Johns Hopkins Obesity Surgery Center Bariatric Center

My first impression of Dr. Schweitzer was that he seemed a bit young, but yet he was very knowledgeable and made me feel comfortable.

It has been difficult reaching him, as he is changing his office from Georgetown University Hospital to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. I do not know why he is changing hospitals. I believe he has only been at Georgetown since November 2000. He moved there from Richmond. Dr. Schweitzer has been communicating with me via email.

Dr. Magnuson was nice and was willing to answer my many questions, even by e-mail. I did a lot of research so I knew about the risks but he had no trouble dispelling what was a real concern and what was not. His secretary, Geri is really nice and helpful. I have an appointment with the Weight Loss Management Center at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center two weeks before my surgery and I will continue to see them after my surgery is completed. Dr. Magnuson also has a surgery support group that meets once a month on the second Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

I met with Dr. Magnuson in January, 2001, and liked him immediately. He is very personable, trained at Mayo Clinic, answered all my questions, and told me I was an excellent candidate for surgery. He was very open about the complications and who was most likely to encounter them and why. He was upbeat about insurance coverage and the process I would need to go thru.

His secretary, Geri, is very friendly and helpful. She had my insurance request ready so fast it made my head spin! She is willing to work closely with my pcp to ensure the insurance company gets everything they need up front.

I am very comfortable with Dr. Magnuson, which for me is half the battle as I am not particularly fond of the medical establishment...but this is different! I am just starting the official processing, but so far, so good. Dr. Magnuson invited me to contact him regarding any further questions I might have, and even gave me his email address.

I was very impressed with Dr. Magnuson. He answered all my questions and gave me a realistic idea of what I expect. I have my meeting with the nutritionist soon and will receive all the post-op diet info. I realize it's a life change and I must adapt to the changes, but its worth it to me. I am a single mother and its important to me to be healthy! Mr Magnuson's staff was great! His secretary handled everything and I was approved in less than 2 weeks! Amazing!

Had my first consult with Dr. Magnuson today (5/14/01). He was great. Explained everything in easy terms to me and my husband. Answered all my questions, did not rush us. He has very good before and after care, support group, nutritionist, etc. He told me very clearly all the risks involved.
I had already had a consult with Dr. Joseph Afram in Wash. DC, who made me feel like a dollar sign walking in his office. I didn't feel that way at all with Dr. Magnuson. He seemed to really care about me, the patient.

Even though I have only met the surgeon once I had a sense that he was the right surgeon for me. He took time to explain everything to me even though I told him I had done alot of research. His secretary Geri is wonderful and has never hesitated to answer one of my many question. Both Dr. Magnuson and Geri knew alot of information on my insurance and was very informative about the prospect of me getting approval. When I scheduled my surgery the made sure I alse set up to see a nutritionist and informed me that I should go to the support group.

He appeared to be very young which was scary to me. He seemed quite preoccupied, but the doctors who perform this surgery are extremely busy. He was very good attentive when he made his rounds while I was in the hospital after the surgery. He was very interested in how my weight loss was progressing and in the healing of my incisions. The nurses in that particular office are very nice. I liked him very much after a couple of visits with him. He is a very good doctor. I have kept in contact with him even though he has moved to another hospital. He insisted that I keep up with my annual visits so they could keep track of my health and also to provide information to them about how the surgery worked for me. He went over what the risks were in my first visit to him. Excellent surgeon. His surgical competence is much better than his bedside manner.

Doctor Magnuson is a bright, young surgeon.
I met hom only one time, but Ihave been in
touch wiht his office. They have been very
helpful in answering questions and guiding me
to the resources I need. I live in Conn. and
will be having surgery in Baltimore. His office
has kept me inform on the resource and people
I will nee here to help.

When I met with him, he had information to take
and read. He answered questions and asked manyy
about the resources and type of care my primary
phycian was offering me. He was very careful
to let me know that all surgery is a major risk
that even with the hig success rate, if I happen
to be the one who has trouble, I and my family
will not care about all the other success. He
explained the various types of problems that
can happen. Everyone at Johns Hopkins offered
a very positive attitude, but they alos spoke about
the problems that can happen. I received written
information about both, the positve and the
negative.

It is long way to go to Johns Hopkins. I am
concerned about getting back to CT after surgery.
I usually take the train and do this in two days.
My sister will be coming with me and we will
drive to Baltimore. I feel I need the control
to stop and get out of the car when I need
a break. I, of course, do not have that
control on the train.

I would like to the number of times I will
need to return to Baltimore as follow ups.
THe best answer I get is three or four times.
This does not hlep me plan my life in CT as a
teacher.

My first impression of Dr. Schweitzer is that he seemed much younger than his picture on his website. He seems quite capable. I have been very impressed that he takes the time to answer each question without blowing you off. I'm not too impressed with Georgetown University Hospital, but he is moving to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, which is a much nicer drive. I have sent him two emails since my office visit and he has responded quickly. His "book" on before and aftercare of bariatric surgery was the big deciding factor for me. It was very detailed and exact in what I would be doing on a daily basis after surgery. So far, I don't have anything negative to say, and don't expect to have.

He was very friendly and professional and knew alot about this surgery. He performs this type of surgey 3 times per week. They had a packet of information for me about the surgery, he explained the process of the operation to me. He was very helpful.

His assistant was very friendly and knew about the insurance companies games. It took only 3 weeks for authorization to come through. She called me at work to tell me that the surgery was scheduled. It happened pretty quickly and that is what is important to me.

I do have to meet with the dietician to discuss what I will be eating after the surgery and I have to have some blood work done prior to the surgery.

I will be following up with him several time over the months following the suregery, to make sure everything is well. It is a set program that they follow with their patients that have this suregery.

He informed me of the different risks of the surgery. I initially wanted to have the laparoscopic surgery and he advised me that he does not do this type of surgery fro this operation yet. He is the Chief of Surgery for John Hopkins so I was sure he knew what he was talking about. He said the reason he doesn't do it yet is because it is so new and he said that the risk for infection and leakage is higher with this surgery. With the open surgery they are able to get their hands on it everything and see that it is all completely sewn up. I was more comfortable with knowing that I was going to have the open surgery when he told me it is safer and that the opening is only going to be between 4 and 5 inches long.

I will rate him overall once this is all said and done.