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Saint Barnabas Medical Center Announces Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence Program Leadership Livingston, N.J.—Recently, Saint Barnabas Medical Center announced new physician leadership for its Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence as designated by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).Valeriu E. Andrei, MD, FACS, will serve as chief of the Section of Bariatric Surgery and Michael Bilof, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is the Medical Director of the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence Program. Both surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Surgery and have undergone rigorous evaluation to be designated as an ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence surgeon. The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs and surgeons with a demonstrated track record of exceptional patient outcomes in bariatric surgery. Saint Barnabas Medical Center has had the designation since January 2006. Dr. Andrei, listed with the Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists, is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of The ASMBS. After completing an Advanced Laparoscopic Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in 1999, he started the Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery Program at St. Peter’s University Hospital. He also served as Director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital until January 2004. Dr. Bilof left a successful career as a vascular surgeon to focus solely on bariatric surgery. He did this because he saw the incredible difference bariatric surgery can make with obesity-related disorders such as Type II diabetes, Sleep Apnea, Hypertension, and Coronary Artery Disease. He is passionate about the resolution/cure bariatric surgery affords patients suffering from Type II Diabetes. Dr. Bilof is listed with the Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists and member of many prestigious medical societies such as the American College of Surgeons, Society of LaparoEndosocopic Surgeons, the ASMBS and the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP). He is also gratified to say his practice is continually recognized as an ASMBS "Center of Excellence" practice for its outstanding patient care. Both Drs. Andrei and Bilof have extensive training in minimally invasive alternatives to traditional surgery, including robotic surgery, which allows them to operate through infinitely smaller incisions, resulting in significantly less pain and scarring, fewer side effects, a shorter hospital stay and recovery period, and quicker return to normal activities. A Comprehensive Approach Recognized as a serious disease that compromises quality of life and increases the risk of death, morbid obesity is characterized by individuals having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 which equates to about 80 pounds overweight for a female and 100 pounds overweight for a male. Severe obesity also can lead to life-threatening diseases including diabetes, hypertension and pulmonary compromise. The two main surgical procedures for obesity are laparoscopic banding and gastric bypass surgery. In gastric bypass surgery, the size of the stomach is reduced. Gastric Banding uses an implanted device that restricts the amount of food a person needs to feel full. Both of these minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures have been performed with excellent results over the past nine years at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. In addition to the surgery, Saint Barnabas offers a comprehensive approach to weight loss. “We provide a full complement of services that support patients before, during and after surgery,” explain Dr. Bilof. “You have to have a life-long commitment to the weight-loss process and we provide the resources patients need for a successful long-term outcome.” Dr. Bilof treats patients at his Milburn or Bayville, New Jersey offices. Dr. Andrei sees patients in his Livingston, New Jersey office. For more information about either physician, please contact the Saint Barnabas Health Care Link at 1-888-724-7123. The Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence partners with The Obesity and Weight Management Center, located at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, to provide support programs. The Obesity Center was developed to assist with lifestyle management before and following gastric bypass surgery. Individualized treatment plans include: nutrition counseling, supervised exercise programs monitored by exercise physiologists, psychotherapy, support group participation, and integrative therapies such as acupuncture, massage and hypnosis. For more information please call the Obesity and Weight Management Center at 973-322-7007. Date: July 21, 2009 Saint Barnabas Contact: Samantha Anton, 973-322-5425
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