Julio Bird IV Bariatric Surgeon MD

Surgery in general has always interested Dr. Julio Bird IV, he said, because it allows for medical problems to be resolved quickly. Bariatric surgery for overweight people goes that one better. “They can often be taken off some of their medications and they just feel better all around,” he noted. “Bariatric surgery can often extend their life span.” It isn’t for everyone, however, because it does require a commitment to a major change in lifestyle. Patients must go through an approval process that includes a psychological profile. Dr. Bird is a native of La Crosse, where his parents still live. He heard often about the quality of Marshfield Clinic. He earned his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri. He completed a general surgery residency at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Chicago and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation in La Crosse. He most recently completed a fellowship in bariatric surgery at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center/Minnesota Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Crosby, Minnesota. He enjoys golf, mountain biking and spending time with his family. He and his wife, Heidi, a registered nurse, have three children.

• Wen Hui Tan — Milwaukee, WI