Cleveland Clinic Florida/Bariatric Institute Bariatric Center

Dr. Rosenthal is a very nice man. I really don't have any complaints about him in specific. My main complaint is with the office staff at Cleveland Clinic (the WLS section). They don't follow up, don't follow through and are sometimes rude on the phone. I highly suggest either replacing their office staff or adding additional staff to the office. If this doen't happen, more and more patients will be going somewhere else to get the surgery done. That would be a pretty sad thing considering Dr. Rosenthal has such a wonderful gift and reputation.

We'll see. Surgery date is 9/12/03.

Great staff.

I had my lap banding surgery on Feb 7, 2003 with Dr Szomstein. Before surgery I was very anexious and my blood pressure was going up very high. Dr Szomstein, came in to see me and just sat down next to me and told me to relax that everything would be fine. He was and is very compassionate..He spoke to husband and then I was off to the OR. Once I was out of surgery and in my room. Dr S came to visit me and tell me how everything went. I was feeling pretty good. Just a little discomfort. He came in to see once more before he left for the day. The next day I went home. And with 4-5 days I was pretty much doing everything. I went for my 10 day post op appt and had lost 15 pounds..I have not had any complications so far. I have had very little discomfort. I have had two fills. Dr Szomstein was wonderful each time I have went in for one a fill..As of today almost six months post op I have lost 47 pounds.. And feel so much better.. I can not say enough wonderful things about Dr Szomstein and his staff... Dr Szomstein is a very compassionate, personable and caring physician. I am so happy with the choice I made and most of all my choice in choosing Dr Szomstein. I wish everyone the best!! And if I can be of any help to anyone please email me.

3/5/03
Dr. Szomstein is a good guy, he was very informative and answered all my questions. From our short talk I would say he is a competent and confident surgeon, very knowledgeable. I just wish they had more than one nutritionist so I didn't have to wait so long!

7/19/03
Dr S is a very caring and professional surgeon. When I was in the pre-op room he tried to get my wedding ring off using a piece of string so we wouldn't have to cut it... it didn't work, but it is indicative of his attitude towards patients that he spent 10 minutes doing that for me. He has many fellows (associates) at the Cleveland Clinic who are learnig to do the surgery, and they are all also learning his manner with patients. He listens carefully to you and tells you straight what will happen, or his advice.

A complete professional who inspires confidence. Not a hand-holder or a talker, but clearly committed to being at the top of his profession and to seeing that his patients get the best care and long term outcome - i.e. the really important things. No sense of commercialism or production line mentality. Associates and nurses and office staff are generally excellent.

6-2-03: Met Dr. Rosenthal and some of his staff at his information meeting today. The initial impression is one who is passionate about his work and more concerned with follow-up care than the nuumber of surgeries he completes. He spent a lot of time discussing the pros and cons of the surgery being quite specific about the risks. Even though he reassured us that he has had no deaths in over 700 surgeries, he was quick to state that many fine doctors from excellent practices have lost patients and he could not make any guarantees. I sensed that this is a very busy practice at a busy facility and that "time" with staff was going to come at a premium. It was a very detailed and concise overview of both the VGB and RNY preformed both open and lap (although almost 99% of his surgeries are performed lap). I am looking forward to my consult on June 6th.

I went to visit Dr Rosenthal at the Cleveland Clinic on June 3rd 2003. When I saw him I said to myself this man is going to save my life.. We had orientation in the morning which he stayed and answered all questions asked. He seems very caring and also very straight forward to make sure you know what you are doing. His staff such as Karen the nurse and his Assistant ( I never got his name right) were very helpful. I have done all the test completed by 6-23-03, and I have an appointment with Michelle the nutrionist on 7-9-03 which is cool to see her early.. So now its the waiting game to see when my surgery will be done. Still waiting on the call from the secretary for surgery date. Man I hate waiting. But its worth it.

Highly educated and very caring.My mother and I was very comfortable with him. I am very Happy that he will be doing my surgery.
His Nurse was very pleasant too.I feel that I am in Good Hands. He said after the surgery we will be seeing alot of each other. And that made me feel very comfortable too.He also told me of all the risk,and made them very clear to me.

I met with Dr. Rosenthal last month. And I absolutely love him and his staff. I have gotten all of the required tests done and am now just waiting on the schedule date and then he is going to go ahead and submit the request into the insurance. I am so excited. I have an appointment with his nutrionist Emily on 8/25 and that should be the last step.

Dr Samuel Szomstein, What can i say except that he is my angel and i could not have had a better angel. He is the most caring doctor I have ever had contact with and he is so gentle, nothing is surprising, he tells you exactly what to expect and when to expect it. The thing that most impressed me, Doctor Szomstein remembers every one of his patients name, and there are many, I have sent at least 5 people that i work with who are having the surgery and he will be doing it. The staff is very busy but also very caring.His aftercare has been nothing but excellent. Can't say enough about Dr Szomstein, he is the best ever, nothing can be said bad about him, he is almost perfect in my eyes.