Michael Schweitzer Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

Dr. Schweitzer was very understanding and helpful. If I had any questions he was more than happy to answer them for me. His staff is very friendly and helpful also. They helped me anyway out they could. There was nothing about this doctor I did not like. I would recommend him to anyone. He is very alert and careful. Dr. Schweitzer and his staff are absolutely wonderful. They are very understanding and compassionate.

I had my first visit with Dr. Schweitzer on July 10th 2002. I met Dr. Schweitzer and he asked me a few questions and told me that if I was a sweet-eater I would have better results with the LAP RNY. I was flabergasted! My mind went blank. I wasn't prepared for that...Thank God for email. He answers his own email...I have never known a Dr. that had email. I found him very knowledgable, professional, factual and confident. I have sent many emails and he answers every one!!!!

My surgeon is going to Dr. Michael Schweitzer of Sinai Hosp. in Baltimore
Dr. S was great he explained everything and answered all my questions. He made everything seem so simple. He has assured me that things are a lot easier if made plain and simple. So far I have found his words of simplicity to be true.
Dr. S staff was great, they all seem well informed about the process and for the most part they can answer any general question about befor and after care and procedures.
Currently the hospital will not support Dr. S idea of having a suppot group meet at the hospital, but he is changing hospitals, which he says will bring about several new changes that will be for the betterment of the patients. HE is going to Johns Hopkins as of Feb 1. As for bedside manner, I didn't see as much of Dr. S aftr surgery as I saw his staff of doctors. I did see him once daily. I would say that surgical competence would be of the greatest importance, certainly any undesireable bedside manner can be addressed later, but an incompetent surgen could cost someone thir life.

I liked him - he seems earnest and young, but very capable. He also received high marks in Baltimore magazine. The one "complaint" is that he constantly runs late... but when you're this busy, what can you do?

The office staff is okay, but realize he is leaving Sinai in January and going to Bayview (associated with Johns Hopkins).

It's hard to get an appointment with him. I booked in February and had my first meeting with him in June! Now I hear the appointments are being booked even further in advance!

He requires that you see a dietician, which is good. THere may be a different one at the new hospital, but the one at Sinai was very helpful. This isn't a regular dietician who talks to you about food choices - this is someone who's going to tell us how to eat post-op!

I haven't had the surgery yet, so I'll answer some of the other questions later. But so far he seems very thorough.

My first impression of Dr. Schweitzer was one of reassurance. He was warm, friendly, and personable. The morning of my initial consultation was hectic. I was originally scheduled for a January date but traded with my friend. One of the receptionist gave me a hard time about the switch but Andrea managed to put all of the details together for me. The doctor was late seeing me but made his sincere appologies saying that he was longer in surgery than expected. Though this was my first meeting with Dr Schweitzer, I am familiar with his work because he performed the surgery on my youngest daughter and ex-husband. Both have loss in excess of a hundred pounds since January. Dr. Schweitzer explained that he was backlogged with cases and wouldn't rush any of them. He said that my surgery would most probably take place in the Fall. He advised me that most African-American patients do not fare as well with the lap-band surgery and that he wouldn't reccomend that particular procedure for me. Having researched all of the methods at my disposal, I was most interested in the RNY procedure done laproscopically. The doctor said he would only cut me if there were complications. We discussed the risks associated with the surgery and I assured him that I understood fully. I also inquired of him as to the age of his oldest patient because I want to encourage my mother to have the surgery as well.
There is a structured after care program. I understand that he wants to know the whereabouts of all of his patients for perpetuity. I have no dislikes with Dr. Schweitzer. I found him to be honest, considerate, and efficient, traits important to me as a patient. I will rate him again after my surgery on October 28th.

1] Nice, professional, cautionous, I think that he is caring, supportive and continues to care, even if I have switched Doctors, due to distance, as I have moved, he still keeps in touch with email.
2] Office staff nice, slow, but then again, it is a very being office, so no wonder.
3]That he is caring and what;s to make sure that you know everything before having the surgery, he has watch movies, meet with the dietian and makes sure you know everything, complications, lifestyle changes, eating habits, etc. all before the surgery. Also most Drs. make you come in several times before the surery, due to the distance from him, he and his staff worked with me to make me come for only one visit before the surery and any added blood test was done the morning I arrived at the hospital, he left my primary care phy. do the routine blood tests and xrays himself and faxed the results to him. He cared about my convience which is very unusal for a dr. I know as I am an RN. I would rate him a 25 on a scale of 0-10

My first impression Of Dr. Schweitzer was that he looks young.. The visit went really fast for the time it took to get the initial appointment.His Office Staff is Top Notch and I wouldnt have asked for a better group of people..I have nothing negative to say about the doctor or his staff. You must alway remember they are human beings and have more then there share of duties to take care of.Be patient you will have your turn..My surgery date is set for Oct.21st 2002..I will give you more information once I have surgery..

I met Dr. Schweitzer on July 31, 2002. I was fortunate to slip into a cancelled appt. slot, because my original appt. date isnt until Dec. Dr. Schweitzer is a very popular guy, particularly now that he is doing the lap-band. I believe he is the only surgeon in Md. doing it at this time.

During my appt., I watched a very informative video and then met with Dr. Schweitzer. He is young and seemed very easy going, but he certainly has the credentials and reputation behind him. My understanding is that he developed the lap-rny during his residency. I have elected to have the lap-band and though he has only been doing this procedure for a short time, I have the utmost confidence in his capabilities.

About the office staff, they are very busy and can be a bit stressed out, but I believe the secret to success is to deal with Andrea. She knows what she is doing and if you are nice and persistent, but not too pushy, she will do what she can to help you get an appt.

I am currently waiting on insurance approval. I have been told by Andrea that my letter has been submitted and I will be following up regularly.

One of the most important steps in this process is to be proactive. These people are very busy and if you dont stay on top of things, I think you will be waiting a long time for results.

august 8 2002...I called the office to make sure everything was on course for surgery on monday august 12 2002. the doctor cancelled my surgery so he could take a vacation. this is the second time he has cancelled my surgery so he could work less. the main problem with him is he works for a hospital and does not run his own office he gets his paycheck if he does or does not please his patients. i hope anyone looking into him will keep looking. dont waste your time with him.

I met Dr. Schweitzer in his office in February 2002. He is very young (about 35ish) and very matter-of-fact. I had done so much research that I really didn't need much time with him to ask questions, so after a quick physical exam, "we" decided that I needed open RNY. (I had had multiple open and lap surgeries and my BMI was 62, so a lap procedure was impossible.)I left the office and decided to start on the things I would have to do after surgery, and began to drink my water (64 to 80 ounced daily), take vitamins, etc. By the end of March, I was approved and had all my pre-op stuff either done or scheduled if it couldn't be done ahead. The next time I saw Dr. Schweitzer was in the pre-op area the morning of surgery. He was much more personable that morning. In fact, every time I see him, he is more personable. I think he waits to see if you actuallly have surgery before he "invests" himself too much. I think he is an excellent surgeon, and I had lots of complications (adhesions, liver problems, bleeding, seromas, trouble with morphine, etc.) The one thing that is bad about the entire situation is the staff. The nutritionist is very young and inexperienced with WLS patients. You must have a nutritionist, and a visit prior to surgery with her/him. There is a wonderful one that is affiliated with the Saint Agnes program and has an office in Columbia, MD (Arlene Swatko). I believe that Sinai (which is where Dr. S is)will eventually have all the bells and whistles for the program, but first they had to have proof that this surgical program would bring in the bucks, I guess. I have just heard that they are adding a nurse-practitioner to the staff, and so far they have gone through four or five secretaries and assistants. Hopefully, things will get better staff-wise, but Dr. S and his surgical team are wonderful.

When you call in for an appointment, you are sent a packet of paperwork that includes a handout about the types of surgery provided and some questions and answers to them. When you go in the first time, you sit in a room and watch a video covering the same type of things. Then you have the appointment with Dr. S., and if you are a candidate for the procedures, you set up nutrition and psychiatric screenings. I also had a mammogram, a bone density and a chest x-ray done because I needed them anyway. After the screenings, your packet is sent to your insurance carrier. After approval, you schedule a history and physical with your physician, and a type and screen at the hospital for 48 to 72 hours prior to your surgery date and time. After that, you are ready to have this surgery and start your new life!!!