Remember

To Check Our
"Future Events" Page

for Up-coming Seminars
&
Guest Speakers

Hamot Bariatric Surgery Center is offering information seminars/support group meetings for weight loss surgery. There is no fee to attend and they are open to any one interested in obtaining information about weight loss surgery. The meetings are held one block from
the Hamot Medical Center at the:

Hamot Heart Institute
Main conference room
120 East 2nd Street
Erie, PA 16507

Free parking is provided. Refer to the Hamot campus map on the direction web page for parking locations and campus layout.

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The frequency of meetings has increased to three times a month since January 2005. We are offering two meetings for gastric bypass and one meeting for lapband.We encourage our patients to attend at least one meeting before making an appointment with Dr Ali or Dr Arreola and attend at least three meetings before proceeding with weight loss surgery. We also encourage our patients to attend these meetings for at least 6 months after surgery. If you have already decided the type of weight loss surgery, you do not need to attend meetings for the other procedure you are not interested in. However if you are not sure, you may benefit from attending both gastric bypass and lapband meetings. Although each meeting is geared towards a particular audience, there is always some overlap and patients are encouraged to attend as many of these meetings as possible in preparation for weight loss surgery.

If you have any questions about support group meetings, please contact the coordinators for the meetings at the information next to each meeting or call the general number for

Hamot Bariatric Surgery Center
(814) 877 6997.

LAP-BAND Support Group

This meeting is for patients who are interested in the lapband, or have had the procedure. Pre-op and
post-op patients are welcome to this meeting.

Hosted by

Heidi Gianaris
Bariatric Nutritionist
(814) 877-6970

In addition, Dr Ali will be present to answer questions about the proceedure.

6:30pm the 2nd Wednesday of each month

**Change In Plans For April Meeting**
Check the future events page for details

Pre-Op Gastric Bypass
Support Group

This meeting is available to all patients and those who are interested in surgical options for weight loss. The topics covered are usually of interest to those who are considering weight loss surgery or had weight loss surgery in the last 6 months.

Hosted by

Kristi Stoyer, RN
(814) 877-6970

In addition, either Dr Ali or Dr Arreola are present (Alternating months) to answer questions about
the proceedure.

6:30pm the 1st Wednesday of each month

Post-Op Gastric Bypass
Support Group

The topics covered in this meeting are usually
targeted to patients who had their surgery more than 6 months ago.

Hosted by

Ms Deborah Ramadanes
Patient Volunteer

In addition, either Dr Ali or Dr Arreola are present (Alternating months) to answer questions about
the proceedure.

6:30pm the 3rd Wednesday of each month