The Surgical Weight Loss Institute at Castle Medical Center
and Steven Fowler, M.D., have been designated
a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE)
by the American Society for Metabolic
and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

What Does It Mean?

The ASMBS BSCOE designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

To earn a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation, Castle Medical Center’s Surgical Weight Loss Institute underwent a series of site inspections during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes were collected. Castle Medical Center and other centers receiving the BSCOE designation agree to continue to share information on clinical pathways, protocols, and outcomes data.

In becoming a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, the program has held itself to the highest standards in the industry and is recognized for its dedication to helping patients achieve their lifestyle and weight loss goals.

How Can It Help the Community?

Obesity has become a significant national health issue, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that 66 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Morbid obesity is closely correlated with a number of serious conditions that severely undermine the health of overweight patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

“Due to the increasing prevalence of morbid obesity and the inherent risks, the opportunities available at our Center have the potential to greatly improve the health of this patient population,” says Dr. Steven Fowler, medical director of the Surgical Weight Loss Institute. “At the Surgical Weight Loss Institute, we believe that the ASMBS Centers of Excellence program will serve as a catalyst, driving strong programs to get even better for our community at large.”

Our Team

Castle’s Surgical Weight Loss Institute is not just a single bariatric surgeon, but an entire team of professionals who have been trained in various disciplines and without whom the BSCOE designation would not be possible.

Pictured above, from left to right, are:

• Doug Schwartzsmith, Psy.D., clinical psychologist
• Sheryl Cole, administrative assistant
• Mary Arakaki, R.D., program dietician
• Cindy Carvalho, B.S., exercise specialist
• Carol Enderle, D.N.P., A.P.R.N.–B.C., R.N.F.A., program manager
• Steven Fowler, M.D., F.A.C.S., bariatric surgeon and medical director.
• Joanne Reid, P.T., M.R.A., F.A.C.H.E., program director
• Megan Wong, office manager for ALOHA Surgery L.L.C.
• Lori Krueger, R.N., B.S.N., bariatric nurse
• Brenda Lovette, Psy.D., clinical psychologist.