Alvarado Bariatric Surgeons Bariatric Center

Dr. Clark's office is a busy place that is organized to the hilt. They do everything in groups, which is both comforting and frustrating in that you make "friends" but do too much waiting around. Several of his staff have had the bypass surgery and will answer questions honestly. Dr. Clark himself is an older cowboy type and not what I had pictured, but is none-the-less serious, qualified and competenant. He is a no frills kinda guy and I think you will like him. He will give indivual advise depending on each person's situation, so don't fret about that, just know that he can be gruff at times. Aftercare is expected and if you live a long ways away as I do, you will need to arrange most of it for yourself. This is the right place for the do-it-yourselfers who want the best surgeons and insurance approval rates. If you are having serious other health issues, make sure your local doctor will work closely with you and that you take a good helper with you to the 10-12 day process of the surgery in San Diego. You will need them for both driving and physical assistance after your release from the hospital and follow up classes/check-ups.Rating? 9.5 out of 10 (Didn't like the 10 hr pre-op process and group style aftercare.)

2/7/01 So I've decided to have WLS. Now the
process begins! I was initially going to go
with Pacific Bariatric and after some problems
I changed to Dr. Wittgrove. I'm happy I did!
I haven't met him yet, but have dealt with his
staff who are all just wonderful! I've also
got a good friend who just had surgery done by
Dr. Wittgrove on March 21st, and speaks very
highly of him! I can't wait to get this done!
It just can't happen soon enough for me!

5/16/01 Okay, so I've now learned that this process
is full of changes. I was changed from August to
July and thus my surgeon has changed from Dr. Wittgrove
to his partner Dr. Clark. I'm still excited to be going
through Alvarado and Dr. Wittgrove & Dr. Clark's office!

6/20/01 Dr. G. Wesley Clark is awesome! He's a very
nice man! He took very good care of me while in the
hospital and his staff is just as wonderful. While in the
hospital he gave me a cute fuzzy teddy bear to use when
I needed to cough. He was around to ask question to
and was there when I needed to find answers. I'd reccommen
that anyone have WLS check into Alvarado Center for
Surgical Weight Control...they're fantastic! Any of the
surgeons...Clark, Wittgrove and Ellner are great and would
take good care of you.

I am 7 days from surgery and have not met Dr. Clark. June 11th we will meet. I am nervous, but ready. I hope he has a kind face.

Have not met my surgeon but his office staff is wonderful.
They answer all my questions either via phone or email. They wrote the letter to the insurance company.

Dr. Clark is his partner pioneered this surgery. When I was there two of the patients were doctors and you know they would only go to the best. Nine of the support staff have had the operation. The classes they provide and the followup are incredible. I highly recommend them
1 800 342 3944.

He is pretty quiet but I immediately liked
him, he was so confident. He sounded happy to
be able to change my life. I heard from some
nurses his wife had the surgery.
The office staff was awesome, very professional
and personable. No question asked was dumb
and you couldn't stump them.
The office emphasizes after care, but if you
are from out of the area you need to call in
once a month for a year to talk to the nurse.
They have support groups in the Southern Cal
area, but that didn't help me, so I am using
the internet for support.
Dr. Clark did address the risks of surgery,
but was very positive. He asks you questions
to be sure you understand what you are getting
yourself into.
My overall rating is excellent.
I chose Dr. Clark for his experience and
reputation. His bedside manner was quiet, but
you could encourage him to talk and he was
very interesting.
I can't think of anything negative to say
of my experience.
These were my personal impressions of my personal
experience and I am making no statements about
what other people may experience.

I have not met Dr Clark, but I have met Dr Ellner at the Feb 2 seminar. I was very impressed with her manner and competence. She will be assisting Dr Clark, and I am very excited. I have pre-op testing on May 4th in San Diego, and then surgery on May 9th. I am very pleased with the Alvarado Medical Group.
May 6, 2001
I met Dr Clark on Friday May 4th and had all my pre-op testing. I am so pleased with my choice. Dr Clark and his staff are wonderful and so understanding. I also met the greatest group of ladies who are having surgery this week too. The Alvarado Hospital staff and facilities are superb.

Dr. Clark was friendly, informative, and relaxed. The office staff was competent and cheerful. I have no complaints so far and had a positive preop experience overall.

I have not yet met with Dr. Clark. However, I'm impressed with his staff. Although they do seem to be very busy, they have been responsive to my questions.

2/20/01,(10 weeks post-op) I was not impressed with Dr. Clark's bedside manner. If I had it to do all over again I would ask for Dr. Whittgrove to be my surgeon. I ended up having complications (hospitalized twice after surgery discharge) and if I would have had a surgeon who was caring and who would have been willing to spend more than 2 minutes when he came to check on me, that would have made a world of difference. I suggest that you put hand cuffs on the man when he comes into your room, until he has all of your questions answered. He just walks out of your room when he thinks the conversation is over. Once, I thought of something else that I wanted to ask him so I had my mother chase him down the hall. She told him that I had another question for him and he rolled his eyes at her and turned away! During my 3rd hospital visit (Christmas day) I saw Dr Ellner. What a difference that made - she was upbeat, nice and took the time to explain my complications. She really put me at ease.