Namir Katkhouda Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

Namir Katkhouda, M.D. is a world authority in laparoscopic surgery, having pioneered the first laparoscopic vagotomy for the treatment of gastro duodenal ulcer disease in 1990. He was also among the first to have performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1989.  He is an innovator in the laparoscopic approach to advanced procedures, pioneering  and publishing the techniques of  laparoscopic liver surgery, aortic surgery, gastric resections, and hernia repair. He has written 100 peer review articles and 100 book chapters, presented over 250 scientific papers, and written 4 books in the field of laparoscopic surgery, the latest titled Advanced Laparoscopic: Techniques and Tips, and trained more than 800 surgeons on laparoscopic techniques worldwide. In this capacity, he offers the patients all laparoscopic approaches for weight loss surgery including hand sewn laparoscopic Roux en Y Gastric Bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and the Lap Band. He is also specialized in the laparoscopic revision of lap band in patients who failed this procedures. His current research includes virtual reality in laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive approaches to bariatric surgery, single port laparoscopic surgery, and research in the physiology of laparoscopic surgery and biologic sealants.

• Michael Russo — Fountain Valley, CA