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The Unity Hospital Bariatric Center has three dedicated bariatric surgeons, specially trained bariatric nurse clinicians, bariatric dietitians, a bariatric exercise specialist, and multiple support groups. The center was started in July, 1996, when Dr. Daniel R. Baker submitted a proposal for a model program development initiative in cooperation with Unity Hospital. He wanted to serve the unique needs of individuals whose genes and/or lifestyle made them morbidly obese—and who would benefit from gastric restrictive surgery. Early on, Dr. Baker recognized that along with preoperative evaluations and care, there was a need for these patients to have short-term and long-term postoperative services that assured successful recovery, weight loss success, and long-term wellbeing. Read the rest of this article »

by Pedro Paulo Tanaka, MD and Jay B. Brodsky, MD

Dr. Tanaka is Visiting Associate Professor (Anesthesia), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Associate Professor (Anesthesia), Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil; and Dr. Brodsky is Professor (Anesthesia), Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine.

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by Merle C. Goldberg, LCSW; and Heidi M. Limbrunner, PsyD

Merle Goldberg is in private practice in Silver Spring, Maryland, and is co-author of Weight Loss Surgery: Is It Right For You and My Thin Excuse: Understanding, Recognizing and Overcoming Eating Disorders. Heidi M. Limbrunner, PsyD, is with Southeast Psychological Services in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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