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 is globally renowned. He 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. He served as president of the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity North America Chapter from 2021-2024. Dr. Ponce is certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) as an ABOM diplomate and by the American Board of Surgery with Focused Practice Designation in Metabolic Bariatric Surgery, member of the Editorial Board of the two major Bariatric Surgery journals, and co-editor of the ASMBS Textbook of Bariatric Surgery 1st, 2nd and 3rd Editions.  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 has been the principal investigator for several FDA monitored clinical trials for weight loss devices including the Lap-Band, Realize Band, Endoscopic plication, different intragastric balloons (Reshape, Obalon, Ellipse), and other laparoscopic devices. He has spoken nationally and internationally about his research.

During his practice for more than 20 years in Chattanooga, Dr. Ponce started the Bariatric Surgery program at Memorial Hospital in 2002, established a Center of Excellence and Accreditation recognized by all the major insurance companies, has contributed to increase access for patients, and has a well established team and reputation at a National and International level with honorary memberships in different countries Bariatric Surgery societies including Mexico, Brazil and Spain.

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.