David von Rueden Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

My surgeon is David Von Reuden of GBMC hosptial in Towson, Maryland. I met Dr. Von Reuden one time at my first preop visit. I haven't seen him since. Sloane, is great she answers all of my question and is very knowledgeable. Cathi is a wonderful person anytime I called with hestirical questions she answers them or return my called. Sherri always smiling when I talked to her and Carolyn was magnificent in helping me get approval from my sinsurance company. I would not trade them in for anybody. Dr. Von Reuden is a very busy man and I know he will take good care of me.

Everything about the experience--pre to post-op--has been excellent. Staff knows its business and I always felt comfortable talking about my concerns. The proof is in the "pudding"--I look and feel great thanks to Dr. Von Rueden and his staff.

Hospital stay (Greater Baltimore Medical Center) was excellent, except for one scary nurse. But she was no match for me, or my surgeon!

Thanks for giving me my life back.

I had a positive consultation with Dr Von Rueden. His office staff are very kind and knowledgeable. So far, I rate him and his team very highly.

Post-op Update: Dr. Von Rueden and his staff are THE BEST!!! He is extremely thorough and they are always there is you need them. I can't say enough good things about him and his excellent staff.

He was so quiet and reserved but there is this aura of caring around him.
He's super funny just not in an loud and outlandish way.
the office staff is so wonderful. Willing to put up with call after call from me. And yes, I called alot.
He is wonderful with the aftercare. Very active in your choices but still smart enough to realize we are adults and are going to in the long run do what we want.
His aftercare is extremely structured. I never have to guess about what is and isn't ok and what is and isn't expected.
He's really upfront about the risks that come along with this surgery. No pussyfooting around the issues that really matter to us.

The only thing I can say is that for me sometimes the quietness can be taken as standoffishness. Its not at all but it can be taken that.

I first met Dr Von Rueden when I went to one of his information meetings at GMBC after he first came to Baltimore and I loved him. He was very nice and listened. His meeting was very informative. I then scheduled a consult and now like him even more and his staff are extremely nice. I have not had surgery but he comes highly recommended and I have no doubt things will go wonderful before and during and after surgery! I am one week post op and I can say that Dr VR was wonderful and GBMC is great!

Dr. vonRueden and his staff are great, very helpfull, always there for you and they make you feel like you are important to them. I had visited another Dr. before him and I believe that I have made the best choice by going with him and his staff. I know that I am never alone and there is always someone there to help me if I am having a hard time and a problem.

Dr. Von Ruden was great. At first he was very quiet but but you could tell he wanted to help you.He mad you feel confident the more you spoke with him the more of his personailty you would see.The office staff is awsom you could get an oppintment any time you needed to see Dr. Von Ruden the realy care about each and every patient.This Dr. and staff emphasize after care !!!!! And they try extreamly hard to keep everyone in the suport group informed about all the meetings and events even if you drift away.Dr.Von Ruden was very upfrount about all of the risks of surgery.( Dr.Von Ruden and his staff are one of the best experiences you could have this is a tough surgery and suport is allways there for you!!! ( Dr. Von Ruden is now at the Baltimore office. )

I have researched a number of surgeons in the Baltimore/DC areas for more than a year, and have attending various informational meetings. One of the Dr's in the DC area, Dr. Barry Greene, really impressed me, but the travel time was @1 1/2 hrs. A fried told me they had heard that GBMC (which is much closer and my first pick for a hospital in the Baltimore area) had a new surgeon.

Dr. von Reuden just began practicing in Baltimore at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Towson MD this past year (I believe since Feb'04). Because of this, he was not on my radar screen at first and I could not find as much about him.

GBMC is one of the better hospitals and is my #1 choice in the Baltimore area hospitals (I have had several out-patient procedures, and the staff has consistently been very good). I learned that GBMC had sought him out and asked him to come down from Wynnewood, PA to begin a new Weight Control/Bar iatric Center at their hospital. Dr. von Reuden said that they will be applying to be recognized as one of the "Centers for Excellence." I also learned that many of his patients from PA have stayed with him and are making the 1 1/2-2 hr. commute.

My first impression of Dr. von Reuden was a very good one. He seemed sincere, knowledgeable and confident. I asked him the hard questions right up front (mortality rate) and he did not get defensive (he said that one of his early patients had died from a pulmonary embolism). He said that he has performed 150+ RYN's. I know some may not like it, but I was glad to see that he requires a great deal of pre-testing (which can save your life), and also that he keeps a drainage tube in for the first few days after surgery (which can also help to detect and lower complications if there were any leakage).

I was even more impressed after my first appointment. His staff is excellent.

Unlike some of the other doctors I had looked at he accepts most health insurances, and only charges the normal co-pay (Dr. Roe wanted $500 up front, and Dr. Schweitzer, Johns Hopkins Bayveiw, doesn't accept any insurance).

Dr. von Reuden also has a free professional counselor on staff.

I'll do a follow-up post as I continue to surgery (on 1/20/04)

3/3/05 -- I just wanted to add some post-up info. My impression and confidence of Dr. von Rueden as a thorough and highly skilled surgeon only increased after my surgery. I was VERY impressed with his surgical team. I had an anesthesiologist who specializes in high-risk surgeries, and a second surgeon who specializes in pulmonary surgery. My surgery went very smoothly. After the surgery, Dr. von Rueden was very attentive and has a very good bedside manner. When I went home I needed to page him 2x and he responded both times within minutes. When I had early nutritional and non-emergency questions, his staff, especially his Nurse Practitioner, Cathy, were always quick to respond and thorough.

Dr. von Reuden is not a "talker," he's strikes me as an introvert. He tells you what you need to know and will answer all your questions (so have them prepared before you meet with him). He is kind, and does not come off arrogant (as some other surgeons I’ve met, so this was important to me. I wanted to know that my surgeon would value my concerns) Most importantly, he is highly skilled – and in the end, this is what mattered to me the most. I highly recommend Dr. von Reuden.

I'm very impressed with Dr von Rueden's manner and his expertise. His staff are friendly and knowledgeable.
He is very thorough and non-rushing, answering every question and giving information I hadn't even thought of. He is no longer in PA, but Baltimore, Maryland at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, GBMC.
Each patient must attend a workshop and receive a binder which is gone over and answers many questions. Aftercare is a must and follow up is thorough. Although I am scheduled a month from now, I know others who have had surgery done by him. All are doing splendidly.

I went to my info seminar. I was truely impressed with him. He has such compassionate eyes. His staff was incredible. He jumped right in and answered questions (even the hard ones). I think I will enjoy working with him and his staff! I would rate this staff top notch!