Omar M. Ghanem, M.D.

Omar M. Ghanem, M.D., is a metabolic surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he also serves as Chair of the Division of Metabolic and Abdominal Wall Reconstructive Surgery. His work centers on helping individuals who often arrive with complex bariatric histories, unanswered questions, or prior operations that did not deliver the outcomes they hoped for.

Through advanced surgical expertise, research leadership, and a deep commitment to education, Dr. Ghanem is known for addressing some of the most challenging problems in metabolic and bariatric surgery with clarity, precision, and compassion.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Ghanem approaches surgery as a partnership, working closely with individuals to develop a treatment plan that reflects their medical history, goals, and long-term health. His clinical focus includes:

• Bariatric surgery and complex revisions: Advanced surgical care for individuals requiring bariatric surgery as well as complex and re-operative bariatric revisions, including cases following prior procedures with complications or inadequate weight-loss outcomes.
• Re-operative metabolic surgery: Specialized expertise in revisional procedures after sleeve, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and duodenal switch, with a focus on correcting complex surgical issues, restoring quality of life, and supporting long-term metabolic health.
• Duodenal switch procedures: Comprehensive surgical management for individuals undergoing duodenal switch operations, particularly in complex or high-risk scenarios.
• Surgical care for higher risk individuals: Primary sleeve, bypass and duodenal switch in higher risk patients with complex pathologies including abdominal wall hernias, bridge to transplant surgery, or joint replacement surgery.
• Minimally invasive median arcuate ligament release: Laparoscopic and minimally invasive approaches to median arcuate ligament release, aimed at relieving symptoms while minimizing recovery time.

Research and Academic Leadership

Dr. Ghanem’s research reflects a sustained commitment to improving outcomes for individuals undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery. Through numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, abstracts, and other publications, he contributes to a growing body of evidence that informs safer, more effective surgical decision-making.

His leadership in academic publishing includes serving as associate editor for Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD), Clinical Obesity Journal, and Surgical Innovation Journal. He is also on the editorial board of multiple journals including Annals of Surgery, Obesity Surgery, and Surgical Laparoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques (SLEPT).

Beyond publishing, Dr. Ghanem serves as Co-Chair of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Committee at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and the Co-Chair of the Program Committee at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), helping guide national conversations around quality, outcomes, and education in metabolic surgery.

In addition, Dr. Ghanem plays a key role in shaping the future of surgery. He is the program director of the Mayo Clinic Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship program and remains deeply engaged in national and international surgical scholarship through editorial leadership and professional society service. Dr. Ghanem also serves as the Medical Director of Mayo Clinic International in the Middle East Region with his role aimed at patient engagement and care.