Dr. Sherri Thomas

Dr. Hovey is the Director of Weight Management and has been the Chairman of the Surgery Department at CHI Health Immanuel since 2012. He is board certified in Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.While growing up in Council Bluffs, he graduated from Lewis Central High School. After attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Iowa State University for his undergraduate studies, Dr. Hovey received his Medical Degree from the University of Iowa in 1997. He completed a surgical internship at Creighton University, served as a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force, and finished his surgical training at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines in 2004. Upon honorably fulfilling his commitment as a general surgeon in the Air Force, he decided to come back home to the Midwest where he has been a valued member of the Omaha medical community since 2006.He is one of the most experienced weight loss surgeons in the region, having performed thousands of procedures including the sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band, Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileostomy (SADI), duodenal switch (DS), ORBERA (endoscopic gastric balloon), and complex revision surgery.In addition to bariatric surgery, he performs a high volume of laparoscopic, minimally invasive, and robotic surgery including gallbladder removal, hiatal hernia repair, inguinal/abdominal wall hernia repair, and colon resection. His expertise, passion, clinical acumen, and surgical skills have resulted in Dr. Hovey receiving numerous teaching awards from the Creighton University School of Medicine’s General Surgery Residency where he carries an appointment as an Assistant Clinical Professor.Dr. Hovey uses his years of experience in all aspects of weight loss surgery to feed his passion for helping patients reach their goals of living longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.Dr. Hovey also contributes to theCHI Health Better You Blog. Dr. Hovey is highly rated in 19 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Gallbladder Disease, Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Hernia Surgery.

Robert Cunningham is a Bariatric Medicine provider in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Dr. Cunningham is highly rated in 4 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Obesity in Children, Endoscopy, and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Dr. Cassling is a fellowship-trained Bariatric Surgeon who joined the CHI Health Immanuel Weight Management team in 2024. She is board certified in General Surgery.An Omaha native, Dr. Cassling is privileged to care for patients in her home town. She received her undergraduate degree at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota before attending medical school at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine where she graduated with her MD with distinction. She then completed an internship and residency in General Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. During her training, she spent additional time dedicated to surgical education research and earned a Masters in Education through Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. After residency, Dr. Cassling completed a fellowship in advanced Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) techniques and Bariatric Surgery at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.Dr. Cassling focuses on the surgical treatment of foregut disorders including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal and paraesophageal hernias, esophageal motility disorders, in addition to the surgical treatment of obesity and related medical comorbidities through bariatric surgery. She offers surgical weight loss options including sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, and complex revision surgeries. Dr. Cassling also performs many general surgery procedures including gallbladder and appendix removals and inguinal and abdominal wall hernia repairs.Building on her experience during residency, Dr. Cassling remains dedicated to training future generations of surgeons. She serves as a core faculty member in Creighton University’s General Surgery Residency Program and is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Creighton University School of Medicine.Dr. Cassling is passionate about patient care and making sure her patients truly understand their options for surgery so they can make the best decision for their health and wellbeing. She is excited to be a member of the Weight Management team and to help patients along their journeys through the program and beyond. Her top areas of expertise are Hernia, Hiatal Hernia, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, and Ogilvie Syndrome.