When I'm not working...
"I'm a husband, father and now grandfather to three beautiful grandchildren. When I'm not working, I love spending time with my family, enjoying the ever changing seasons of Minnesota, boating on the beautiful lakes and biking in the summer or downhill skiing in the winter."
Why I Chose to Become a Bariatric Surgeon
"When I was coming to the end of my residency, my Father and I had a conversation about his experience as a bariatric surgeon. He told me that I would never find a specialty that was more rewarding and, seventeen years later, I could not agree more. To be a witness to the dramatic changes people make in their lives - not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically, is truly profound. I am so fortunate to be a part of their experience and I really look forward to seeing every patient back and hearing about their own journey."
Favorite Fun Fact about Weight Loss...
"With every one pound of weight loss a patient experiences, they will carry seven pounds less on their knee joint. With a 100 pound weight loss, you'll feel 700 pounds lighter!"
What's on the Horizon for Weight Loss Surgery...
Bariatric surgery continues to evolve and change, both in technique and surgical options, as well as insurance coverage for surgery. In my career, I have seen the pendulum swing from insurance covering bariatric surgery with limited criteria requirements, to much more stringent requirements with very limited coverage. Bariatric surgeons and programs across Minnesota are doing everything we can to affect change - and I believe we have a strong argument. Research demonstrates that bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment of the disease of obesity and, the fact of the matter is, obesity IS a disease (This was finally recognized by the American Medical Association in June of 2013). With this in mind, I believe change is on the way.
Additionally, there is a great deal of interest in bariatric surgery as treatment for diabetes. In up to 90 % of my Roux en Y and Sleeve patients, that patient, immediately following surgery their diabetes is gone - without any weight lost. We don't know why this happens, just that it does. I simply call it the "Miracle of the Operation." Just as exciting, this is also true for patients with hypertension. Up to 90% of patients who have had high blood pressure before surgery, leave the hospital the following day without medication. I believe that insurance carriers will begin to look at the cost of treating diabetes - and hopefully hypertension as well - and begin to cover bariatric surgery for patients with a BMI less than 35. It always comes down to the bottom line and providing coverage would be a cost benefit to the insurance industry in the long run. Treating either diabetes or hypertension over a two year period would cover the cost of the procedure. Quite frankly, It simply makes sense (no pun intended).
There is always innovation on the horizon, and this is very true in the field of bariatrics. The FDA recently approved the gastric balloon procedure. Although the next step is to have insurance companies get on board with covering this procedure, this is an exciting new option for patients with lower BMIs. More to come on this but it does demonstrate that there are many new ideas coming to fruition. Finally, there are new endoscopic techniques now being covered by some insurance carriers to help patients who have had previous gastric bypass surgery and are having issues with stomal dilation, resulting in chronic dumping, abdominal pain and weight regain following surgery. With a same-day, less invasive procedure, we are now able to endoscopically reduce the stoma opening which immediately corrects these symptoms and can help patients not to just feel better, but to get back on track with weight loss. Not every insurance carrier is on board with coverage - as some consider this to be investigational, but I believe that this will be a covered benefit in the future based on the outcomes I've see with my own patients.
Additionally, there is a great deal of interest in bariatric surgery as treatment for diabetes. In up to 90 % of my Roux en Y and Sleeve patients, that patient, immediately following surgery their diabetes is gone - without any weight lost. We don't know why this happens, just that it does. I simply call it the "Miracle of the Operation." Just as exciting, this is also true for patients with hypertension. Up to 90% of patients who have had high blood pressure before surgery, leave the hospital the following day without medication. I believe that insurance carriers will begin to look at the cost of treating diabetes - and hopefully hypertension as well - and begin to cover bariatric surgery for patients with a BMI less than 35. It always comes down to the bottom line and providing coverage would be a cost benefit to the insurance industry in the long run. Treating either diabetes or hypertension over a two year period would cover the cost of the procedure. Quite frankly, It simply makes sense (no pun intended).
There is always innovation on the horizon, and this is very true in the field of bariatrics. The FDA recently approved the gastric balloon procedure. Although the next step is to have insurance companies get on board with covering this procedure, this is an exciting new option for patients with lower BMIs. More to come on this but it does demonstrate that there are many new ideas coming to fruition. Finally, there are new endoscopic techniques now being covered by some insurance carriers to help patients who have had previous gastric bypass surgery and are having issues with stomal dilation, resulting in chronic dumping, abdominal pain and weight regain following surgery. With a same-day, less invasive procedure, we are now able to endoscopically reduce the stoma opening which immediately corrects these symptoms and can help patients not to just feel better, but to get back on track with weight loss. Not every insurance carrier is on board with coverage - as some consider this to be investigational, but I believe that this will be a covered benefit in the future based on the outcomes I've see with my own patients.
Two Twelve Medical Center, 111 Hundermark Road, Suite 115 N, Chaska, MN 55318 Phone: 952-442-7820 opt 1
Unity Professional Building, 500 Osborne Road NE, Suite 145, Fridley, MN . 55432
Unity Professional Building, 500 Osborne Road NE, Suite 145, Fridley, MN . 55432