Demesvar Jean-Baptiste, MD Director, Bariatric Surgery Center Dr. Jean-Baptiste is a Board Certified General Surgeon and a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS). He obtained his medical degree from the State University of New York-Downstate School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency training at Saint Barnabas Medical Center of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Jean-Baptiste went on to complete a Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery and Bariatric Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, one of the five busiest programs in the nation. There, he performed numerous Bariatric procedures and was involved with the Faculty as Instructor in the Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery Workshops aimed to train Resident Surgeons in Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Jean-Baptiste has performed hundreds of Laparoscopic Bariatric procedures including the Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, the Lap-Band, and revisions of prior Bariatric procedures over the last few years. He has a great deal of expertise in laparoscopy and he brings the innovative technical approach of major academic institutions to the Bariatric Surgery Center. At the University of Pennsylvania, he was also involved in performing and refining the technical details leading to the trial for Laparoscopic Gastric pacing, an investigational approach to minimally invasive bariatric surgery. He has lectured on several topics dealing with Bariatric Sugery and authored articles discussing with the technical implications of the placement of the reservoir in Lap-Band procedures for which he received the special award of best educational content and innovation at the 14th International Congress of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. He has also researched into the current standard for the preoperative workup of Gastric Bypass patients. Dr. Jean-Baptiste is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. In addition, he is an active member of many prestigious societies such as the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS), and the Society for Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS). He holds professional licensure in the State of New York, the State of new Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Kathryn Wolff, RN, CBN Bariatric Program Coordinator Kathryn, a Certified Bariatric Nurse, is the Bariatric Program Coordinator. She is a Registered Nurse who earned a Bachelor's Degree from Rutgers College of Nursing. Kathryn brings over 20 years of nursing experience with her to The Bariatric Surgery Center. Kathryn is also proud to say that she is a successful Bariatric Surgery patient. She underwent a Laparoscopic RNY Gastric Bypass in 2004 and has been successful in losing and maintaining a weight loss of 150 pounds. Because of her personal experiences as a Bariatric surgery patient, Kathryn is able to assist our patients at The Bariatric Surgery Center as both their nurse and as a mentor. Judi Spector, RD Bariatric Nutritionist Judi is the Bariatric Nutritionist. She is a Registered Dietitian who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics at the University of Maryland. Judi brings over 25 years of professional experience in the nutrition field to her position at The Bariatric Surgery Center. Her particular interest and expertise in weight management make her the perfect guide for our patients while they achieve their goals. Devang Patel, MD Bariatrician Dr. Devang Patel is a Board Certified Gastroenterologist with a strong background in Bariatrics. He graduated from UMDNJ-NJ Medical School and did his Residency and Fellowship training at Robert Wood University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. After completing his post-graduate training, he developed an interest in the Peri/Post Operative Management of Bariatric Surgery. He has developed significant expertise in the endoscopic evaluation and treatment of Bariatric patients. Laila Hull, MA, LPC Bariatric Behavioral Health Services Laila is the Bariatric Behavior Health clinician performing Bariatric Psychological Evaluations. She is a NJ Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years of clinical counseling experience. She has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Kean University, NJ. Laila has been performing bariatric evaluations with Solaris Health System since 2005. Christina Millard Office Manager Christina is the office manager at the Bariatric Surgery Center. She has been working at Solaris Health System for over two years. While pursuing her nursing degree at The Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder School, Christina remains an invaluable asset to the program as she handles the progress of our patients through the program.

Dedicated solely to the treatment of obesity, the Bariatric Center offers a vast array of support services to the morbidly obese. The team represents a combination of excellence and care unparalleled in Central New Jersey and throughout the state of NJ. Our multidisciplinary approach along with our state of the art minimally invasive modalities make up the best bariatric surgical care available.