Kim Bariatric Institute Bariatric Center

My first impression was that he was going to be a very competent doctor and he is. I did, however, feel as though he had an underlying dislike for me due to my super obese status. I went in to the office at about 416 pounds. I lost around 15 pounds before surgery, but he wanted me to lose another 50. I got the feeling that he wasn't comfortable trying to do surgery on me at 400 pounds. I told him I was willing to have the surgery open, but he still seemed uneasy. It made me cry. When you've waited 3 years for surgery and you finally have a date and everything, hearing the surgeon ask if you could lose 50 pounds (which you've never been able to do before) is like a kick in the stomach. I don't think he understood that. Luckily, he was able to do the surgery Lap on my original surgery date and everything went fine. I developed a bladder infection the week after I got out of the hospital and was readmitted. After four days of antibiotics I was feeling great and was released. So far things are going well. Just don't question his advice or course of treatment and you'll be fine. He doesn't seem to respond well to that. He was very focused on the risks of surgery for me due to my higher weight and discussed them a lot. He also emphasizes aftercare and I hear that he's got a great support group, though I haven't been able to attend yet.
The office staff is incredibly helpful and nice. They were willing to put up with me when my fax machine died and I needed my FMLA paperwork faxed 3 times! Pam is the Bariatric Coordinator and she is amazingly helpful and nice! She is also very caring. She is easy to talk to and has lots of answers when you have questions.
Of course, all of this is my opinion, and does not mean to imply that anyone else will have the same type of experiences. As for the surgical competence of Dr. Kim, I do believe it is second to none.

My first impression of Dr. David Kim was "what a kind and caring person". I first met Dr.Kim as an employee in the hospital and saw first hand how he treats his patients and co-workers. He is very soft spoken, kind, respectful and caring. My impression of Dr. Kim has not changed one bit, I have known him for over a year now. His office staff is great, very friendly. Pam, the bariatric coordinator at North Hills Hospital is wonderful. She is there to help you every step of the way. Pam and Dr. Kim are there to support you after the surgery as well. The support group meets once a month and is so much fun and very helpful and informative.
Dr. Kim's credentials are very impressive. His surgical background is extensive.
Overall I think Dr. Kim is the BEST! He is the most caring doctor you will ever find. He will be your biggest fan. He is truly interested in making your life better.

Dr. kim seemed really nice. You really deal with his nurse, Pam. Any questions over anything, you ask Pam. All of my questions were answered. Really between Dr. Kim and Pam, they made this whole process almost effortless.

First impression was good. Careful and attention to details. Over time I am sure we will connect better but we are having some difficulty I think. Staff look and act very capabible. Pam is a great listener. What I know of Dr. Kim after ... For maybe of a total of 3-4 hour talking/listening to the doctor he seems very capable. He is careful to let you know this is just a tool. The rest is up to me. Overall I chose Dr. Kim because he has the background/experiance and team ... I am not being treated like one of many in a large facility. It's not fair for me to say the doctor is or isn't competent ... he has the credentials and has a good track record. Bedside manner seems good but even that is a personal thing. All that said (trying to stay objective) I recommend Dr. Kim.

My first impression of Dr. Kim was that he was so quiet spopken and very real, he didn't talk in terms that i did not understand. He was very approachable.
Dr Kim's office staff was wonderful too there was of course Pam then there was Erin and Jane. Very pleasnt. The thing i least like about the Dr is that he is so busy lol imagine that lol
i would recommend anyone to go see Dr Kim he is wonderful overall. He hasn't lost a patient yet and he does go over every detail about your surgery.

At my first meeting with Dr. Kim at the seminar, I knew he was the one to do my surgery. He is very approachable and kind. With time that feeling has grown. His staff is very kind and willing to help in any way they can. His nurse Erin is great and easy to talk to.
My surgery was August 23rd and I feel great as of being 2 weeks post op and 28 pounds lighter!!
His coordinator, Pam is great also. She does your pre op and is so kind and she makes you feel so comfortable. I would reccommend Dr. Kim and his Bariactric Staff to everyone...I am so glad I chose Dr. Kim. He wants his post op patients to get involved in the support meetings held each month...And you really want to go and see how everyone is doing and show them how well you are doing also....
I rate Dr. Kim a A+.

Went to the seminar earlier this summer. Dr. Kim seemed very knowledgeable and answered all questions. Pam has been great.
I will know more about all of them once i have my pre-op.

I LOVED HIM!! Very honest and up front with a hint of humor. I absolutely LOVED his corrdinator Pam. It was really refreshing to work with someone who actually did thier job and did what she said she was going to do. She had a tender and sensitive heart. Dr. Kim requires you to hold up your end of the bargin and if you don't he won't operate. He emphasized the aftercare as being critical! He is requiring me to attend all aftercare programs. The risks were laid down before me up front and clearly. Dr. Kim is extrmely thorough and very sweet. I have total confidence in him and find it refreshing that he was a vascular surgeon for several years before entering bariatrics. So with Dr. Kim I feel like I have superior surgical competence as well as great bed side manner.

Very impressed with Dr. Kim. He definitely knew what he was talking about. There were no questions asked from the audience that he stalled on answering or that he didn’t immediately know the answer.

He has a very good program with North Hills Hospital. The Bariatric program is very supportive and always there to answer your questions. Pam (bariatric coordinator) is an angel. She always has the answer and never makes you feel like that was a dumb question.
They do have support groups that meet once a month and I am looking forward to attending these meetings.

My husband and I attended one of Dr. Kim's orientation meetings in June. I had been uncertain about the procedure - I still thought that bypass surgery was only performed open. After spending 90 minutes with Dr. Kim and his staff, I was sold! I had already prepared much of my paperwork and Pam was so very helpful in working with Blue Cross. In two weeks, I had approval and will have surgery on July 26th! During my appointment with Dr. Kim and Greg (his PA), I asked numerous quesitons and as he did in the orientation session, Dr. Kim went over the risks with me in detail. As I am just beginning this journey, I can't tell you much more than that I have been VERY impressed with the professionalism, kindness and support that Dr. Kim and his entire staff have shown me. Wish me luck!