Leena Khaitan, MD, MPH, FACS Bariatric Surgeon Director, Bariatric Surgery

I really like Dr. Khaitan and the services she and her office staff provided on my initial visit. They are very thorough, and provided me with a very detailed list of what documentation my insurance company requires so I can be as complete as possible from the start. This practice (Emory Bariatrics) has a very comprehensive pre- and post-surgery program, and I feel blessed to have been led to this surgeon and this group of physicians.

She seemed very professional and expects a strict committment from the patients. The office itself was slow and overcrowded. The people seem nice enough. She scared me with two explanations of the procedures by two different people and the focus on the 1.7% that die from the surgery. After much time though I have decided to take the risk as I have tried on my own with limited results.

I have met Dr Leena Khaitan one time. She was nice but more worried about expressing how permanant this surgery is. She is a stickler for the rules, weight loss prior to surgery, working out 1 hour a day etc...
Two interns came in prior to Dr Khaitan and explained the RNY in detail drawing pictures of the proceedure before the Dr came in. I think they scared me more than her. LOL
She stressed the possible dangers a lot and that scared me too.
I like her ok and hope all will go well for me. I know she is serious about WLS.
The office staff seemed friendly but hurried and the office was PACKED. Took a long time to get in to see the Doctor.
I love a Dr with good bedside manner BUT if I had to chooseonly one I would choose a Dr with less bedside manner and more knowledge and experience.

My first impression of Dr. Khaitan was that she is very conservative. However, on the flip side of that, she is very sweet, and seems to really care about her patients. I have only had one visit with her, but so far I don't really have anything negative to say. I decided on her for a simple reason. When I called Emory Bariatrics about having a consult with her, I was told that I would have to attend a mandantory seminar first, and that it would be after the first of the year before I could get into one. Well, I emailed Dr. Khaitan to introduce myself to her and mentioned the long waiting list. I also told her about my health. She emailed me back the very next morning and said that she would make sure I was in the next seminar. In two weeks time I attented that seminar. That sealed the deal right there for me. She is so awesome in that respect. How many busy surgeon's will actually take the time to email a patient they know nothing about. That just blew me away. Once I have the surgery I will post more here about her.
February 1, 2005. Update
I just wanted to add that I love Dr. Khaitan now more than ever. She has no problem telling you what you need to do, and as I found out she has no problem praising you for a job well done. I lost the ten pounds she wanted me to lose plus. She was very happy with me. Told me I was going to be her superstar for 2005. I have nothing bad to say about her. My surgery is tomorrow. I would rate her an overall of 10.

I have met her twice--in the required lecture and in the office for my step 2 visit. I am scheduled for my step 3 visit--this is when I will actually receive my surgery date. (I must have surgery by 4/3/05.) Dr. Khaitan was very no-nonsense and straight forward --something I desired. I am a healthcare worker and have read and studied so much about WLS over the last year so having a very supportive and informative doctor is favorable. She discussed the risks, benefits, long term committment--and the fact that WLS is a tool--not a cure. They do have a aftercare program in which I will follow-up with a bariatrician for a year--and a local doctor and support group for my "in-town" care. Surgical competence is number one in my estimation--although I also thought her personable. Bessie and Constance (office staff) have been very supportive and encouraging. I did wait for a couple of hours to see her on my step 2 visit. Overall I would rate her on a 0-10 scale a 9.

Dr. Khaitan is a wonderful surgeon and her bedside manner is great. She was very much emotionally involved (she cried with me a couple of times). Her secretary is fabulous, Mrs. Judy worked very hard on helping me get approved for the surgery. I would recommend Dr. Khaitan to anyone , she is an absoulute angel. The night after surgery she visited me and I woke up and she was crying over my bed. She was estatic with the results. My case was very difficult due to a prior banding put on and the scar tissue from several prior abdomenal operations. She advised me of problems I would most likely encounter. I saw a nutritionist and learn about what foods I would be able to eat and what not to eat... There were alot of risks with my surgery because of all the prior operations. She addressed all risks to me. She is the best doctor I have ever met in my life. Her reputation and bedside manner are fabulous.

Very Personable informed and willing to answer questions.
Staff is great one on one, but if you go through the Emory Clinic, it can become a headache. Explained the risk and possible complications, aftercare has come up short.

She was really very nice and sweet. She was very concerned about me losing wieght before I had the sugery. She felt @ first that I would not be able to suceed. But I showed her wrong. Once, I proved to her that I was able to loose 10lb before sugery. She wanted me to loose 5lbs I doubled that! Her staff was very rude and that kept loosing my information. They were very discouraging. What I liked about her least is at times when she would make me feel like she was not on my side. Anyone that uses her just make sure you stay on her office staff and keep up with dates and times. Keep copies of everything!!!!! Her after care was auwful no one ever checked on me . Everytime that I had to go to the emergency room back and forward . She address the risk of sugery strict and staright to the point! She mainly stressed that you could die from it!!!!! I would rate her after all a 4. I would like to have both excellent bedside manner and surgical competence. Because, they both are very important!!!!!

My first impression of Dr. Khaitan was that I would get along well with her. Over time, I like her more. She is a very thorough physician. Dr. Khaitan's staff is very knowledgeable. The lest thing I like(d) about Dr. Khaitan is that she tends to run behind on her clinic hours. Any patient going to see Dr. Khaitan will endure a wide rate of tests; all of which are for your protection. I felt very comfortable with having my surgery after receiving a complete exam plus, endoscopy, blood work, chest x-ray, pulmonary function test, and a stress test. She stresses aftercare and has a structured aftercare programs. The risks of surgery were covered several times prior to surgery. She and her staff provide a lot of material and at the appointment where she gives you a surgery date, you are required to sign a release form, which has all of the risks. Overall, I would rate Dr. Khaitan a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Her beside manner and surgical competence rate equally.

Dr Khaitan, seem to be very compassionate and sincere. I met her at a seminar Emory Hospital gives for information on the surgery. She came in and spoke with us and I was impressed with her and how she presented the disease of obesity. When I went to my first office visit I could tell she was very straight forward and want the best for her patiences. She laid down some ground rules and suggestions on my first visit. I have had a hard time in following them, but that was not any fault of hers. Her staff was very pleasant, the office visit did take a long time that is one thing I didn't like, I had a appointment at 3pm and didn't see her until 5:30pm. That was hard because I had a friend with me who also needed to go home to see about her own family. I felt she was very good at explaining the process the before and after care. She also requested that I tell her what I know about the procedure so she could make sure I understood what was going on. She did talk about the risk, and was very clear about it. This all makes me nerves but I am going to continue on. I believe surgical competence is the most important, however, bedside manner does make a person feel more confident in their doctor.