The Staff at National Bariatric Center™ Welcomes You!
Bariatric=Weight Loss Treatment. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive caring service for your health and well-being. As you consider starting a new journey in your life, we hope to safely guide you to help heal your body and mind. The National Bariatric CenterTM program was created to provide sensitive care and amenities for the specialized needs of those suffering from obesity. We specialize only in safe and established weight loss therapy and surgery. Physicians, dieticians, and nurses involved in your care have extensive experience and have undergone sensitivity training for obesity care. Our medical specialists have been trained to understand the specific challenges of treating obesity. We offer individualized counsel to help you choose safe and established surgical options available for achieving lasting weight loss. Free individual seminars with Bariatric specialist, Dr. Frank Chae, are available (Please call us 303-662-1191).
Frank H. Chae, MD, CM, FACS
Specialty: Dr. Frank Chae specializes in Bariatric (weight loss) Surgery for obesity and advanced Laparoscopic (via micro-TV camera) Gastrointestinal Surgery. He works for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on the Obesity Treatment Panel, as well as for the American College of Surgeons, as Site Inspector for Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence accreditation. In 1998, he founded Colorado's first comprehensive Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery program for weight loss at University of Colorado, thus, making him one of the pioneers of this advanced TV camera surgery in the nation. He was also involved with LapBand since 1997. He is both a teacher and an examiner in Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery for obesity at the state and national educational programs for physicians, surgeons, residents and medical students. His research background is in the field of laparoscopic intestinal surgery and patient safety. He has over 9 years of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass and LapBand experience, 13 years of both advanced minimally invasive surgery and Bariatric surgery experience, and 17 years of surgery experience. He left as Head of the Bariatric Surgery Program at University of Colorado (1998-2004), to devote full time and to head the Bariatric Surgery Program for weight loss.
Membership: He is a full member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity, Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Training: He trained surgeons and residents on Laparoscopic weight loss surgery as a professor and Head of Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at the University of Colorado. His education and training background includes premedical studies at Columbia University , medical studies at McGill University , surgery residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and surgery fellowship at the George Washington University Medical Center . He underwent further post-graduate surgery studies at the University of Pittsburg and Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital.
Credentials: He was appointed to the Bariatric Surgery Task Force, Representative to the National Patient Safety Foundation, and Research/Membership committees for the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). Other full membership includes Central Surgical Society, American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, Colorado Medical Society, Colorado Chapter of American College of Surgeons, Denver Medical Society, and SurgONE, PC.
Dr. Chae’s Bariatric Surgery Program has been profiled at KUSA/NBC Channel 9 News and KCNC/CBS Channel 4 News. He is also a media surgical consultant for ABC News, ABC 20/20, ABCNEWS.com, CBS 48 Hours, Discovery Channel, People Magazine, Boulder Daily Camera, and Denver Post/Rocky Mountain News.
To view the latest TV clips, please go to: http://kcnc.dayport.com/launcher/2441/
Susie Arnold
Patient Director at National Bariatric CenterTM
Susie Arnold coordinates the bariatric surgery patient programs for the clinics. She oversees clinic and surgery scheduling as well as facilitating documents for the insurance carriers. She will be your personal guide and friendly support through the pre-surgery programs and also after your recovery. She has over 6 years of experience dealing with insurance carriers and receives continued compliments from our patients for her caring service. We contract with most insurance plans and we also have a very competitive self-pay plan. For more information, please contact Susie at 303-662-1191 or susie@natbar.xohost.com.
Kelly Elliot, RD, CNSD
Bariatric Dietician
Kelly Elliot, R.D., C.N.S.D. is a registered dietitian and a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS), who has worked with both pre operative and post operative gastric bypass populations for past 19 years. She teaches the Pre Operative Gastric Bypass class for those who are about to undergo the surgery. The classes teach individuals what eating behaviors and lifestyle changes the individual must make to optimize success of the surgery and maximize weight loss and nutritional status. The class and accompanying text is the “owner’s manual” for the surgery.
For more information, please call 303-770-1222 ext. 2.
Classes are held at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado (southern metro Denver-just south of Park Meadows Mall, conveniently off I-25 & Lincoln Exit ). We meet at Cancer Center Lobby (Aspen Building), Ground Level. (Please enter entrance of Cancer Center lobby located on south side of the medical center). For map & directions to Sky Ridge, please see CONTACT US section.
Sky Ridge Support Group schedule on 2nd Thursday of the month, 6:30pm-8:00pm at Sky Ridge Cancer Center Lobby. (Dates and Times subject to change, please call to confirm for Sky Ridge):
The support groups provide an opportunity for ongoing nutritional advice as your eating abilities change throughout the process. Guest speakers provide valuable education regarding topics related to gastric bypass surgery including plastic surgery, psychology, compulsive eating, and starting a physical activity plan. The support groups are directed by Kelly so that misinformation and inaccuracies regarding nutritional supplements, diets, weight loss, etc. are not passed along among members. Only current, accurate, and widely accepted clinical information and advice are given. Kelly has a private practice as well for those interested in more in depth, individualized nutritional monitoring and guidance.
Pam Clifford, RN, BSN
Bariatric Program Director
Pam Clifford coordinates the bariatric surgery program for patients and physicians. She oversees bariatric program at the National Bariatric Center and facilitates communication and education among patients and physicians. Her role is to leverage knowledge of development and operations of bariatric practice specialty to improve user service for both patients and physicians. She has years of clinical experience as a nurse treating patients and also teaching nurses and physicians. Her background includes program development and coordination at Volant Health Diagnostics, University of Colorado Hospital, Exempla Healthcare-St. Joseph's, and Lutheran Homecare & Hospice. For practice information and inquiries at National Bariatric Center, please call 303-903-2930.
NATIONAL BARIATRIC CENTERTM
Our medical office is located at Sky Ridge Medical Center in beautiful Lone Tree, Colorado (south metro Denver, north of Castle Rock, conveniently located just off I-25 & Lincoln Avenue Exit with easy access parking ). Weight loss surgery is also offered at our downtown Denver location in Saint Joseph Hospital and our southwest Denver area location in Littleton Adventist Hospital.
Our highly specialized state of the art medical program offers not just the latest technological innovations in 21st century medicine, but also peace of mind and rejuvenation for the heart in our spiritually nurturing environment. We are one of the most advanced surgery centers in the nation offering a full range of specialized medical services. We honor requests for religious and spiritual observances to help your human side of needs. The National Bariatric CenterTM program was created to provide sensitive care and amenities for the specialized needs of those suffering from obesity. We specialize only in safe and established weight loss therapy and surgery. Physicians, dieticians, and nurses involved in your care have extensive experience and have undergone sensitivity training for obesity care. Medical specialists involved in your care have been trained to understand the specific challenges of treating obesity.
Overnight family stays are welcome, or nearby lodging amenities are easily accessible. Valet and self-parking areas are family friendly.