The impact I have on my patients is what I enjoy most about being a weight loss surgeon. It is amazing that we can do an operation that not only helps a patient lose weight, but also fixes their diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol, along with giving them a better quality of life. There are a lot of options these days for people who are considering weight loss surgery. It’s important for patients to take into account each institution and what resources they have available. Duke is fully equipped to take care of complex cases in a safe manner. We have a multi-institutional team that’s been around the Triangle the longest and has the most experience. Almost every patient comes back after surgery and we see some of their previous medical conditions go away. That’s a good definition of success. Dr. Portenier is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Hernia, Short Bowel Syndrome, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Keith Gersin is a Bariatric Medicine provider in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Gersin is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hiatal Hernia, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy. Dr. Gersin is currently accepting new patients.

Myron Powell is a General Surgeon in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Powell is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Umbilical Hernia, Gallbladder Disease, Gallbladder Removal, and Gastric Bypass. Dr. Powell is currently accepting new patients.

Annapoorani Veerappan is a Gastroenterologist in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Veerappan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. Her top areas of expertise are Gallstones, Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome, Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy. Dr. Veerappan is currently accepting new patients.

Daniel Mccullough is a General Surgeon in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Dr. Mccullough is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Protein Deficiency, Malnutrition, Short Bowel Syndrome, Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Gastrectomy. Dr. Mccullough is currently accepting new patients.

Montgomery Cox is a General Surgeon and a Surgical Oncologist in Hickory, North Carolina. Dr. Cox is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Hernia, Gallbladder Disease, Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Gastrectomy. Dr. Cox is currently accepting new patients.

Perry Shen is a General Surgeon and a Surgical Oncologist in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Shen is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Gallbladder Cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer), Gallbladder Disease, Pancreatectomy, and Hepatectomy. Dr. Shen is currently accepting new patients.

John Afthinos is a General Surgeon in Smithfield, North Carolina. Dr. Afthinos is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Gallbladder Disease, Cholecystitis, Gallbladder Removal, and Gastric Bypass. Dr. Afthinos is currently accepting new patients.

Martin Poleski is a Gastroenterologist in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Poleski is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Crohn's Disease, Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGvHD), Ulcerative Colitis, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy. Dr. Poleski is currently accepting new patients.

The majority of my practice is focused on treating patients with the disease obesity. I am a general surgeon who completed a fellowship in advanced minimally invasive and bariatric surgery, so that I can offer obesity care using advanced endoscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches. I am also board certified in obesity medicine and my hope is to approach patients comprehensively. Obesity is a chronic disease that needs lifelong follow up. This approach takes a team and here at Duke Health, we have a fantastic team. A true multidisciplinary approach helps us meet all the needs of our patients. With my training, I also treat gallbladder disease, stomach diseases, acid reflux, and hernias. With my laparoscopic and robotic training, I can offer the safest and best approaches for your general surgery needs. When I meet you in clinic, we will talk through all the treatments options for your condition so we make the best and safest decision for you and your family. My goal is to offer you the care that I would want for my family. Dr. Eckhouse is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity, Obesity in Children, Hernia, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Malcolm Squires is a Surgical Oncologist and a General Surgeon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Squires is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Stomach Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Hepatectomy, and Gastrectomy. Dr. Squires is currently accepting new patients.

Timothy Kuwada is a Bariatric Medicine provider in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Kuwada is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Obesity, Hiatal Hernia, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy. Dr. Kuwada is currently accepting new patients.

Anthony Colvin is a Gastroenterologist in Monroe, North Carolina. Dr. Colvin has been practicing medicine for over 33 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Gardner Syndrome, Gastrectomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Colvin is currently accepting new patients.

I came to Duke from Nebraska, where I was a medical director for two weight loss surgery programs. I decided to become a weight loss surgeon because it gives me the chance to establish a long-term relationship with my patients. For many patients, weight loss surgery often feels like a fresh start, since they are able to get rid of some of the health problems they may have acquired due to their weight and do certain activities they couldn’t do before. I get a thrill out of being able help patients start this “new life.” My approach to care involves listening to what the patient wants out of the surgery, educating them about various treatment options and performing a full evaluation. Then, I work with the patient to come up with a treatment plan that meets their physical and mental health needs. Dr. Sudan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Obesity, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Gastric Bypass, and Gallbladder Removal.

Thomas Khoury is a General Surgeon and a Vascular Surgeon in Winston-salem, North Carolina. Dr. Khoury has been practicing medicine for over 43 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Carotid Artery Disease, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Mesenteric Artery Ischemia, Endoscopy, and Colostomy.

Eric Thompson is a Hepatologist and a Gastroenterologist in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Thompson has been practicing medicine for over 38 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Visceromegaly, Diverticular Disease, Turcot Syndrome, Gastrectomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Thompson is currently accepting new patients.

Ronnie Cyzner is a Gastroenterologist in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Cyzner has been practicing medicine for over 32 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gas Bloat Syndrome, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Gastrectomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Cyzner is currently accepting new patients.

I am a cancer surgeon who specializes in treating patients with pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions of the pancreas, liver, bile ducts, stomach, and adrenal glands. I initially trained and practiced at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. During this time, I served one year on a forward surgical team in Iraq. Following this service, I practiced for 13 years as a surgical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. In 2018, I joined the faculty at Duke University and now serve as the chief of surgical oncology for Duke Health. I enjoy getting to know my patients and delivering the highest quality of cancer care. I am dedicated not only to treating and curing your cancer, but also providing you with the highest quality of life. Operations for cancers within the abdomen are a serious undertaking, and I am committed to making sure that they are performed with the highest level of expertise. Dr. Allen is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Pancreatic Cancer, Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatoblastoma, Small Bowel Resection, and Pancreatectomy.

Fred Fowler is a Hepatologist and a Gastroenterologist in Concord, North Carolina. Dr. Fowler has been practicing medicine for over 39 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Lower Esophageal Ring, Benign Esophageal Stricture, Swallowing Difficulty, Gastrectomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Fowler is currently accepting new patients.

I’m a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist who specializes in the surgical management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies—including soft tissue sarcomas and pancreas, colorectal and gastric cancers. Many of my patients have advanced malignancies and I am always amazed at their resilience. Their determination to fight inspires me to aggressively pursue every surgical option and to study novel techniques to improve surgical outcomes. One of the most important reasons for patients to be treated at Duke is the emphasis on a team-oriented approach to every patient. Nearly every surgical cancer patient is discussed in a multidisciplinary tumor conference in order to assure state of the art care. When I am not in the hospital, my wife and I can be found chasing our two young children or running with our dog. Dr. Blazer is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, and Pancreatectomy.