Sunday, December 13, 2009

Bariatric Surgery

If you are considering weight loss surgery be sure to do your homework. This week's guest on Healthy Rounds was Dr. Carlos Barba. Dr. Barba is director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at the Hospital of Central Connecticut. He is among the busiest bariatric surgeons in the country with over 14 years experience.

Dr. Barba stresses the need for a team approach such as the one taken at the Hospital of Central Connecticut where registered dieticians, psychologists and exercise physiologists work with patients before and after surgery.

The two most commonly performed operations are the gastric bypass and the lap band procedures. Gastric bypass is a much more radical approach and less popular than laporoscopic banding.

The key to success with either of these procedures is commitment to a program of regular exercise and eating right. The procedure is just a way of getting started on a life-long journey to good health.

Listen to the podcast of Dr. Barba's interview http://www.wtic.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4226868

If you are interested in bariatric surgery contact the Hospital of Central Connecticut at 1-866-668-5070 or http://thocc.org/services/weigh/surgery.aspx?fontsize=Large

Feel free to post any questions or information you may have about bariatric surgery.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Haitian Health Foundation

I just returned from my third trip to Jeremie, Haiti. Jeremie is a remote area in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Malnutrition, poor sanitiation and inadequate drinking water are among the biggest challenges. As a physician, it affords me the opportunity to diagnose and treat diseases I'd only read about like malaria, tuberculosis and various parasitic infections.


Despite these adverse conditions patients were grateful for whatever treatment is provided. Sometimes that treatment was only a kind word and a smile since there is an extreme shortage of medication and virtually no diagnostic equipment.


The Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) of Norwich, CT is the organization that sponsors the clinic where I worked along with many other outreach efforts in Haiti. Its' founder, Dr. Jeremiah Lowney has been making these trips four times a year for the past 27 years. I had the plaesure of interviewing Dr. Lowney on the "Healthy Rounds" radio program just before leaving for Haiti. http://www.wtic.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4216171


This trip differed from my other visits because I left with a feeling of hope and pride. My hope was based on having the opportunity to work with a group of young, American volunteers who have left the comforts that we have become accustomed to so that they can help those in need for an extended period of time. My pride was based on the fact that my youngest daughter Stephanie was one of those volunteers.


If you wish to donate time or money to help this outstanding effort please contact HHF at www.haitianhealthfoundation.org