UMC Center for Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Bariatric Center

9/5/02 I had heard many different opinions about Dr. Baker. Most were that he was a tough gruff Dr with no bedside manner. Well, let me tell you something... THEY WERE WRONG!!! I think that the people who have said this went in wanting everything to be sugar coated for them. They had not accepted the fact that THEY played a HUGE role in getting where they were. Dr. Baker was nothing but SUPER nice to my husband and I and I love him dearly. I would not have been more confident in anyone else. He took care of me!!! Thanks Dr. Baker!!!

Dr. Baker was very thorough in explaining the procedure, possible risks, diet changes, vitamins and follow up.
He was very friendly and polite during the private consult after the main presentation. His staff was very friendly and professional and were very nice in their part of the presentation as well. There is nothing at this time that I don't like about Dr. Baker or his staff. He is against all carbonated beverages before and specifically afterwards and he test you the day of your consult. He also likes for you to take notes. He was very adamant about the follow up care and advised if you can't commit to that as well as eating right and vitamin supplements, DON'T have the surgery. He had a very detailed presentation of the risks of the surgery and his first statement was, "If you think what you are about to see and hear is to try to get you to change your mind, you're right." I do not have any opinion of his surgical competence or beside manner at this time since I haven't had the surgery yet. I do not have anything negative to say about Dr. Baker or his staff at this time due to having a very pleasant experience during the intial visit, but these are just my opinions and may be different from any one else.

My husband Michael and I met with Dr. Baker on April 25th. This was for Michael's consult. We were both very impressed with him, and felt he was very thorough in his explaination of the surgery and the risks. We had heard of Dr. Baker through a good friend who had the surgery two years ago. The office staff was friendly, however they are a little slow to answer e-mails we have found. I am sure they are very busy, but Michael's evaluation from Dr. Baker got lost somewhere, at least the insurance company never got it, and it took 3 phone calls and 2 e-mails to get it faxed from Dr. Bakers office to the medical review board of the insurance company....it was nearly two months after the evaluation before the insurance company had the letter, and they approved his surgery two days later. This has caused his surgery to be in October instead of the August or September we were hoping for, but we are just glad he is approved and scheduled. Now waiting for a call or letter from Dr. Baker's office to schedule my consult...I e-mail last week, after getting a copy of letter to Dr. Baker from insurance company two weeks ago asking for further information (including psyc.consult and dietary consult.) Hope to hear from them in next few days.

Dr Baker seemed like a really caring DR
I have not changed my opinion of him over the past year, if anything, I admire him more because he is very dedicated.
His staff is great also
I like DR Bakers real caring attitude. He smiles a lot.
I feel that this is a lifelong thing,,I would not even think of using another DR other than DR John Baker in Little Rock AR
He is very good about after care. He has a 5 year follow up plan.
Yes, it is structured.
Dr Baker is very upfront about the surgery and tries his best to talk you out of it.
Dr Baker is the greatest DR I have ever known.
Dr Baker has wonderful bedside manner and he is extremely competent.

I had my consultation with Dr. Baker on 7-25-02 after having dealt with his office staff for several months by email. The office staff were always prompt in responding to me. They were professional but a bit aloof. I figure the patient develops a relationship with the staff over time. Dr. Baker was professional and serious, with occasional dry humor. I had been very nervous about the appointment because I heard that he has the ability to make patients feel guilty etc. He asked some difficult rhetorical questions, such as "When are you going to start helping yourself?" but I felt the questioning along those lines were a sincere attempt to get the patient to examine herself and the changes that need to be made permanently. He stressed aftercare continually throughout his nearly two-hour presentation. He adamantly stated several times that if one doesn't want to come in for aftercare at (a minimum of at) 4 weeks, 6 mo. 9 mo, 1 year, and annually thereafter, then the person should NOT have the surgery. He was emphatic about the use of vitamins and supplementation and talked extensively about the risks of the surgery and the percentages of his patients that had experienced each. During the physical exam, I was impressed by Dr. Baker's care for me as a whole patient, a person, not just someone obese who needs to lose lots of weight. He inquired about breast self-exam, pap smears and even commented that while some freckles on my shoulder appeared normal that I take some pictures of them to compare over time to see if there were changes. He demonstrated a care for me as a patient and a quiet kindness and I am assured of his skill and competency as a surgeon. I was also impressed that he spent most of his time discussing the risks and aftercare of surgery. He was not trying to talk anyone into having the surgery by painting a rosy picture of it. I almost wish he would have spent more time talking about how losing the weight would change my life for the better, but he did state to me in my private consult that he believes in the surgery and what it does for patients. I could tell he wanted us to have a realistic view that it is a tool. He showed only one before/after picture so that we could focus on the changes we would have to make to make this work. When I get to the post-op side in a few months (hopefully October or so) I'll post any other comments.

I saw Dr. Baker for the first time April 25, 2002. After reading other people's profile about Dr. Baker, he wasn't like some people had describe. I thought he was nice and very informative about the surgery. He came in there and told us about the surgery the pros and cons and then he said "If it sounds like I am trying to talk you out of having the surgery, I am." He wants to make sure we are ready to change our lives. I went to my pre-op testing and the nurses were saying that Dr. Baker was one of the best.

I met Dr Baker for the first time yesterday morning 7-17-02. I am so very very glad that I chose him to do my surgery..
He is very together, I am very comfortable with the thought of him doing my surgery. He gave a presentation to four people, myself included. He is very straight forward and honest about this surgery. He gives you all the good things about it and all the bad things about it.. he gives you plenty to think about .
He is very structured on aftercare and followups, He said if your not going to do the follow ups there is no need in doing the surgery.
His office staff is great, love them all. I think you would really have to work hard, very hard in this area to find a better surgon, and I dont think you would succede. My son was there for the presentation also and he was totally impressed with Dr Baker, he feels much better about the surgery now.Havent seen the bed side manner yet but I expect it to be as good and as profession and as helpful as the meeting was yesterday.

5/10/02
I have not met Dr. Baker as of yet. I have completed a patient information packet and gone to my GP for so blood tests. I have a consultation scheduled for July 31st and a surgery date of August 12th. His office staff seem to be very nice and I look forward to meeting with him on July 31st.

Doctor Baker was great! My first visit, he gave a presentation to 4 people including myself. He then met with each of us individually to discuss our options and see what we really felt about ourselves and what we would encounter afterwards. He was very caring when I was in the hospital and took the time to answer my questions. He emphasizes the aftercare program and tells you in the initial interview that if you do not want to do the aftercare you should not have the surgery.

I have not met Dr. Baker yet, but I have had a positive experience with the staff. I am very nervous, my surgery is on April 9, 2002.

Well, I have met Dr. Baker now and he is awesome. I feel very safe with him as my surgeon. I think it will be an awesome experience. He is very dedicated and very serious about lifestyle changes. I will keep you posted on the experience!!!