Meet Our Team

Kim Bariatric Institute Staff

Dr. David Kim is very proud to have a team of caring, committed employees who share his enthusiasm and passion for bariatric treatment. All of our team members are very skilled at what they do and offer a high level of friendly, personalized care. Learn more about who will be helping you to live life again!

David – Certified Physician Assistant and Chief Registered Dietitian

David assists Dr. Kim during surgery and also helps take care of patients after their procedure. In addition, David is a registered dietitian and provides nutritional counseling before and after surgery and post operative band adjustments under fluoroscopy in our office. He is an important member of our team and helps make sure that each patient’s surgery and recovery are as smooth as possible. As chief dietitian, Dr. Kim and David teach our patients’ in a consistent and effective manner. David received his dietary degree from Harvard’s hospital, Massachusetts General.

Nives – Certified Physician Assistant

Nives, If you need tips on starting an exercise regimen or spicing up an existing one, Nives is the best place to start. Not only is she a Certified Physician Assistant, but she is also a certified group fitness instructor and a certified lifestyle weight management coach. She has been an instructor at Lifetime Fitness since 2005, so she knows how to manage a full time job, while still getting in your needed time at the gym. After a family history of Obesity, Nives decided to get into Bariatrics and has been working with weight loss surgery patients since 2006. She is an expert in the art of Lap Band fills.

Christine

Christine is the newest addition to the clinical staff. She graduated with honors from The University of North Texas in Fort Worth with her Master in Physician Assistant Studies. Christine chose bariatrics with Dr. Kim because first and foremost, she wanted to be a part of a team that demanded excellence, skill and compassion for the benefit of their patents. She is dedicated to making a difference and has learned the immense rewards of changing the lives and future health and happiness of our patients. She stays motivated by being surrounded by the other highly trained and motivated Kim Bariatric Certified staff members, that inspire and fuel her passion for changing the lives of all the patients.

Pam – Bariatric Nurse Coordinator

Pam has worked with Dr. Kim since the inception of our Dallas, Fort Worth, and Frisco-area bariatric surgery practice. She is a certified bariatric nurse specialist and a patient advocate throughout all the stages a patient experiences. She has tremendous clinical knowledge, which she applies with care and compassion. Pam is in charge of our pre-operative teaching and education program, Bariatric University. She also leads our follow-up care programs and support groups for patients after their procedure. Her sister was operated on by Dr. Kim and is one of our practice’s many satisfied patients. Pam has personally seen over 4,000 weight loss surgery patients with Dr. Kim.

Amy – Front Desk

Amy is another of our superstar multi-taskers. Her smiling face can be seen at check out or rooming patients, as she is also a medical assistant. Generally, she will be the last face you see as you leave the practice, but she will happily schedule any appointments and looks forward to watching our patients transform.

Michelle – Front Desk

Michelle works diligently at the front desk making sure that each patient chart is complete and ready for each appointment. She’s also one of the friendly voices you will hear when calling in to schedule your pre-surgical or follow up appointments.

Cindy – Medical Assistant

Cindy is a patient of Dr Kim’s who had weight loss revision surgery in May 2011. She is now a Registered Medical Assistant helping with patient assessment and intake. As our resident bilingual staffer, Cindy also translates for our Spanish speaking patients. Her personal experience with weight loss surgery helps her to be able to relate to our patients and their post bariatric care. Her revision history is an invaluable resource for patients considering which operation to choose.

Kristin – Medical Assistant

Kristin is one of the more familiar faces around our office having been here 
since 2006. She will be one of the friendly nurses bringing you back to a 
patient room for your appointment. Not only is she a registered Medical 
Assistant but she specializes in Lap-Band® aftercare. With a gentle touch she 
assists with Lap-Band® fills and post operative staple removal. She is always 
quick with words of encouragement and motivation or an open ear to listen to 
your concerns and needs.

Melissa – Bariatric Insurance Coordinator

Melissa has the valuable experience that is necessary to gain approval from insurance companies. Her efforts and hard work make it possible for many of our patients to go through with bariatric surgery and to receive the life-changing benefits that are possible with treatment. Melissa also had bariatric surgery by Dr. Kim and, as a patient herself, she understands the insurance and financial concerns that patients experience.

Summar – Bariatric Insurance Coordinator

Summar, With the kindness and empathy that comes from personal experience with weight loss surgery, Summar will work for you with the insurance companies to get your surgery approved after you have met your requirements. In 2006 Summar had her own weight loss surgery and has since lost over 180lbs, so she understands how daunting the insurance process can be to a patient.

Veronica – Surgery Scheduling Coordinator

Veronica had the lap band for four and a half years, and had a revision to the gastric sleeve in November of 2011. You will meet her in your initial consultation with Dr Kim and is a great source of information for any questions you have about your surgical process. She will also be one of your primary contacts when you are ready to schedule your surgery. Veronica’s own successful surgical experience gives her a unique and caring understanding of what our patients need.

Kathleen – Scheduling Manager

Kathleen is the manager of the Bariatric scheduling office. Our patients can expect attention to detail and some TLC as Kathleen gets them scheduled for surgery. After her own personal experience with weight loss surgery, she has been working in Bariatrics since 2005. Following years of struggling with her own weight, she is down over 200 lbs since her gastric bypass in 2002 and understands the issues facing patients getting ready for surgery.

Jennifer – Insurance

Jennifer works directly with the insurance companies to work out the last minute details of patient coverage including remaining deductibles and pre-surgical amounts due to the office. She also maintains our BOLD Data for Centers of Excellence.

Laurie – Billing Manager

Laurie handles our billing with the insurance companies and patients and is the one that patients come to with post-surgical insurance and account balance questions. She is also our specialist with financing options for the surgical procedures.

Fabiola – Spanish Translator

Fabiola is our Spanish translator. She is also available to translate new patient consultations from initial phone calls, to patient intake, all the way through the scheduling department. Hispanic patients suffer from the fastest rate of developing obesity and diabetes. Dr. Kim has a great desire to help all patients. Our dedication to our hispanic population is important because he feels ultimately obese hispanic patients will live a shorter life span with a lowered quality of life. Fabiola and Cindy(our medical assistant) help in the education of our Spanish speaking patients with their bilingual talents.

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Contact the Kim Bariatric Institute

Please contact the Kim Bariatric Institute for more information on the treatments we offer, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Kim or Dr. Bridget Holden.