Gynecologic Oncologist; Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health of Armenia; Head, Surgical Gynecology Service, Armenian-American Wellness Center
Yerevan, Armenia
Norayr Ghukasyan, PhD
Obstetrician-Gynecologist; Deputy Director Maternity Hospital, Erebuni Medical Center
Yerevan, Armenia
Lyudmila Niazyan, MD
Public Health Professional, Science4Policy International Expert
Yerevan, Armenia
Caroline Apovian, MD, Professor
Co-Director, Center for Weight Management and Wellness (CWMW), Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
BOSTON • USA
Dr Turki Faris Al-Ahbabi
Head, Department of Obesity and Bariatric Medicine, Qatar Metabolic Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation
DOHA • QATAR
Raffi Karagozian, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tufts University School of Medicine
Boston, USA
lhab El Tayeb, MD
Endocrinologist, PRIME Hospital
Dubai, UAE
Gayane Melikyan, MD, PhD
Senior Consultant in Neurology, Hamad Medical Corporation; Assistant Professor of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar
Doha, Qatar
Susma Vaidya, MD, MPH
Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Medical Director, IDEAL Clinic, Children's National Medical Center
WASHINGTON, DC • USA
Mark Kovler, MD
Division of General and Thoracic Surgery; Director, Pediatric and Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC; Assistant Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, George Washington University
WASHINGTON, DC • USA
Garik Arakelyan, MD
General and Pediatric Surgeon, Arabkir Medical Center
Yerevan, Armenia
Lilit Gevorgyan, MD
Dermatologist and Cosmetologist, Head of Clinical Development & Training Avanta MC; Global clinical trainer and KOL (Inmode, Alma Lasers)
Yerevan, Armenia
Raffi Gurunian, MD
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Integrated Surgical Institute, Section Head of Plastic Surgery; Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery department at Cleveland Clinic
Ohio, USA
Manana Gogol, MD
General and Metabolic Surgeon Ilia State University, American Hospital
Tbilisi, Georgia
Nona Martirosyan, MD, PhD, MBA
Deputy director on therapy and chief endocrinologist at Nairi Medical Center
Yerevan, Armenia
David Abuladze, MD, Professor
Head of the Department of General and Bariatric Surgery, Innova Medical Center
Tbilisi Georgia
Venue
Sundukyan State Academic Theatre 6-7 November 2026 · Yerevan
Two conference days will take place at the same venue. Additional information about the hall, entrance and hotel offers will be published here.
Participant registration starts at 08:30-09:20 on all days.
Coffee and lunch breaks are included in the program.
The entrance map link will be activated after the organizational details are confirmed.
Yerevan, Armenia
Sundukyan State Academic Theatre 6-7 November 2026
Entrance from the park . Saryan Foyer
Organizers and Partners
The conference is built on collaboration
Organizer
Organizer
Partner organization
Participation
Join the 2026 interdisciplinary discussion
The official registration link and participation terms can be connected to this page without changing the design.