Siamak Agha-Mohammadi, MD PhD

Siamak Agha-Mohammadi, MD PhD, is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who completed his medical education at the prestigious University of Cambridge, England, and his residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; one of the most respected and comprehensive Plastic Surgery training programs in the States.

Dr Agha has a special interest in aesthetic surgical procedures for facial rejuvenation as well as breast reshaping and body contouring. He offers a comprehensive cosmetic and reconstructive approach to brow surgery, eyelid surgery, nasal surgery, and facial aesthetics, as well as breast and body contouring. Dr. Agha has extensive experience in breast and body contouring surgery, as well as post-bariatric plastic surgery. Prior to locating to Orange County, California, Dr. Agha worked closely with Dr. Dennis Hurwitz, pioneer of the Total Body Lift procedure, at Hurwitz Center for Plastic Surgery in Pittsburgh for several years. Dr. Agha is an expert in Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery and has contributed to many nuances of body contouring procedures. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in basic science, plastic surgery and post-bariatric body contouring.

Emily Cashman, BS, RRT

Hi, my name is Emily Cashman and I am a Registered Respiratory Therapist working in the field of sleep medicine. I have been in the respiratory and sleep fields collectively for more than 10 years. I have had the opportunity to work in nearly all areas of respiratory medicine, and have settled into sleep medicine. As a bariatric patient myself, and having been through the symptoms of, treating, treatment and even failures of sleep apnea as a result, I can honestly say I know where you are! I look forward to writing with you!

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 Patientsä. 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.

Cher Ewing

As a Health & Wellness Coach, Cher Ewing is trained to listen, observe and to customize her approach to meet your needs. Cher’s coaching approach helps you deal with obstacles and stay on course, so you effectively reach your goals. She is there to encourage you during your transformation to health and wellness. Cher can be reached at 214-534-7455 or visit her website at www.divinetransformation.net

Warren L. Huberman, Ph.D.

Warren L. Huberman, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist licensed in New York and New Jersey. Dr. Huberman specializes in a variety of applications of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy particularly as relates to preparation for, and coping with weight loss surgery. He has worked in close association with the NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss since its inception in 2000, conducting psychological evaluations prior to surgery as well as working extensively with patients after surgery both in individual and group psychotherapy.

Dr. Huberman earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University in 1993 and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy at the Institute for Behavior Therapy in Manhattan in 1995. Dr. Huberman holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine and is an Affiliate Psychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital. He maintains a private practice in New York City and in Rockland County, New York.

Dr. Huberman has presented his work at national conventions and has been widely published in a variety of media including magazines and on a number of internet sites. Dr. Huberman has also done a number of appearances on national and local television as well as on 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.

Katie Jay, MSW, CTA Certified Life Coach

Director, National Association for Weight Loss Surgery

A nationally recognized expert on weight loss and weight loss surgery (WLS), Katie Jay is the founder and director of the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery (NAWLS) www.nawls.com. Katie had gastric bypass surgery at age 44, and now maintains a 180-pound weight loss.

Both personally and professionally, Katie has been addressing issues such as food addiction, transfer addiction, eating disorders, and cognitive and behavioral lifestyle changes for more than 20 years.

Katie has written two books in the weight loss surgery field. Her first book, Dying to Change: My Really Heavy Life Story, How Weight Loss Surgery Gave Me Hope for Living, is an autobiographical account of her life as an obese woman and the process she went through with weight loss surgery. Katie’s second book, Small Bites: Daily Inspirations for Weight Loss Surgery Patients, which she coauthored with Julia A. F. Persing, is a daily reader that includes inspirational messages and suggested action steps to help people who have had WLS stay on track (or get back on track!).

Katie is a beloved and sought-after keynote speaker, workshop leader, and coach, whose main goal is to empower individuals to overcome obesity and to create the life they long for—free of pain and full of possibilities. She has been interviewed on CNN Radio and has also been featured in The National Enquirer and Woman’s World.

Katie conducts ongoing coaching groups in person and by telephone, is a speaker at new-patient orientations and support groups for surgeons, and teaches teleclasses, such as her popular Train to Maintain™ class.

Katie earned her masters in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University and a coaching certification from Coach Training Alliance. She also draws on years of corporate experience from her “first career” as a communications manager, business writer, and editor. She lives in North Carolina with her husband Mike and son Barrett.

Thomas J. Kersting, LPC, Ph.D.

Thomas J. Kersting, LPC, Ph.D. is the author of the new book, LOSING WEIGHT WHEN DIETS FAIL. He has appeared on Fox & Friends, WABC, The Tyra Banks Show and PBS. He has also been a guest on over 100 radio shows globally and has contributed to dozens of publications including Self and Fitness magazines. Please visit his website at www.losingweightwhendietsfail.com

Louisa Latela, MSW, LCSW

Louisa Latela is a psychotherapist in Haddonfield, N.J. She is a My Self Design Program Provider, offers individual and group counseling, facilitates “Food and Feelings” Workshops, and regularly speaks to WLS support groups. If you have any questions or comments or would like to share your experiences of how you are making the connection between food and feelings Louisa would love to hear from you: email: louisa@louisalatela.com or call 856.429.9799

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.
Website: www.bariatricdvd.com

Melissa McCreery, Ph.D.

Melissa McCreery, Ph.D. is a Psychologist and Life Coach who specializes in helping clients take control of weight and emotional overeating and succeed with their health and wellness goals. She has a private practice based in Bellingham, Washington and coaches individuals internationally, by phone. She is the creator of the Emotional Eating Toolbox™, a self-study program for taking control of emotional overeating.
For more information, or to subscribe to her free e-newsletter, go to http://www.enduringchange.com.

Lori Sperling Nevins, LCSW

Lori Sperling Nevins, LCSW, is a clinical social worker and Bariatric Program Coordinator, with New York Bariatrics. She assisted Dr. William Homan, along with Valerie Ross Homan, LCSW, in developing a holistic team approach to pre-operative surgery preparation. Her team prepares bariatric patients for surgery and maintains patient follow-up in a supportive medical, nutritional and psychosocial aftercare program meant to maximize surgical outcomes.

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.

Jennifer Ross Sawyer, MA, LPC, NCC

Jennifer Ross Sawyer, MA, LPC, NCC, joined Southeast Bariatrics in August 2006 as the resident counselor. In April 2003, Dr. Voellinger performed Jennifer’s bariatric surgery, which improved her health, her look, and her outlook on life.

Jennifer has a Master’s Degree in Professional Psychology from Geneva College in Beaver Falls , PA. She is a North Carolina Licensed Professional Counselor, with National Board Certification. Over the past thirty years, Jennifer has served in counseling and ministry. Her experience in psychiatry; psychology; addictions; family, group, couples, and pastoral counseling; and psychological tests and measurements gives her a diverse background. This allows her to be a valuable support to a unique group of people who are choosing Weight Loss Surgery as their intervention from a lifetime of yo-yo dieting.

Her weight loss was a life-changing event, but Jennifer realized she needed a life management program—something that would help herself and her fellow weight loss patients to cope with their life struggles. Using food to deal with emotions was no longer an option. Looking for a way to find the support she needed in her own life, Jennifer facilitated a local Weight Loss Surgery Support Group for almost four years. Now, she is the Support Group Coordinator for Southeast Bariatrics.

Excited by Dr. Voellinger’s vision to provide a full-service bariatric program, Jennifer is honored to serve as one member of a team of professionals who are putting together a Lifestyle Management program—the kind of program that she needed and longs to provide for people who have chosen weight loss surgery for their own lives.

You can reach Jennifer by e-mail at jrsawyer@southeastbariatrics.com.

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.

We’re Pleased to Announce… many more participating blog authors coming soon!