Dr. Shaina R. Eckhouse

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 Endoscopy. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Hernia, Short Bowel Syndrome, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

A significant portion of my practice involves advanced minimally invasive techniques in thoracic surgery to treat diseases such as lung or esophageal cancer. Another part of my clinical practice is spent taking care of patients with severe lung disease, especially those needing lung transplantation. Patients from all over the world come to Duke for lung transplantation. Research demonstrates that experience is very important in taking care of complex medical problems, both on the surgical side and on the medical side. We have one of the largest transplant centers in the world with excellent survival statistics, as well as the shortest wait list time. Instead of the national average which may be four to six months, our patients wait an average of about two weeks. One of the best aspects of being a patient or working at Duke is the people who work here. No matter how challenging the medical problems may be or what problems may arise, I know there’s a world’s expert a phone call away who can help intervene and I know that my patients will be cared for by committed Duke staff from across the hospital. Dr. Hartwig is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Endoscopy. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Hiatal Hernia, Thymic Epithelial Tumor, Endoscopy, and Heart Transplant.

My clinical interests include gastrointestinal surgery, with a focus on gallbladder and gastric disease, reflux disease, and hernias. Additionally, I enjoy working with patients to decide the best treatment for weight loss that will resolve diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. The most satisfying part of my job is when patients are proud of their success and recognize their ability to accomplish their goals. I was raised in upstate NY, attended Boston College, and spent three years working in Colorado prior to starting medical school in Arizona. I received advanced specialty training in weight loss surgery and endoscopic treatment of reflux disease at Duke in 2014. I enjoy spending my spare time outdoors. Dr. Seymour is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Endoscopy. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity, Hernia, Gallbladder Disease, Gallbladder Removal, and Gastric Bypass.