Ellen A. Bell, RMA

Ms. Bell is the Bariatric Insurance Coordinator at The Davis Clinic in Houston, TX. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and was a keynote speaker at the annual convention in 2006. Ellen has consulted with surgeons across the country to educate and streamline their practices to increase the surgery approval rate. Her overall commitment and empathetic nature is due, in part, to her own personal experience.

Donald J. Booth, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Booth began his practice in weight loss surgery in the mid 1960’s. In the mid 1990s, he made weight loss surgery his full-time practice. His vast experience includes general surgery, bariatric (weight loss) surgery, bloodless medicine and surgery, research and education. He has recently been selected to represent the Mississippi State Medical Association on the Governor’s Council on Obesity and has since been elected to chair the Council. He has numerous published articles and is invited frequently to speak all over the country due to his extensive weight loss surgical experience. Among the numerous professional affiliations, Dr. Booth is a member of the American Society For Bariatric Surgery, the American Society for Bariatric Physicians, Society of American Gastroendoscopic Surgeons and the International Federation of Surgery for Obesity.

Vicki Bovee, M.S., R.D.

Vicki Bovee, M.S., R.D., is a registered dietitian/nutritionist with 25 years experience in weight loss and weight management. Vicki and her business partner, Chef Dave Fouts, work together on a variety of projects related to weight loss and bariatric surgery. They have authored a cookbook “90 Ways to Ditch Your Diet”, cookbooklets, numerous articles, and newsletters. Over the years Vicki has worked with thousands of patients in clinical, research, and business settings to help them manage their weight through lifestyle changes. She is a member of The American Dietetic Association and The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Sally Cain, R.D.

Sally is a registered dietitian and member of the American Dietetic Association. Previous career experience includes renal and general clinical dietetics. She has earned certificates of training in childhood, adolescent, and adult weight management from the ADA. Sally understands the struggle of obesity both personally and professionally, having recently lost 107 pounds with a healthy lifestyle/non-diet approach to weight loss. Passionate about the psychological/emotional aspect of weight control, she plans to return to the field of dietetics in weight management.

Jamie J. Carr, RN

Jamie J. Carr, RN, is the President of Carr & Associates, LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Carr & Associates, LLC consults with bariatric practices, programs, and outpatient surgery centers to streamline processes, implement appropriate pathways and protocols, review preparedness for COE site visits and certifications, and provide overall practice management review to maximize efficiencies and revenues. Prior to her role as head of Carr & Associates, LLC, Jamie was the Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations for Bariatric Partners, Inc. Jamie is the past National Chair of the ASMBS Foundation’s Walk from Obesity. She has worked with thousands of bariatric patients and was the clinical director for Dr. John D. Husted in his private practice in Nashville for over 8 years. Current clients include Drs. Garth and Robert Davis of TLC’S BIG MEDICINE, Symbion Healthcare, BariMD, and other independent physicians around the country.

Colleen M. Cook

She is a successful weight loss surgery patient from 1995. She is the Founder & President of Bariatric Support Centers International, a company that specializes in providing education and support services for weight loss surgery patients. She is a also the founder and former chair of the National Support Group Network for Allied Health Sciences, a committee of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Colleen is currently serving on the National Advisory Board for the Walk From Obesity. Colleen is a sought after speaker & former host of the radio show, “Obesity’s Surgical Solution”. She is the author of the internationally acclaimed Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery PatientsÀ. She has an extensive background in group organization, meeting facilitation, and leadership training. Known as Ms. Enthusiasm, Colleen helps men and women from all walks of life recognize their extraordinary potential and then inspires them to aspire higher.

Steve Fallek, M.D.

Dr. Steve Fallek is a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon as well as a board certified general surgeon. Dr. Fallek practices in both New York City and New Jersey. He is affiliated with many of the teaching hospitals in those areas and holds the academic appointment of Clinical Assistant Professor from the UMDNJ Medical School. Dr. Fallek has had a long interest in weight loss surgery as well as body contouring surgery. His work has been seen in many magazines and newspapers including Glamour, Maxim and The Newark Star-Ledger. He is also the Medical Director of Face Focus, a Medical -Spa in Englewood, NJ.

Louis Flancbaum, M.D.

Louis Flancbaum, M.D. is a general surgeon and nationally recognized authority in bariatric surgery. He is Chairman of the Dept of Surgery and Director of Bariatric Services at Glen Cove Hospital and associate professor of clinical surgery at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. Dr. Flancbaum is a graduate of the State University of New York – Downstate Medical Center and completed his surgical training at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems in Baltimore. He has held faculty positions at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Board Certified in General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Nutrition Support. Dr Flancbaum is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American College of Critical Care Medicine (FCCM), and the American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP) and has been elected to membership in over 25 professional societies, including the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, American Society of Clinical Nutrition, American Institute of Nutrition, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons. Dr Flancbaum has made numerous national and international presentations and has published over 100 articles and book chapters in scientific journals.

Mathias A. L. Fobi, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.N., F.I.C.S.

Dr. Fobi is a true innovator in the field of bariatric surgery. He is the inventor of the Fobi Pouch and has helped countless number of people battle obesity. Dr. Fobi is the Medical Director and Surgeon at the Center For Surgical Treatment of Obesity located in Hawaiian Gardens, CA. Dr. Fobi is board certified by the American Board of Surgery, a member of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity and a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Special Interest: Bariatric (Obesity) Surgery since 1977 General Surgery Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

For more information, please go to www.cstobesity.com

Chef David Fouts

Chef David Fouts received his culinary Degree in 1994 from the Florida Culinary Institute in sunny West Palm Beach, Fla. Throughout the last several years, Chef Dave has written, contributed and advised on several editorial boards for publications across the country. After undergoing gastric bypass surgery in 2003, he wrote his first book, Culinary Classics: Essentials of Cooking for the Gastric Bypass Patient. The book was born out of his passion to help patients he works with on a daily basis and to help them overcome their challenges with food choices following weight-loss surgery. It was this endeavor which led Chef Dave to contribute to the first edition of Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies. Chef Dave’s newest cookbook, 90 Ways to Ditch Your Diet was released in the summer of 2008.

Max Gouverne, M.D.

Dr. Gouverne is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the prestigious American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He has been published in scientific journals for his research in the field of cosmetic surgery and was named to the 1996 Best Doctors in America list.

Warren L. Huberman, Ph.D.

Warren L. Huberman, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist licensed in New York and New Jersey and a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Medical Center and also affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital. He maintains a private practice in Manhattan. Dr. Huberman has been working with patients both pre- and post-surgery through the NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss since its inception in 2000. Dr. Huberman has worked extensively in the field of health behavior change, including weight management, smoking cessation among other areas of specialty. He has been published in a variety of printed media and has appeared on national television and radio programs.

Dr. Jacqueline Jacques

Dr Jacqueline Jacques is a Naturopathic Doctor with more than a decade of expertise in natural medicine and medical nutrition. Dr Jacques is a trained clinician who has spent much of her career in the dietary supplement industry as a formulator, speaker, writer and educator. Acknowledged for her general expertise in natural medicine, Dr Jacques appears as a guest on radio and television, and regularly writes articles for trade publications. She lectures both nationally and internationally to health professionals and the public alike. She has also contributed to several books on natural medicine, including Prevention Magazine’s The Doctors Book of Home Remedies, and is the author of the clinical guidebook Micronutrition for the Weight Loss Surgery Patient. In 2002, she became the Chief Science Officer for Bariatric Advantage. In addition, Dr Jacques sits on the Board of Directors for the national non-profit the Obesity Action Coalition, the Advisory Board for the Samueli Center of Integrative Medicine at University of California, Irvine, and the Board of Directors for a privately held nutrition company. Dr Jacques says her greatest love is empowering individuals to better their own health, and she has sought out platforms both personally and professionally to allow her to do so to the greatest degree.

J. Timothy Katzen , MD , FACS.

Dr. Katzen is a board certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who specializes in weight loss patients. He has dedicated over 90% of his practice to post bariatric patients. He has offices in Beverly Hills and Hawaiian Gardens , CA . He has presented his work at many scientific meetings including the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Katzen has published over 20 scientific publications and four textbooks chapters. He’s also been featured as the plastic surgery expert on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX news.

Dr. Russ LHommeDieu, DPT

Doc Russ The BetternessCoach– (www.BetternessCoach.com) Is not only a Doctor of Physical Therapy, he has lost over 230 pounds and he is maintaining it! He has now combined his weight loss experiences with his ever continuing study of food, nutrition, exercise and human motivation into a concept he calls Betterness(sm). As a resident of the real world and the worlds first Betterness Coach (he is the worlds only Betterness Coach), he helps people to achieve their goals by giving them permission to stop straining for perfection and start striding toward just being better. If you want more Betterness in your life, you can catch Dr. Russ free Podcast on iTunes or read his book. If that is not enough, he also brings his unique style to you through private coaching (either in his office or over the phone), weekend events or by speaking at your event.

Walter Lindstrom, Jr., Esq.

Mr. Lindstrom established the Obesity Law and Advocacy Center on March 1, 1996 and with his wife and fellow attorney, Kelley, it remains the leading advocacy firm dedicated to representing persons of size in their struggle to obtain payment for medically necessary health care from third-party payers and to be free of all forms of unlawful discrimination because of size. Although he has practiced insurance law for over 20 years and is intimately familiar with that industry, it is his point of view as a bariatric patient suffering from “super morbid obesity” with a BMI approaching 60 that provides him with a unique, compassionate and powerful insight as to the plight of those suffering the challenges of being morbidly obese in today’s world.

After failing all forms of non-surgical intervention, Walter had an “open” Roux-en-y gastric bypass in 1994. While successful with that procedure, he faced weight regain due to physiological factors that required a second procedure. By all accounts he is one of the earliest gastric bypass patients implanted with a LAP-BAND® and now weighs less than at any time in his adult life.

Walter is a highly sought-after speaker and educator, having consulted on issues of advocacy, reimbursement and practice management with many of the leading corporations involved in bariatric surgery. As a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), he regularly is on the faculty of ASMBS educational events. He has been quoted in publications ranging from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal to People Magazine and McCall’s. He has been featured on “Good Morning America,” “Hannity & Colmes”, and The Discovery Health Channel for his efforts in helping the morbidly obese patient and the providers who treat them.

Seth Margolies, MFA

Mr. Margolies is a bariatric patient. Since his surgery in September of 03 he has become an advocate for fitness in the bariatric world. Seth is an actor, writer and motivational speaker. He has completed a cross country bike tour across America to promote healthy living. He is also the producer of Weigh2Win a bariatric fitness support video and a regular contributor to WLS Lifestyles magazine.

Melissa McCreery, Ph.D.

Melissa McCreery, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist licensed in Washington where she maintains a private practice. She is the founder of Enduring Change Coaching, a company dedicated to helping individuals worldwide achieve their goals with health, weight and emotional eating. Dr. McCreery has specialized in working with weight loss, obesity, eating disorders, and eating concerns of all types since 1995 and has specific experience helping bariatric surgery patients optimize their success with weight loss. She is the author of The Emotional Eating Toolbox™ 28-Day Self-guided Program and the publisher of the online newsletter, Mindspa: Tips for living the life your highest quality life. Dr. McCreery is a member of the American Psychological Association and the International Coach Federation.

Jude Milner, M.A., C.S.W., C.P.T.

Jude Milner is the founder of Fitness Therapy™, an innovative program that combines psychotherapy and exercise to build body strength and stamina, while addressing issues of emotional eating, body image, and self-esteem. She is a licensed psychotherapist and has specialized in the treatment of substance abuse and eating disorders for more than twenty years. Ms. Milner is also a fitness professional, with credentials from the American Council on Exercise and the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America who has had gastric bypass surgery. Jude works with patients pre- and post surgery to insure optimal emotional and physical results. She is a board member of the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia where she heads the program to treat obesity and special issues of weight loss surgery patients. She has appeared on national and local television, and print media. Jude practices both traditional psychotherapy and Fitness Therapy in New York City. For more information, please go to www.fitnesstherapy.org

Lori Sperling Nevins, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.

Ms. Nevins is a clinical social worker who began as a clinical evaluator and support group leader with New York Bariatrics in 2000. She assisted Dr. William Homan, along with Valerie Ross Homan, L.C.S.W., in developing a holistic team approach to pre-operative surgery preparation. As the Bariatric Program Coordinator and primary group leader, she synthesizes the work of team members who prepare patients for surgery and maintain patient follow-up in a supportive medical, nutritional and psychosocial aftercare program meant to maximize surgical outcomes. Ms. Nevins educates her bariatric patients on the effects of family history, individual life experiences and addictive behaviors that have contributed to the growing epidemic of morbid obesity. Ms. Nevins has collaborated on articles that have appeared in WLS Lifestyles Magazine as well as abstracts that have been presented at yearly ASMBS meetings.

Ioannis Raftopoulos, MD, PhD, FACS

Dr. Raftopoulos is the Medical Director of the Bariatric Center at Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center. He has completed a General Surgery residency at the Metropolitan Group Hospitals/University of Illinois in Chicago and a fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic & Bariatric surgery at Western Penn-Allegheny Health System in Pittsburgh. Previously Dr. Raftopoulos was an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Raftopoulos has published extensively on laparoscopic and gastric bypass surgery with over 70 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals and over 60 presentations in national and international meetings. A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Raftopoulos is a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery. He is also a member of the American Society for metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons.

John R. Romanelli, MD, FACS

Dr. Romanelli specializes in minimally invasive, bariatric, and robotic surgery. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons. He is an Attending Surgeon in the Department of Surgery, Baystate Medical Center in Springfield , MA . He is also an Associate Professor of Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Mitchell S. Roslin, MD, FACS

Mitchell S. Roslin is the Chief of the Obesity Surgery Program and Attending in the Department of Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital located in New York, NY. Dr. Roslin is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn. His work with obesity is nationally recognized and Dr. Roslin has been featured in articles in the New York Times, as well as appearing on both national and local news and information programs. He has been listed in New York Magazines Best Doctors since 2000, as well as on the Castle and Connolly Guide and Harvards list of top specialists. He has authored 19 major articles for publication in medical journals and was the lead investigator in the pre-clinical work using vagus nerve stimulation and a co-investigator for the adjustable laparoscopic band. Dr. Roslin has been a committee Chairman for the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Rona P. Scott, Director, Support Groups & Bariatric Program Coordinator

Prior to becoming Director of the Bariatric Surgery Program for New Dimensions in San Antonio, Texas, Ms. Scott spent 2 years as a national consultant with iVOW, inc. facilitating the implementation of new bariatric programs and the enhancement of existing ones. She served as Interim Administrator of Sound Health Solutions, a medically managed pre-operative and post-operative program. While serving as a Program Coordinator she developed comprehensive program materials to educate patients and their families about bariatric surgery. Ms. Scott presents educational lectures throughout the country for caregivers of the obese and morbidly obese patient. She is founder and host of the support group F.A.C.E.S of WLS. Ms. Scott is an associate member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity.

Kimberly P. Taylor

Kimberly P. Taylor is owner of Taylor & Associates, LLC, a Texas limited liability company whose core business focuses on maximizing their clients exposure in the bariatric marketplace via marketing, advertising, and public relations strategies. Kimberly served as a National Advisory Board Member for the ASMBS Foundation and is the past National Vice-Chair for the ASMBS Foundation’s Walk from Obesity. She is an Editorial Advisory Board Member of WLS Lifestyles magazine, and is an obesity overcomer. She currently coordinates the shooting schedule with the cast and crew of TLC’s BIG MEDICINE, and is working with Drs. Garth and Robert Davis to create and implement The Davis Clinic, the premier comprehensive weight management program in the State of Texas.

James Zervios

Mr. Zervios is the Director of Communications for the OAC and has worked in the non profit healthcare field for more than four years. The OAC is a non profit patient-based organization dedicated to educating and advocating on behalf of all those affected by the forms of obesity. He is responsible for developing and distributing OAC communications to Coalition members and the public. His responsibilities also include Web site development and fundraising.