Rick Fermelia, MD, FACS, D-ABOM

My surgical legacy and training.    I was trained in some would say in one of the best residencies in the United States in Dallas, Texas at the University of Texas Southwestern (known by most as the Parkland Hospital Residency).  I will admit, most physicians are proud of where they were trained. Laparoscopic surgery was still new when I was in residency. Over 29 years of experience I have developed a robust high end laparoscopic practice in complex abdominal laparoscopic surgery.  I began my interest in weight loss (bariatric surgery) out of my love for complicated laparoscopic surgery. In 2004, I went through a formal training program in bariatric surgery. During this time, the first fellowships (training after residency) were only just being developed in minimally invasive surgery and bariatrics.  I had extensive formal training and proctoring in both open and laparoscopic gastric bypass. I ultimately formally trained and was proctored in the Lap Band procedure in 2005. I was formally trained and proctored in Gastric Sleeve resection in 2011. As is the case with most experienced bariatric surgeons I have performed many revisional bariatric surgeries, considered some of the most challenging cases.  As far as I know I performed some of the first laparoscopic gastric bypasses, Lap Band, and laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve resections in the state of Wyoming and I also developed the first comprehensive bariatric center in the state.

Obesity Medicine training.  During this long experience I have found great pleasure in working and might I say excelling as “an operating bariatric physician” in the nonoperative aspects of weight loss therapy. In 2019, I decided to train in Obesity Medicine and now I am board certified in Obesity Medicine.  In addition to all the years of being a bariatric surgeon, now I  have experience in Obesity Medicine since 2019.  In early 2023 I decided to concentrate my practice on obesity medicine only.  My training and experience in obesity medicine will surely benefit any patient seeking help with weight loss and obesity related complications.  If you are interested in Bariatric Surgery, I can advise you and refer you to a bariatric surgeon.