Dr David B. Sarwer is a highly experienced clinical psychologist and one of America’s leading authorities on the psychological aspects of surgery. He is Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at the College of Public Health, Temple University. He is also a Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Dr Sarwer has two primary programs of research. One is focused on the psychological aspects of plastic surgery, both cosmetic and reconstructive. This work has focused on the psychological motivations of persons interested in cosmetic procedures as well as psychological changes seen with treatment. Much of this work has focused on body dysmorphic disorder. Dr Sawer has also worked on studies of persons with facial disfigurement, including ongoing projects focused on the psychosocial issues of military veterans who have suffered disfiguring injuries that would leave them as potential candidates for hand and face transplantation.

Dr Sarwer has a program of research on the etiology and treatment of obesity. Much of this work has been focused on persons with clinically severe obesity who seek and undergo bariatric surgery. His work in this area has been supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health since 2002.

Dr Sarwer has published almost three hundred peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in both of these areas. He also has edited three books. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Obesity Science and Practice. He works in an editorial capacity with several other journals in both fields.