Sarah Kanbour: Clinical Update - Navigating Discontinuation of Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Mounjaro® Before Surgery

Surgeons are increasingly encountering patients on Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Mounjaro®—but how should these medications be managed before surgery? Join us for this essential clinical update:

• Understand the latest guidelines on preoperative GLP-1 agonist management

• Learn to minimize aspiration and delayed gastric emptying risks

• Improve surgical safety and optimize patient outcomes

• Practical, evidence-based insights tailored for the OR

Don't miss this crucial update. Your patients - and your outcomes - depend on it.

SPEAKER:

Sarah Kanbour MD, MPH, is a double board-certified endocrinologist with specialized expertise in obesity pharmacotherapy, GLP-1 receptor agonist management, and perioperative risk reduction. As the use of medications like Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Mounjaro® grows, her clinical and academic work focuses on guiding surgical teams in managing these therapies safely around the time of procedures—particularly those involving the airway, head and neck, or gastrointestinal tract.

Dr. Kanbour earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, completed her residency in Internal Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and pursued fellowship training in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a focus on medication safety and population health.

She is board-certified in:

• Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism – American Board of Internal Medicine

• Internal Medicine – American Board of Internal Medicine

Dr. Kanbour is a nationally recognized educator and speaker, known for her ability to translate evolving evidence into practical, multidisciplinary protocols for use by surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, and perioperative care teams.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

After participating in this educational activity, learners will be able to:

1. Explain the pharmacology and mechanisms of action of GLP-1 receptor agonists relevant to surgical and anesthetic risk.

2. Recognize the perioperative implications of delayed gastric emptying and its impact on airway and aspiration risk.

3. Apply current guidelines and evidence-based recommendations for discontinuing GLP-1 medications prior to procedures involving sedation or general anesthesia.

4. Develop individualized preoperative management plans for patients on semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) in collaboration with surgical and anesthesia teams.

5. Communicate effectively with interdisciplinary teams to ensure patient safety and optimize outcomes in the perioperative period.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This activity is designed for a broad range of healthcare professionals involved in surgical, procedural, or anesthetic care of patients. This includes:

• General surgeons

• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons

• Dentists and dental surgeons

• Otolaryngologists (ENTs)

• Craniofacial and plastic surgeons

• Head and neck surgeons

• Anesthesiologists

• Emergency physicians

• Bariatric surgeons

• Primary care and obesity medicine specialists involved in perioperative planning

As the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Mounjaro®) continues to rise, it is critical that clinicians across these specialties understand how to navigate preoperative discontinuation to reduce aspiration risk and optimize surgical safety.

ONLINE LIVE EVENT ( Free of Charge )

San Francisco: Monday, February 16, 2026 at 3:00 pm

Mexico City: Monday, February 16, 2026 at 5:00 pm

New York: Monday, February 16, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Rio de Janeiro: Monday, February 16, 2026 at 8:00 pm

London: Monday, February 16, 2026 at 11:00 pm

Berlin: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 12:00 midnight

Johannesburg: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 1:00 am

Cairo: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 1:00 am

Dubai: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 3:00 am

Delhi: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 4:30 am

Manila: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 7:00 am

Sydney: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 10:00 am

CME ACCREDITATION: This event may be accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) for a maximum of 1 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. If you are a learner based in the U.S. or Canada EACCME credits are recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

LANGUAGE: The event language is english. 

DECLARATION: In accordance with criterion 13 of document UEMS 2023.07.rev “EACCME® Criteria for the Accreditation of Live Educational Events (LEEs)” and the Standard v. Commercial or Promotional Conflict of Interest, published by the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP), all surgeON presenters sign a Conflict of Interest form to document all perceived or actual conflicts of interest for the last 3 years, whether due to a financial or other relationship. This document can be viewed at the beginning of the event or on request by emailing info@surgeon-events.org No fee, honorarium or arrangement for re-imbursement of expenses in relation to this event has been provided to the speaker.