Ariel Ortiz Lagardere, MD, FACS, FASMBS

• 1985–1990MD, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) — graduated with highest honors.
• 1990–1994Residency in General Surgery.
• 1994–1999Fellowships in advanced laparoscopic surgery and bariatric & metabolic surgery.

• Founder & Medical Director — Obesity Control Center® (OCC), Tijuana
• Founder — Hospital CYNTAR®, Tijuana
• Founder — Instituto Internacional de Medicina Metabólica (IIMM)
• Professor of Surgery and Clinical Medicine — Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC)
• Co-Founder, International Bariatric Club (IBC); Director, IBC TV
• Past President (2002–2003) — Colegio Mexicano de Cirugía para la Obesidad y Enfermedades Metabólicas (CMCOEM)

• Board-certified, General Surgery — Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía General
• Board-certified, Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery — CMCOEM
• Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS)
• Fellow, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS)
• SRC Master Surgeon of Excellence in Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery

• Joint Commission International (JCI)
• SRC Center of Excellence in Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
• Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA, 2019)
• ISO 9001
• Consejo de Salubridad General (CSG, 2014)

• 1992A.H. Robbins Prize for Academic Excellence — presented by President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.
• 2016Paseo de la Fama, Tijuana Innovadora — distinguished personalities in science and medicine.
• 2022Ciudadano del Año (Citizen of the Year) — Grupo Salinas Consejos Consultivos.

1. Khwaja HA, Nedelcu M, Galvao Neto M, Ortiz Lagardere A, et al. The International Bariatric Club — a worldwide web educational network for bariatric professionals. Obesity Surgery, 2013. PMID 24122697
2. Kowalewski PK, Rogula TG, Ortiz Lagardere A, et al. Current Practice of Global Bariatric Tourism — Survey-Based Study. Obesity Surgery, 2019. PMID 31240532
3. Guilbert L, Joo P, Ortiz C, et al. Safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery in Mexico: detailed analysis of 500 surgeries at a high-volume center. Rev Gastroenterol Mex, 2019. PMID 29933896
4. Rodríguez G, Martínez A, et al. A New Bariatric Procedure: The Stomach Sparing Gastric Sleeve™. Surgical Technology International, 2015. PMID 26680388
5. Ortiz Lagardere A. Lap-Band for Life: The Complete Patient Guide to Success with the LAP-BAND. LM Publishers, 2005. ISBN 187913666X.

Every biographical claim on this CV is independently sourced. References below match the Wikipedia Articles for Creation submission and are verified live URLs.

1. [1]Obesity Control Center® — Dr. Ariel Ortiz® biography. www.obesitycontrolcenter.com/our-team/dr-ariel-ortiz/
2. [2]Khwaja HA et al. The International Bariatric Club. Obesity Surgery, 2013. PMID 24122697. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24122697/
3. [3]IBC–Oxford 2025 Programme, British Journal of Surgery, Oxford University Press. academic.oup.com/bjs/article/113/Supplement_1/znaf288.fm001/8439428
4. [4]Diario Tijuana — Reconoce Grupos Salinas a empresarios bajacalifornianos (Feb 7, 2023). diariotijuana.info/2023/02/reconoce-grupos-salinas-a-empresarios-generadores-de-impacto-social-bajacalifornianos
5. [5]Government of Baja California — Official press release, Ciudadano del Año 2022. www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/Prensa/Noticia/9856
6. [6]PR Newswire — OCC Achieves Global Healthcare Accreditation (Oct 30, 2019). www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/obesity-control-center-achieves-global-healthcare-accreditation-300948526.html
7. [7]Ortiz Lagardere A. et al. Bariatric Tourism is Safe and Effective (19,801 patients). ASMBS Annual Meeting 2022, Dallas.
8. [8]San Diego Union-Tribune — UCSD collaborates with weight-loss surgical center in Tijuana (Jun 3, 2022). www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2022/06/03/ucsd-collaborates-with-weight-loss-surgical-center-in-tijuana/
9. [9]CBS8 San Diego — UC San Diego training surgeons in Tijuana. www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/uc-san-diego-training-surgeons-tijuana-new-cross-border-collaboration/509-0caf9161-9b23-449b-bb6c-1b54a3b5ab47
10. [10]Fox News — Border Surgeon Becomes Public Face of New Weight-Loss Device. www.foxnews.com/health/border-surgeon-becomes-public-face-of-new-weight-loss-device-not-yet-available-in-u-s
11. [11]ABC News — Is the Balloon Pill a Weight-Loss Miracle? (May 15, 2014). abcnews.go.com/Health/balloon-pill-weight-loss-miracle-cure-short-term/story?id=23732639
12. [12]ABC7 New York (WABC) — New weight loss technique: swallowing a pill (Apr 8, 2014). abc7ny.com/post/new-weight-loss-technique-swallowing-a-pill/25375/
13. [13]Harper's Bazaar — Latest Weight Loss Treatments (Aug 2014). www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/diet-fitness/a2893/latest-weight-loss-treatments-0814/
14. [14]CMCOEM — Consejo Consultivo Ex-Presidentes (2002–2003 term). cmcoem.info/consejo_consultivo_expresidentes
15. [15]International Bariatric Club — IBC–Oxford Webinar Archive. ibcclub.org
16. [16]IBC–Oxford 2024 Programme, BJS, OUP. academic.oup.com/bjs/article/112/Supplement_5/znaf036.fm001/8042676
17. [17]IBC–Oxford 2023 Programme, BJS, OUP. academic.oup.com/bjs/article/110/Supplement_9/znad382.fm/7454175
18. [18]El Imparcial — Paseo de la Fama, Tijuana Innovadora (2016).
19. [19]Ortiz Lagardere A. Lap-Band for Life. LM Publishers, 2005. ISBN 187913666X.