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Contact

Bariatric Clinic

Location

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Hours

Location

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Hours

Location

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Hours

Location

Contact

Hours

Referrals

What We Do

Our goal is to help our patients achieve long-term weight loss and improve their quality of life and day-to-day functioning through surgery and sustained lifestyle changes. Our comprehensive program offers medical and surgical care, nutritional education and counselling and psychological and social support.

Patients who are interested in and may be eligible for bariatric surgery attend a series of assessment and education sessions to help our team determine if the patient will be a suitable candidate for bariatric surgery. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery also receive close follow-up care over a period of at least 1 year after their surgery. All services are covered by OHIP.

All patients referred to our clinic by the Ontario Bariatric Registry come to Toronto Western Hospital for assessment and education appointments.

Types of Surgery Performed

Gastric bypass (also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass): Creating a small stomach pouch out of a portion of the stomach and attaching it directly to the small intestine.
Sleeve gastrectomy (also called vertical sleeve gastrectomy): Creating a small stomach pouch without affecting the small intestine. We perform this procedure in specific situations, as determined by your surgeon.

We perform both of these procedures using laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgery that involves small incisions in the abdomen.

How to Prepare

Learn more about what you can expect when you have a clinic appointment.

Materials and Resources to Help You

Resources from the Patient & Family Education Program

Visit our Health Information section to find dedicated resources to help you understand your condition. Find the information you're looking for.

Helpful Resources

General Information

All resources are in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.

Orientation

All resources are in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.

Nursing Appointment

Please complete the following and email bariatricclinic@uhn.ca prior to your appointment.

All resources are in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.

Pre-Bariatric Surgery Nursing Package

Getting Ready for your Bariatric Surgery?

All resources are in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.

Nutrition Essentials

All resources are in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.

Pre-Operative

Post-Operative

SADI-S (Single Anastomosis Duodenal–ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy)

All resources are in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.

Psychosocial Support Services

All resources are in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.

Our Video Library

Eating Before and After Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric Surgery Pre-operative Orientation Patient Education Video Series

Bariatric Surgery Program's Post-Op Education Series

Meet Our Team

To achieve long-term weight-loss success, patients may require help in several areas of their life. For this reason, our team is interdisciplinary, including surgeons, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered dietitians, social workers, psychologists, psychometrists, psychiatrists and research and administrative staff. Each team member has unique expertise that may be beneficial to your recovery and health.

Surgical Director: Dr. Tim Jackson

Psychosocial Program Director: Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam

Clinical Director: Diana Hallett, RN BScN MHM

Medical Director: Dr. Satya Dash

Manager of Professional Practice: Meagan Blodgett, RN, BScN, MN

Program Manager: Gifty Mahama, RN, BScN, MN

Patient Care Coordinator: Katie Warwick, RD

Surgeons:

Medical Program Physicians:

Dr Susan Tran, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Dr. Shraddha Krishnan, MD, CCFP, DABOM

Psychiatrists:

Dr. Raed Hawa, MD, MSc
Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, MD, FRCPC, MHPE
Dr. Richard Yanofsky, MD, FRCPC

Psychologists:

Dr. Susan Wnuk, PhD, C.Psych
Dr. Sarah Royal, PhD, C.Psych

Psychometrist:

Chau Du, MSc, RP

Social Workers:

Julia Skiadaresis, MSW, RSW
Sasha Ann Winchester, MSW, RSW
Ilona Wulffhart, MSW, RSW
Jesse Montgomery, MSW, RSW

Nurse Practitioners:

Patti Kastanias, RN, MSc, NP-Adult
Wei Wang, RN, MN, NP-Adult, CDE, CBE

Registered Nurses:

Mariyam Bajwa, RN
Shanyne McGhie, RN
Lorraine Whitehead, RN, MN

Registered Dietitians:

Kelly Chen, RD, MHSc
Pui Chi Cheung, RD, MSc
Keely Lo, RD
Ivy Lu, RD, MScFN
Stella Paterakis, RD, CDE
Laura Scott, RD
Jordana Shnier, RD, MHSc

Data Support Specialist: Doreen LeBlanc, HBSc, MSc

Data Clerks:

Sofia Haughton
Yvetta Lukacova, BA, PhD
Belsy Ricamonte

Administrative Services Supervisor: Sharon Douglas

Ward Clerks:

Julia Atkinson
Andrew Cole
Valrie Francis
Sujitha Gnanasekaran
Patrice Harriott
Althea Kho
Mitchie Pamonag
Jamelila Thane

What to Expect

You will be contacted with information about your first appointment.

What to Bring

Please bring the following to your appointment. Not all of these items may be needed for your appointment. Our clinic or your referring doctor will let you know what you must bring.

Your referring doctor may have given you a CD or DVD of previous imaging results (like x-rays, CT scans or MRIs). If so, it is very important to bring this CD or DVD with you.
List of all medications you are taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter, vitamins or mineral supplements and herbal remedies.
Medications that you need to take during the day. Please also bring any medical equipment you use.
Notes about any changes in your condition since your last visit.
A trusted friend or family member who can give you emotional support and help you.
A List of doctors and hospitals you've seen in the past who may have information about your treatment.
A list of questions to help you remember everything you want to ask

When You Arrive

Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment.

When you arrive, you will sign in with the receptionist. You will need your health card (OHIP card) to sign-in. If you do not have an OHIP card, please bring another form of government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport.

You may be given a Measuring Health Equity Questionnaire to fill out. This form contains questions about your background. We collect this information to find out who we serve and what unique needs you may have. The form is voluntary and you can choose 'prefer not to answer' to any or all questions. However, the information you choose to give us will help us improve the quality of care for you and others.

How Long Will Your Appointment Be?

First appointments take longer than follow-up appointments. Your first appointment can take 2 hours or more. Follow-up appointments usually take 15 to 30 minutes. We do everything we can to stay on time but sometimes unforeseen circumstances may delay your appointment.

Before You Leave

After every appointment, a member of your health care team will tell you about your next visit. Be sure you understand what is going to happen next. For example, know the time and place of your next visit or if someone will call you with this information.

If you are unsure about what your next steps are, don't be afraid to ask a member of your team. We are here to help you.

About Phone Calls

We understand that reaching us by phone can sometimes be difficult. Often our phone lines are busy or are turned over to the message centre so our staff can prepare for clinic visits or help other patients. We make every effort to return your call within 24 hours. Our staff will try to reach you 2 times. If we are not able to reach you directly you may need to call us again.

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