Southeast Bariatrics

David Voellinger, MD, FACS, FASMBS

President, Southeast Bariatrics

Medical Director, Presbyterian Greater Charlotte Bariatric Network

Dr. Voellinger established Southeast Bariatrics in November 2005 after practicing General Surgery for three years with Charlotte Surgical Group. He now specializes exclusively in bariatric related surgeries, including gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, incisionless/endoscopic surgery, as well as revisions of previously failed previous bariatric procedures. Dr.  Voellinger has championed cutting edge surgical techniques for bariatrics including microlaparoscopy, single incision surgery and robotic assisted surgery.

Dr. Voellinger’s interest in weight loss surgery began during his fellowship where he recognized its life-changing potential at one of the largest bariatric surgery programs in the country. He also realized the ability of newer minimally invasive techniques to improve the patient’s surgical experience. It is his personal challenge to build one of the premier bariatric surgery programs in the region and to provide a compassionate, patient-centered environment that includes comprehensive multi-disciplinary pre-surgical education, quality surgical care, and intensive post-operative patient follow up. With his own personal struggles with weight loss, Dr. Voellinger has an appreciation for the struggles of each one of his patients.

 
Board certified: American Board of Surgery
Membership: American College of Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Residency: General Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham
Fellowship: Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
 

To contact Dr. Voellinger, please call 704-316-7760 or e-mail him at: dvoellinger@southeastbariatrics.com

 

 

Kathy Hampton

Practice Administrator

Kathy Hampton joined Southeast Bariatrics 12/17/10 as Practice Administrator. She has been in the medical field for 26 years with 23 years in practice management. Customer satisfaction is my number one goal. She is always open and available to listen to all of your suggestions and concerns.

To contact Kathy, please call 704-316-7765.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candace Bishop, PA-C, MBA

Physician Assistant 

Candace Bishop, PA-C, MBA joined SEB in January 2009. She received her B.S. in Biology at Pembroke State University and her Physician Assistant certification at Wake Forest University in 1999. The majority of her 10 years in practice have been spent in pain management and bariatric medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. Candace assists Dr. Voellinger in the operating room and in the clinic with post operative patient care, medical management, and smoking cessation. Candace’s interest in bariatric medicine comes from seeing the increase in the prevalence of obesity and the resulting health problems during her years in practice. She has also seen very positive change come from weight loss management, both surgical and non surgical. Candace is a local, originally from North Carolina and has lived in and around the Charlotte area her whole life. She enjoys traveling, running, biking and kayaking as well as spending time with her husband and 3 furry children.

To contact Candace, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: cmbishop@novanthealth.org  

 

Mary Sha Miller, RN, CBN, CCRP 

Clinical Research Coordinator

Mary Sha Miller joined Southeast Bariatrics in January 2008 as the Clinical Research Coordinator.  She attended the University of Mississippi where she discovered that working with people in a healthcare setting was truly her passion.  She graduated from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing at Queens University in 2005, and began her career as a Registered Nurse.  She worked on a post-surgical unit at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, where she was first introduced to the unique nature of bariatric patient care. 

It was that hospital experience that sparked Mary Sha’s interest in the bariatric community.  Bearing witness to patient’s diligence, hard work, and motivation to make a significant change in their life inspired her to investigate this specialized area of medicine.

Mary Sha feels privileged to be a member of the Southeast Bariatrics team with Dr. Voellinger. Her personal desire is to see the care of the bariatric patient population expanded throughout the healthcare community by positively promoting and actively participating in the field’s research. 

To contact Mary Sha, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: mmiller@novanthealth.org

 

 

Sarah Jones, BS

Exercise Physiologist

Sarah Jones is the Exercise Physiologist at Southeast Bariatrics.  She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Education, Fitness/Wellness track from Winthrop University. During her time spent at Winthrop, Sarah was involved with Zest Quest, a program designed to educate adolescents to live healthier lives. “It was empowering to know I was making a difference in the lives of the kids I was working with.” She is also a certified Health and Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine.

Prior to coming to Southeast Bariatrics, Sarah worked for the Greater Charlotte YMCA as a Lead Fitness Instructor. From the words of a member whom Sarah touched, “Sarah Jones is one of those rare individuals who love’s her job and it shows.  Not only is she knowledgeable about her particular field, but she is also attentive, caring and truly interested in the peculiarities of each individual she has to deal with.  I have been a member of the Y for the past five years and I can truly say that this is the first time I have been so consistently satisfied and impressed.” This passion is what makes Sarah a strong addition to the team here at Southeast.

Here at SEB, Sarah guides patients in developing a better understanding of their infinite fitness potential.  She teaches that you can do whatever you put your mind and body to, setting smaller more attainable goals to help you reach the bigger picture: Improved Health and Wellbeing! During the first assessment with Sarah patients set the baseline to track their successes throughout their journey to better health.  She also develops an exercise/physical activity plan tailored specifically for each patient based on their abilities, what they want/like to do, and what life will allow them to do.

To contact Sarah, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at sarah.jones@novanthealth.org

 

Dawn Buchanan-Gibson, CMA

Lead Clinical Assistant 

Dawn Buchanan-Gibson joined Southeast Bariatrics in August 2006 as a clinical assistant. She is also a post-op bariatric patient of Dr. Voellinger’s, and had a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in October 2005.

Dawn received her degree in Medical Assisting from King’s College in 1989. She went on to achieve certification from the American Association of Medical Assistants in 1990, and has many years of patient care experience.

Dawn became interested in bariatrics as a result of her own experience dealing with obesity and the struggle with weight management. She feels that her personal experience as a WLS patient enables her to relate -personally- with patients who are dealing with obesity, and feels that it is actually this experience that drew her to become a part of the Southeast Bariatrics team.

Dawn is honored to be working at Southeast Bariatrics, and is always available to give patients the extra support they need while working through the decision making process of having surgery, and to be a cheerleader for you post-operatively to celebrate in your weight loss achievement.

In her free time, Dawn enjoys reading, swimming, and spending time with her two daughters and her husband.

To contact Dawn, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: cdbuchanan@novanthealth.org

 

 

Karen Ramos, CMA

Certified Medical Assistant 

Karen Ramos has an extensive medical background as both a medical assistant and phlebotomist.  She has worked in the fields of internal medicine, gastroenterology, and cardiology.  She comes to Charlotte from upstate New York. Karen enjoys interacting with patients and encouraging them to continue with the success of their weight loss journey.  Karen graduated from Barclays Career Institute for Medical Assistants and Draughons College for phlebotomy technicians, and Boces Adult Education Program for EKG technicians.

 

 

 

  To contact Karen, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: kramos@novanthealth.org

 

Kim Gordon

Patient Relations, Non-Clinical Supervisor

Kim Gordon joined Southeast Bariatrics in March 2006 as a Patient Services Coordinator and is, herself, a former weight loss surgery patient of Dr. Voellinger’s. She had the Lap-Band surgery performed in June 2005.

Kim proclaims that the Lap-Band has changed both her life, and her outlook on life. Being heavy her whole life, Kim knows what it feels like to always be the ‘big person’ and she wants people to know that there are multiple weight loss options out there.

Kim has been in the Charlotte area since 1975. She started her professional career as a part time bank teller, where she enjoyed helping and meeting people. Due to a restructuring, Kim was recently laid off from Wachovia, where she had most recently been working as an Accounting Supervisor.

Anxious to find a new field where she could continue helping people, Kim mentioned her lay off to Dr. Voellinger. To her surprise, he offered her an opportunity to change careers. It is the best thing that has ever happened to her in her professional life.

Working at Southeast Bariatrics has given Kim the opportunity to help other people who are going through the same struggles she has had, and continues to face. Kim now feels a strong sense of fulfillment in her own life, and enjoys playing a role in her patients’ weight loss journeys. She is honored to be a part of the Southeast Bariatrics team, and looks forward to helping others feel as good about themselves as she feels about herself.

To contact Kim, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: khgordon@novanthealth.org

 

Mickey Barnett

Insurance and Financing

Mickey Barnett joined Southeast Bariatrics in November of 2005.  She is a graduate of York Technical College and has worked in the medical field for over 25 years.

Mickey’s strong experience in coding and billing for medical procedures and treatments has allowed our patients to successfully meet their insurance requirements and financial goals.  She enjoys working with each individual patient to streamline their pre-operative process and advocate for them by persistently working with their insurance companies to provide optimal outcomes. 

In her free time, Mickey enjoys tending to her horses, 4-wheeling and spending time with her two children and her husband.

 

To contact Mickey, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at mmbarnett@novanthealth.org

 

 

 

Lisa Lunsford-Drouin

Patient Accounts, Non-Clinical Supervisor
 
Lisa Lunsford-Drouin began her work in the field of bariatrics at the Presbyterian Center for Bariatric Surgery. She joined Southeast Bariatrics in 2007.  She has worked in the medical field for over 7 years as a Data Specialist, Insurance Specialist, Patient Relations Specialist and Account Manager. Prior to her medical career, Lisa was a successful Business Manager with well over 15 years of customer service experience.

Lisa’s specialty is in patient relations, front office customer service, and insurance claim processing and collections. She can assist you with billing and account statement questions, as well as payment contracts. Her goal is to streamline the financial planning process for our patients.

Lisa is excited to be working with the SEB team. She enjoys the opportunity to be a part of helping people change their lives.  She takes pleasure in seeing the sparkle in the eyes of patients as they begin to achieve their weight loss goals.

To contact Lisa, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: lldrouin@novanthealth.org

 

 

 Ginger Shrum

Patient Services Coordinator

Ginger Shrum has worked at southeast Bariatrics since June, 2008.  She had Gastric Bypass surgery five years ago and has lost over 90 pounds. Ginger has worked in the medical field since 1984.

Ginger thought about weight loss surgery for over three years before going to see a surgeon. She is pleased with her weight loss, but knows she will always work to balance her lifestyle to maintain her weight loss.  She makes informed choices about her eating habits and the importance of exercise.

Bariatric surgery is a subject dear to Ginger’s heart. She knows what it is like not to be chosen for teams in school due to weight and not have a boyfriend due to weight.  Ginger wants people who struggle with their weight to know that they are not alone and they do not have to accept the way the world sees them or treats them.  She is here to help any patient at SEB every step of the way even if it is just a phone call or email to of encouragement.  She knows how you feel as she has been there   Ginger wants to offer her services to help you live a healthy and full life. 

To contact Ginger, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: ggshrum@novanthealth.org  

 

Renae Angeloro 

Patient Services Coordinator  

Renae Angeloro has been with Southeast Bariatrics since 2006. She serves as a Patient Services Coordinator, and is responsible for performing the insurance and financial review with new patients. She has an extensive customer service and healthcare background. Renae is a post-op patient, and for as long as she can remember has struggled with her weight. At the age of 25, with a BMI of 44, Renae decided she needed help in transforming her life. She had a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in 2005. Renae has a new lease on life, and participates in activities she had only previously imagined. Her new found love is Salsa Dancing. She also has a great appreciation for art, which fuels her photography hobby. Renae is very close to her family, loves children, and looks forward to having a family of her own one day. Renae is excited to be a member of the Southeast Bariatrics team, and understands the anxiety involved in preparing yourself for Weight Loss Surgery. She hopes you will be encouraged to know that when you call the office you will be able to speak with many people who have gone through a similar experience to your own, and are eager to assist you on your journey.

To contact Renae, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: rlangeloro@novanthealth.org

 

 

Megan McAfee

Patient Services Coordinator 

Megan McAfee joined Southeast Bariatrics as a Patient Service Coordinator in March 2009, when she was looking to transition her career path from theatre (costume construction) to healthcare.  Originally from New Orleans, Megan spent the last 10 years living and working in Washington DC. In addition to her seamstress skills Megan is a Certified Massage Therapist. She enjoys working one on one with patients at the front desk and delights in watching as they progress on their journeys.

 

 To contact Megan, please call 704-316-7760, or e-mail her at: mimcafee@novanthealth.org  

 

 

 

Megan Mayes, RN

Registered Nurse

Megan joined Southeast Bariatrics in August 2010 as a Registered Nurse and currently operates as SEB’s Clinical Triage Nurse.  After graduating in 2009 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Megan began her nursing career working for the Neuroscience Institute at Presbyterian Hospital-Charlotte.  While caring for stroke patients, she discovered the importance of teaching patients to be proactive with their health and the strong need for patient education in regards to health prevention.

Megan’s strong desire of health prevention and patient education led her to pursue her nursing career in the office setting at Southeast Bariatrics.  She feels fortunate to be given the special opportunity to practice that desire with our patients, encouraging them throughout their journey and celebrating each achievement made along the way!

Megan is able to help any patient in the pre-operative or post-operative stage of their surgical process.  She welcomes any question and will gladly provide extra advice that may be needed!

To contact Megan, please call 704-316-7760 or e-mail her at mlmcswain@novanthealth.org