Meet Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Jessee and Her Team
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Meet Dr. Jessee - Bariatric Surgeon
Dr. Tiffany Jessee is the only female Adjustable Gastric Band surgeon in the state of Florida!
Dr. Jessee completed medical school in her home state of West Virginia in 1997. She then moved to Largo, Florida where she completed a one year rotating internship as well as her four year general surgery residency. In 2002 she traveled to Coral Gables, Florida for a one year fellowship in advanced laparoscopy and bariatric (weight loss) surgery. Dr. Jessee is one of the only fellowship trained surgeons practicing in the Tampa Bay area. She also has the distinction of being the first surgeon in the world to use a new single incision laproscopic technique called the "Laproscopic Spider" for placement of the Band.
She studied under the direction of Moises Jacobs M.D. and Eddie Gomez M.D. Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Gomez are two of the top laparoscopic surgeons in the world. Dr. Jessee trained extensively in the LAP-BAND® and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. She opened her practice in Largo, Florida in August 2003. She performed the first LAP-BAND® in Pinellas County.
Dr. Jessee is one of only a few surgeons in the Tampa Bay area invited to place the REALIZE™ (Johnson and Johnson) banding system, since approval by the FDA in 2007. Dr. Jessee is proud to be associated with Palms of Pasadena’s Bariatric Center of Excellence in St. Petersburg, FL.
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Dezi is a new member to the Sun Coast Bariatrics team. She is a licensed Physician Assistant who will be working closely with Dr. Jessee to provide our patients with exceptional care. Dezi has over 9 years experience as a Physician Assistant. She has worked in orthopaedics providing patient care as well as performing procedures and providing surgical assistance. Dezi has also worked in the Emergency Room which has prepared her for any situation that may arise! Dezi looks forward to caring for patients that are working toward their goal of permanent weight control.
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Meet Pat Pedersen, RD, LDN, CDE
Pat is one of the new members of the Sun Coast Bariatrics team, recently moving here from North Carolina. She is the nutritionist for the program and will provide nutrition counseling before and after your weight loss surgery. She has extensive experience in weight management, diabetes, cardiac care, oncology and community education and wellness. She is also a Certified Diabetes Educator.
The nutrition component at Sun Coast Bariatrics was developed to ensure that patients are prepared for their weight loss surgery and the diet and lifestyle changes that accompany it. Pat enjoys her rewarding career and building lifelong partnerships with her patients who are trying to lose weight to achieve a better quality of life. She is proud to be a part of the Sun Coast Bariatrics team.
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As the Patient Concierge, Chaz works with patients from the beginning of their weight loss surgery experience, and is active in the areas of patient support and the Gastric Banding Informational Seminars. He ensures that all of your questions are answered, and that your process is as simple and enjoyable as possible.
Being a successful "Banded" patient himself since December of 2003, he is a wonderful resource for our patients and has a wealth of experience to share. Prior to taking on his position as our Patient Services Representative, he had also worked in our office as a Medical Assistant. He is a licensed C.N.A./ H.H.A., as well as certification from both the Realize and Lap-Band educational conferences.
Chaz says "I feel privileged to be in the position to help inform and mentor other people who are Banded or considering this procedure. It has been one of the greatest blessings in my life!".
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Michelle is a welcomed addition to the Sun Coast Bariatrics team. As Dr. Jessee's assistant, she works closely with patients to educate them and help them toward success. She focuses on teaching patients how to use nutrition, exercise and behavior modification to maximize the results achieved through their new surgical "tool". Whether it's the tasty recipes she keeps available for patients in the lobby, the sound nutrition advice, or just a shoulder to lean on, Michelle makes herself available to patients to make sure they get the most out of their weight loss journey. The reason Michelle understands our patients so well is because she is weight loss surgery patient too! Michelle has lost 150 lbs. since her surgery in 2005 and has maintained that weight loss! She is an experienced support group leader and recently became certified in Zumba, a fun and energetic dance class! Michelle's mission is to not only maintain her own weight loss, but to help our patients achieve similar life-changing results.
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Meet Dr. Joseph Baum, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Baum earned his Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Florida in 1988. His doctoral work focused on evaluating effective weight-loss behaviors. Dr. Baum has been a licensed Psychologist since 1989 and is in private practice in Saint Petersburg, Florida. He has enjoyed working extensively with patients pursuing weight loss surgery for the past 8 years and continues to devote a large part of his practice to assisting patients prepare for and succeed with weight loss surgery.
425 22nd Ave N, Ste B Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 (727) 894-9777
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Meet Dr. Allen Lindsay, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Allen Lindsay was born and raised in the Chicago area. Educated in Illinois at Augustana College, and in New Mexico at the University of New Mexico where he received his Ph.D., and specialized in Neuropsychological and the biological basis of behavior. He completed his Internship at the University of Mexico and his Post-doctoral fellowship at Bacharach Rehabilitation Hospital in New Jersey specializing in Neuropsychological and Rehabilitation Psychologically.
In 2000 he began conducting Bariatric psychological evaluations. Over this time-span he has evaluated over 500 candidates for surgery. He has collaborated with a number of surgeons and authored research in the area of Psychological aspects of Bariatric Surgery and presented papers in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Salamanca, Spain at the International Bariatric Society meetings. He has been conducting Bariatric Support groups for the last 7 years helping others to develop a sense of trust in the process of self-growth, weight loss and lifestyle change.
1609 Pasadena Ave South, Ste 4M, St. Petersburg, Florida 33707 (727) 341-1402
Our psychologists are eager to assist you in reaching your personalized weight loss goals and lifestyle change. Each assessment is designed to educate, guide, and facilitate your presurgical process so things run as smoothly as possible with your bariatric surgeon, Dr. Jessee
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