Meet the St. Rose Dominican Surgical Weight Loss Program Team
Our dedicated bariatric care team--physicians and staff--will be with you every step of the way on your weight loss journey. Our multidisciplinary approach, which is also unique, includes dietary counseling, psychological support, ongoing weight loss care through our expert providers, and optional support groups with your peers. Every facet of the program is focused on helping you lose weight with dignity and jump-starting your journey to a better quality of life with improved health and sustained, long-term success.
Your journey begins with a one-on-one meeting with our medical team to understand your personal goals. Then we carefully collaborate with your input to select the appropriate weight loss procedure that is best suited for you.
We are here to help you begin your new life -- a life of improved health, activity and longevity.
Mustafa Ahmed, MD
Dr. Mustafa Ahmed is a board-certified bariatric surgeon in Las Vegas. He has more than 20 years of experience helping patients achieve their dreams of improved health and self-esteem. He believes that a person’s most prized possession is their health and works hard every day to help his patients achieve happiness via healthy lifestyle changes.
Dr. Ahmed attended Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, for his medical education. After graduating in 1996, he completed an internal medicine residency with Mount Carmel Medical Center.
After completing six years as an internist, Dr. Ahmed changed direction in his career and became a bariatric surgeon. During those six years, he often treated patients for obesity-related conditions like high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and coronary artery disease. He also saw his patients’ frustrations as they attempted weight loss and remission of their conditions to no avail. He finished a general surgery residency at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, and later, he completed fellowships in surgical critical care and his current specialty, bariatric surgery.
Bernie Hanna, MD, FACS FASMBS
Bernie Hanna, MD, FACS FASMBS is an internationally recognized bariatric surgeon and the founder and Medical Director of Las Vegas Bariatrics. He serves as the Medical Director for Dignity Health – St. Rose Dominican’s San Martín Hospital. Dr. Hanna has served as a trauma surgeon, an assistant clinical professor and is a published medical researcher. After extensive experience in the trauma field, Dr. Hanna decided to focus and refine his minimally invasive surgical skills by treating obesity and correcting many of the health issues and co-morbidities associated with obesity through bariatric surgery. This became his newfound passion.
Having practiced in the Las Vegas Valley since 2000, Dr. Hanna is an award-winning surgeon, having received Top Surgeon honors several years in a row and achieving the “Top Doctor” award for 2020 and multiple years before that. Dr. Hanna is highly skilled and known for his expertise in performing the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG), Roux-en-Y (RNY) Gastric Bypass, Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap-Band), and weight loss surgery revisions. He routinely performs procedures for Hiatal Hernias and Reflux Surgery. Specializing in advanced laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Hanna stays at the forefront of surgery and bariatrics by being involved in surgical research and is a sought-after presenter internationally.
Proud of their Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence accreditation, Dr. Hanna and his certified team aims to redefine surgical and non-surgical weight loss by emphasizing nutrition, fitness, and group support before as well as after surgery. He teaches his patients on how to lead a healthy lifestyle by focusing on what’s important. Health maintenance is a journey. He uses a multidisciplinary approach that leads to a healthy and satisfying lifestyle.
Punam Patel, MD
Dr. Punam Patel, a New Jersey native, earned a B.S. degree in biotechnology from Rutgers, The State University of NJ. She graduated summa cum laude and had the honor of serving as Vice President of her class. She received her medical degree from Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ, and was subsequently accepted to the competitive general surgery residency program at the same institution.
After completing residency training, Dr. Patel was accepted to the MIST fellowship program at UT Houston and made the move to Texas. The fellowship allowed for advanced training in minimally invasive surgery and bariatric surgery in a private practice setting. After several years of private practice in Texas, an opportunity for growth and advancement in bariatric/robotic surgery brought Dr. Patel to the Las Vegas area. As a part of the team at Las Vegas Bariatrics, Dr. Patel aims to bring the highest quality of care to her patients in bariatrics/metabolic disease, management of reflux, and general surgical problems.
Dr. Patel is very active in her free time. She is an avid runner, enjoys high intensity workouts, hiking red rocks, and discovering everything the city has to offer. When she’s not outdoors, she enjoys traveling cross country to visit family and friends.
Morgan M. Pomeranz, MD
Morgan M. Pomeranz, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. He is Fellowship-trained in advanced minimally invasive foregut and bariatric surgery. With hundreds of surgeries under his belt, he comes to Las Vegas very experienced in all Bariatric procedures.
Dr. Pomeranz’ training experience includes Fellowships at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston and Bariatric Medical Institute of Texas. He completed his residency at Sunrise Health and an internship at Yale School of Medicine. He is highly skilled in bariatric surgery, anti-reflux surgery, general surgery, advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
Dr. Pomeranz is a compassionate and meticulous surgeon who puts his clients first. He takes joy in being a part of the weight loss journey to wellness with his bariatric patients.
Jimmy Xu, MD
Dr. Jimmy Xu is from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and completed his bachelor of science in industrial engineering at University of Arkansas. He completed his medical degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and his general surgery training at St. Louis University. Finally, he underwent further training in a Minimally Invasive, Bariatric, and Robotic Surgery fellowship in the Bay Area of Oakland, California. This extra training was to offer patients more options in terms of minimally invasive surgery and ultimately faster and less painful recovery.
Dr. Xu has a special interest in weight loss surgery as well as upper gastrointestinal surgery using a variety of minimally invasive techniques. He completed his fellowship in robotic surgery as well and completed more robotic cases than any fellow in California.
After fellowship, he moved to Henderson, Nevada, and helped grow the robotic surgery program at St. Rose Dominican’s Siena Campus and became the medical director of weight loss surgery there. Throughout Dr. Xu’s extensive training and accomplishments, his guiding quote has been, “I ask not for a lighter burden, but broader shoulders.”
Roy Christian Gan, MD
Dr. Roy Christian Gan specializes in minimally invasive bariatric and general surgery. Dr. Gan immigrated from the Philippines as a child and grew up in New York City where he did his undergraduate studies. He also completed his general surgery residency in New York City at Maimonides Medical Center where he was one of the top graduates. During his general surgery residency, Dr. Gan received multiple awards including intern of the year, resident of the year, and teacher of the year. He is trained in all aspects of general surgery including gallbladder, hernia, stomach, small bowel, colon, rectal, breast, soft tissue, and oncologic surgery.
Dr. Gan is fellowship trained in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. He completed his fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, one of the nation’s oldest and top training programs for bariatric and minimally invasive surgery. He has advanced training to perform metabolic and weight loss procedures like the sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, single anastomosis duodenoileal bypass (SADI), endoscopic gastric balloon placement, and revisional bariatric surgery. He has a special interest in robotic assisted bariatric surgery and the application of minimally invasive techniques to decrease pain and achieve the best possible outcomes for his patients. Dr. Gan chose bariatric surgery as his specialty because it allows him to develop a long, meaningful relationship with his patients and it allows him to positively transform a patient’s life to become a more active and healthy person. He understands obesity is not a disease of will power or self-control but has many contributing factors beyond a patient’s control. Dr. Gan takes an individualized and empathetic approach to each patient in order for them to reach their goals. When it comes to patient care, his philosophy is to treat patients like they were his own family.
Dr. Gan is a member of the American Board of Surgery, American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS), Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT).
Dustin Baldwin, MD
Dr. Dustin Baldwin is a minimally invasive surgeon specializing in robotic, bariatric and general surgery. Dr. Baldwin is originally from rural Wisconsin, where he grew up on a dairy farm. He was an avid runner and received a cross country and track scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. While at Parkside, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. From there he attended medical school at the University of Wisconsin and completed his general surgery training at the University of Illinois-Chicago. While in Chicago, he began his training in general, bariatric and robotic surgery. He developed an interest in bariatric surgery and accomplished research in the field presenting at both national and international conferences. He then matched into and completed his bariatric surgery fellowship at East Carolina University (ECU) in North Carolina training under two past presidents of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS).
While at ECU, Dr. Baldwin completed numerous bariatric procedures including sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, single anastomosis duodenal ileostomy (SADI) and multiple revisional procedures including conversion of sleeve gastrectomy to bypass and bypass revisions for ineffective weight loss. Dr. Baldwin also performs a wide range of operations including gallbladder surgery, foregut operations for reflux and hiatal hernias and abdominal wall and groin hernias. He performs these operations utilizing the robotic surgery platform which minimizes incision size, recovery and pain after surgery.
Dr. Baldwin is a member of the ASMBS and is board certified in general surgery by the American board of surgery. Dr. Baldwin is fluent in Spanish and moved to Las Vegas with his wife and daughter. Dr. Baldwin’s hobbies include marathon running, biking, hiking and spending time with his family.
Jon Williams, MD
Dr. Jon Williams is a general surgeon who is fellowship trained in minimally invasive Robotic, and Bariatric Surgery. Earning his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Williams trained in general surgery at Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California, and then pursued fellowship training at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center focusing on minimally invasive Bariatric, and General surgery.
Dr. Williams has extensive experience in treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome. He performs robotic and laparoscopic bariatric surgery including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, removal of gastric bands and bariatric revision surgery. His practice provides a comprehensive preoperative, and postoperative treatment plan.
Specializing in all aspects of minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Williams experience also includes laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy for gallstones and gallbladder disease, robotic and laparoscopic repair of incisional and inguinal hernias, robotic and laparoscopic colon surgery for cancer, diverticulosis, and diverticulitis, robotic and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, robotic and laparoscopic Heller myotomy for treatment of achalasia, and robotic and laparoscopic splenectomy.
Elizabeth Santone, MD
Originally hailing from New England, Dr. Santone came to Nevada after completing a general surgery residency at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA and a bariatric surgery fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC.
She has a passion for community-oriented service and patient-centered surgical care.
Dr. Santone is an active member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons as well as the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. When Dr. Santone is not working she enjoys painting and spoiling her dog.
If you’re ready to reclaim your health, feel more confident, and start living an active life, our experts are ready to help. Our goal is to give you the finest medical treatment available and to assist you in any way possible to achieve your weight loss goals.
For more information, please call (702) 616-4976 or e-mail us at [email protected].
Choosing a surgical weight loss method is an important decision. While there are many benefits, there are inherent risks, as with any surgery. Weight loss surgery should be considered only after other nonsurgical options have failed. We’re here to help you understand your options and provide the care and support to help make a lasting change in your life. Always talk to your doctor about all treatment options, as well as the associated benefits and risks.