Signature Series
A short interview with Dr. Schneider discussing bariatric surgery and obesity
Where did you study to become a surgeon?
University of Colorado University of Iowa for residency. Fellowship University of Texas Southwestern and BIDMC.
Why did you become a weight loss surgeon?
Because more than any other surgical procedure you can effect a person's life. A person's life is changed on so many levels. Not only does a person become more mobile and improve their lifestyle but you can also affect a host of chronic diseases such as diabetes and sleep apnea. From a surgical standpoint, we also have been able to introduce and apply minimal invasive techniques which have improved patient outcomes such as reducing risks of surgery and shortening recovery periods.
What bariatric operations do you perform?
Gastric Bypass, Lap-band, and Sleeve Gastrectomy
How many operations have you performed in your career?
I have performed more than 900 weight loss operations including lap-band, Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy, and revisional surgeries.
What is the Gastric Sleeve procedure?
The Gastric Sleeve is a restrictive procedure that entails removing a portion of the stomach therefore effectively allowing a person to eat less and feel satisfied with a smaller portion size.
How was obesity viewed when you were in medical school compared to how it is viewed now?
There has been a major shift in the understanding of obesity as a disease process. When I was in medical school obesity was often thought of as a self induced problem resulting from a lack of will power. Now, we have a much greater understanding of obesity. As health care providers we have come to appreciate the difficulty that patient's undergo in trying to loose weight in order to actively improve their health and well being. We understand obesity as a disease process that may need to be medically or surgically treated. We also understand that bariatric surgery is a relatively safe and effective treatment option.
What advice would you give to medical students who plan to enter baratric surgical field?
In our program I teach medical students as well as surgery resident and fellows. I try to instill in them an understanding of what patients go through in order to achieve weight loss. It is important to continually challenge what we think we know about the disease of obesity in order to devise new safe and effective treatments. From a surgical standpoint we teach advanced techniques which I believe will make our operations safer and less painful.
What do you believe contributes to the growth of obesity in our population?
There are a great number of contributing factors which seem to cause us to gain weight. From the media and popular press we are all aware that access to large quantities of foods dense in nutrients causes us to gain weight. Technology has made great strides in making our work and lives more efficient and less physically strenuous. At the same time, we are so busy with work or other obligations that we are unable to make time to exercise.
More about Dr. Schneider
Dr. Schneider is a Bariatric Surgeon in the Minimally Invasive Surgical Services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Instructor in Surgery at Harvard Medical School.
Education:
Dr. Schneider received his medical degree from University of Colorado School of Medicine. He completed his surgical residency at University of Iowa and a Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at University of Texas Southwestern/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Awards and Honors:
Dr. Schneider is the recipient of the Academy Harvard Medical School (2005) and Society of Gastrointestinal & Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) research grant (2003). He was also selected as Outstanding Laparoendoscopic Resident Surgeon, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (2002).
Surgical Groups:
He serves on the Expert Panel on Weight Loss Surgery for Betsy Lehman Center, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Weight Loss Surgery Committee, and he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons Advisory, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Foundation, and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Surgical Experience:
Dr. Schneider has been performing:
- Open RNY gastric bypass since 2002
- Laparoscopic RNY gastric bypass since 2002
- Lap Band since 2002
- Gastric Sleeve starting in 2008
