Brad Pickhardt Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

Dr. Pickhardt is a wonderful doctor...i can not say enough positive things about him, Connie and Renee. The are a well oiled machine when it comes to the 3 of them working together as a team..real positive, caring ,funny, honest, hardworking, a really there for you. I was impressed by the fact that Renee was by my side until surgery started, Dr.P was great in talking to me and checking in on me after surgery, Connie was wonderful in stopping by to see if i needed anything and to see how i was...a great team.

Dr Pickhardt is a wonderful caring surgeon as well as a wonderful caring human being!!I am a nurse at the hospital that he performs bariatric surgerys so I have worked with him as well as had him as MY bariatric surgeon! I had to self pay for this operation, so I could have gone to any program in the U.S. After 2 years of extensive research I knew (which I probly knew all along)that Dr. Pickhardt was the surgeon for me! His office staff are very supportive and his bariatric nurse specialist is wonderful,she goes above and beyond the call of duty with each and every patient both pre and post operatively,and challenges the insurance carriers who can, needless to say, be VERY challenging!! I feel very blessed to have had such a caring enviroment to help me through this major life style change!

Dr. Pickard is very nice. He is very upfront and honest, not to mention serious, about this surgery. I fully trust him as my surgeon. Connie, is the coordinator of the program. She is great. She is highly overworked. If you call her and don't hear back from her right away, its not that she is ignoring you, she is just sooooo busy. She too has had the surgery. So, she has been in everyones shoes. She knows what you are going through. It is also a requirement to attend support group meetings. I have attended 3 prior to my surgery date. I agree with them that it is very important. You get to hear others stories, hear how they deal with things, and SEE their Progress. You also get to make new friends.
In fact, I have made a good friend who is also about my age and that actually lives pretty close to me. Which is pretty good since I have to travel 2 1/2hrs to get to the meetings. But it is worth it. I'M WORTH IT!!!!!!

My first impression of Dr. Pickhardt was a typical one of a surgeon. Very self confident which is good in a surgeon. His office staff is really very good. Friendly and very competent! He is fairly new to this surgery but has done everything to make sure both he, his surgical staff and his nurses are fully trained to deal with this procedure and the patients. I like this. His reputation in this area is excellent. One of the best in the region and hightly sought after. He was very forthcoming about ricks and expectations and gave me ample time to ask questions. He expects us to work with the support group and staff and I will expect to see him on a regular basis for the rest of my life. I give him an A.

Dr. Pickhardt seemed very smart and also to have my best interest at heart.

Everyone that I have met so far are very nice. They all make me feel very comfortable and seem to be understanding.

I think Dr. Pickhardt is kind of tough. He wants you to know this is not easy and you have alot of work to do. He wants to make sure you understand about how your life will change and make sure you have a support system in place. He wants to talk to them to be sure they (my husband) are as committed as I am.

He will not do the surgery if you are not committed to the after care program. (I am thankful for this) Connie Hanson is the coordinator of the aftercare, and she has had the surgery herself. She is very committed in educating people that are having the surgry.

Dr. Pichardt did go over all of the risks of the surgery with me. I feel like I understand them and I am willing to take them.

I felt very at ease with Dr. Pichardt and felt like I was taking to a friend. He also made me feel like I was putting my life in the hands of a competent surgeon.

My first impression of Dr. Pickhardt was that he is very straight forward about the surgery and what is to be expected. He wants to make sure you are definitely ready for the journey you are about to begin. He is honest and almost blunt (in a kind way). I feel that he has taken great consideration into all aspects of this surgery and wants to make sure his patients have too. His office staff is kind, considerate, efficient and caring. Connie Hanson, Coordinator of the Surgical Treatment of Obesity at St. Pat's works very closely with Dr. Pickhardt and has a fabulous aftercare program. I feel that this is very important and was a factor in my decision to have the surgery.

March 31st. I met Dr. Pickhardt on Mon. and he is so very nice. We had a very good visit which also included my neice. He answered all of my questions honestly, he didn't try to sugarcoat anything about the surgery. He made sure that I understood this isn't going to make me a 135 pd. runway model. We went over the packet and the things he expects from me. I also have to mention that he is quite goodlooking(my neice agrees!) He is so nice too. I wasn't nervous around him like I'd thought I would be. I can't wait for surgery!!! The nurses and everyone in the office are so nice, they don't make you feel out of place or ashamed(yall know what I'm talking about). The infamous Connie wasn't there so I guess I will have to meet her next time. Bye for now.

I met with Dr. Pickhardt on Feb. 23 for an initial consultation. I was very pleased with him. He was very nice, answered all my questions, and was very informative. The staff was very nice and Connie Hanson is a HUGE help. He will not do the surgery if you do not have support and requires an aftercare program.

I haven't had my first consultation with him yet. His Nurse Co-ordinator is very nice and helpful.

8-29-00
I had my consultation with Dr. Pickhardt and he is wonderful. Very warm, friendly, caring and informative. I loved it that he used the term "people of stature" and not morbidly obese or massive. I felt that even though he technically hasn't done a lot of surgeries, he has prepared himself and his staff to make the experience as good as possible with the best outcome as possible. I didn't feel embarrased or ashamed with either Dr. Pickhardt or his staff. He is very thorough about discussing the risks of surgery and complications that can happen. He has put together a great aftercare program (along with Connie, his nurse coordinator) and told me that we would be lifelong associates because that is how long we would follow-up together. Meeting him has only confirmed my decision that I need and want to have this surgery.