Namir Katkhouda, MD, is a world authority in laparoscopic surgery, having pioneered the first laparoscopic vagotomy for the treatment of gastro duodenal ulcer disease. He is an innovator in the laparoscopic approach to advanced procedures, including liver surgery, aortic surgery, gastric resections, and hernia repair. He has written 100 peer review articles, presented over 250 scientific papers, written 100 book chapters and published 3 books in the field of laparoscopic surgery. He has trained more than 800 surgeons on laparoscopic techniques worldwide and graduated 25 fellows in minimally invasive surgery. He is director of the USC Bariatric Surgery Program and in this capacity, offers the patients all laparoscopic approaches for weight loss surgery, including hand sewn laparoscopic Roux-en Y gastric bypass and revisional weight loss surgery. Dr. Katkhouda's current research includes virtual reality in laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive approaches to bariatric surgery and research in the physiology of laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Katkhouda came to the University of Southern California from France in 1993, and is currently a professor of surgery and chief of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Program in the department of surgery. He serves as a governor on the board of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, and sits on the editorial board of many prestigious, peer-reviewed surgical journals. He is member of the Southwestern Surgical Congress, the European and French Society of Endoscopic Surgery, and is an honorary member of the Mexican and Asian Society of Laparoscopic Surgery. In addition, Dr. Katkhouda is a fellow of the American and French College of Surgeons. Dr. Katkhouda completed his medical degree at the University of Montpellier, France followed by his residency and fellowship at the University of Nice, School of Medicine, also in France. He was later appointed vice chairman and director of surgical endoscopy in the University's department of surgery. He received his board certification in surgery in 1987. Dr. Katkhouda was awarded, in 1997, France's highest honor and was made Knight of the French Legion of Honor for his important contributions in laparoscopic surgery.