Are You Thinking About Weight-loss Surgery?
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Nicole, FirstHealth Bariatric Surgery Patient
“If I was to be a complete human being and love myself and be there for my family,” Nicole says, “I needed to do this for me. It’s my personal desire to be active and healthy.”
Weight-loss Recipes and Articles
Try these healthy weight-loss recipes to help you stay on track.
Weight-loss Surgery
Since it began in 1999, the bariatric surgery program at FirstHealth has helped more than 1,000 patients to lose weight and restore active healthy lives.
OverviewDownload Brochure
FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital and Pinehurst Surgical have established a comprehensive Bariatric Surgical Program in the mid-Carolinas. The program offers Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy and adjustable gastric band surgical approaches to significant weight loss and maintenance for those suffering from morbid obesity. The FirstHealth Bariatric Center is staffed by an interdisciplinary team who provide quality education and support, before and after surgery.
All Weight-loss Services
Read more about the comprehensive services that make FirstHealth's bariatric program one of the best.
Patient Experiences
Dr. Ronald Kader
After years of struggling with weight, Dr. Ronald Kader, an emergency room physician, opts for weight-loss surgery at Moore Regional.
Learn more
Mark Rhyne
Watch as Volonda Calloway from My Carolina today interviews weight-loss surgery patient, Mark Rhyne & bariatric surgeon, Dr. Raymond Washington.
Nicole Trembley
Trembley had weight-loss surgery, a Roux-en Y gastric bypass procedure, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital on Aug. 20, 2010. In addition to being a successful bariatric patient, Trembley has become a passionate spokesperson for FirstHealth’s weight-loss service.
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Nicole Trembley
Hear Nicole's story.
Danielle Boykin
Danielle chose to have the gastric sleeve surgery so she could lose weight, feel healthy, and have the opportunity to play and have fun with her kids in the evenings after work instead of being tired every night after work and just sitting on the couch.
JoAnn Hussey
JoAnn received the gastric sleeve less than two years ago from FirstHealth. Since her surgery, JoAnn has gone from a size 20 to a size 8, and she feels great. Hear more of JoAnn's story.
Brittany Creese
Brittany had gastric sleeve surgery at FirstHealth. At three months post surgery, she had already lost 60 pounds. A 24-year old emergency room nurse with polycystic ovarian syndrome, Brittany had a hard losing weight because of the disease. Hear Brittany's story.
Jackie Welder
Jackie Welder felt that gastric sleeve was the best surgical weight-loss option for her. She says being morbidly obese has to be one of the worst feelings in the world and that bariatric surgery was her lifesaver. Hear more of Jackie's story.
Innovation and Treatment
View Entire Team Meet our Medical Professionals
Board Certified
Raymond G. Washington, Jr., M.D.
Specialties
- General Surgery
- Bariatric Surgery
Hospital Affiliation
- Moore Regional Hospital
Training
- M.D., Medical College of Virginia
Internship & Residency
- Christiana Care Health System, Del.
Board Certified
David W. Grantham, M.D.
Specialties
- General Surgery
- Bariatric Surgery
Hospital Affiliation
- Moore Regional Hospital
Training
- M.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Fellowship
- Laporoscopic & Advanced Gastroenterology Surgery, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, N.C.
Internship & Residency
- Wake Forest University, N.C.
Melissa Herman, R.D., CDE
Bio
Melissa has more than 20 years experience as a registered dietitian. She currently counsels bariatric patients both pre- and post-operatively and serves as patient navigator for the FirstHealth Bariatric Center and program coordinator for the Diabetes and Nutrition Education Program at FirstHealth. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Immaculata College, has been a Certified Diabetes Educator since 2000 and is a Certified Health Coach. Melissa has done extensive community work in the area of diabetes, presented at numerous national conferences and currently sits on the Diabetes Advisory Council at the state level. Melissa works closely with the bariatric multi-disciplinary team to help patients gain insight and high quality education while providing encouragement and support throughout their weight-loss journey.
Jan Norris
Bio
The clinical coordinator for the FirstHealth Bariatric Center, Jan Norris developed a passion for bariatrics after joining Pinehurst Surgical in 2006. In the role of clinical coordinator, she serves as a patient advocate for the program. Her personal experience as a bariatric surgery patient, her professional knowledge and her friendly personality provide the perfect combination for developing a trusting long-term relationship with patients.
Jan handles the clinical coordination of patients, surgeries and insurance. She also works closely with our bariatric surgeons, nursing staff, hospital staff, psychologists, nutritionists, referring physicians and primary care providers to ensure the best possible continuity of care for our patients. As the clinical coordinator, she navigates pre-operative patients through the pre-operative clearance process from seminar to surgery that includes assessing the candidacy of patients for bariatric surgery, reviewing medical history, initiating referrals and scheduling appointments for all pre-operative clearances. She also coordinates insurance benefits, obtains prior authorizations and appeal denials, and plans and coordinates surgery schedules for both surgeons. In addition, she maintains and reports on multiple Excel spreadsheet databases.
Jan’s clinical role includes pre- and post-operative education, medication reconciliation, the monitoring of lab results for abnormalities and deficiencies, post-op patient triage, patient mentoring, scheduling of appointments, procedures & diagnostic testing, scribing, orders, charges and coding. She also educates the clinical support staff.
