The Team that I'm going to

Our Team

At Akron General, we understand that obesity is a disease, and you need a team you can trust if you're going to beat it. Led by experienced surgeon Walter Chlysta, MD, FACS, our team includes dietitians, psychologists, registered nurses, health and fitness professionals and surgical technicians, all focused on preparing you for surgery and helping you keep the weight off after surgery.

Ohio native, Walter J. Chlysta MD, FACS, is a Board Certified general surgeon with a practice that focuses on general surgery, endoscopy and other advanced laparoscopic procedures.

As one of the few Northeast Ohio surgeons who offer the laparoscopic gastric banding procedure and the laparoscopic gastric bypass, he has performed over 300 laparoscopic Roux-en-Y surgeries and over 50 gastric banding procedures during his 16 years of experience with laparoscopic surgery. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy has recently been added as another option for weight loss.

His background is as follows: Dr. Chlysta graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Kent State University with dual major in chemistry and pre-medicine; was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honorary Society; and graduated Cum Laude with medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He completed his surgical internship and residency at Akron General Medical Center. Dr. Chlysta’s main clinical interest was advanced laparoscopic surgery.He went on to receive additional training in advanced laparoscopic surgery at The Yale Laparoscopic Center in New Haven, Connecticut.

In 2001, he was Board Certificated by The American Board of Surgery, and appointed Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery at the Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine. In 2003, he was granted Fellow status in the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and then admitted as a full member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery in 2004.

Dr. Chlysta was appointed Medical Director of the Bariatric Center at Akron General Medical Center in 2005.

      

June Adams, RN, Operating Room	Adriane Bennett, PhD, Psychology Services Services	Cathleen Burke, RN, CBN, Bariatric Center Program Coordinator	Michelle Dudek, MPT, Supervisor of Rehabilitation Services
Rose Fowler, Secretary for Dr. Chlysta	Chris Freas, PT, Physical Therapist	Alan Gilbertson, PhD, Chief of Psychology	Kellie Huey, Secretary for Bariatric Center
Kim Knopp, MS, RD, LD, CDE, Registered Dietitian	Kathy Kolton, RN, Manager Surgical Services	Renee Markovich, MD, FAAFP, Associate Program Director, Center for Family Medicine	Joshua McNatt, MD, Green Primary Care
Joyce Moore, Director of Nursing 52A	Marc Shultz, Surgical Assistant, Operating Room	Cindy Smith, Secretary for Psychology Services	Jodie Weckbacher, Surgical Technician

Kellie is awesome!  Without her, I wouldn't have chosen Akron General.  My Shrink is not pictured in here- she must be newer.  Kim is the Dietician I deal with.