Support Groups
The Alvarado Surgical Weight Loss Program offers three different support groups in San Diego, as well as groups in North County, Yuma, AZ, and Fairbanks and Anchorage, AK. I recommend that anyone who is interested in learning more about weight loss surgery attend the groups. All adult family members and friends are welcomed to attend. You are also welcomed to email any of the leaders with any questions that you might have.
San Diego, CA
Revision/StomaphyX and 1+ Year Support Group ( Schedule )
This group meets from 6:30 - 7:30 on the second Wednesday of each month. It is designed for the benefit of those who more than one year out of their surgery, who have different needs from people who are within the first year post-op. It addresses maintenance of lost weight, as well as getting back on track for people who have gained wieght due to pregnancy, and those who have undergone revisions such as the StomaphyX. Others are welcomed to attend and observe, and any questions from those who are less than a year post-op may be asked in the group starting at 7:30 the same night.
General Support Group ( Schedule )
This group follows the Long-Termer's Group, and meets from 7:30 - 9:00 on the second Wednesday of each month. It focuses on the practical eating and lifestyle adjustments after surgery. Many patients say that they have to re-learn how to eat, and this is certainly the case. Some folks slide right into the lifestyle changes in the blink of an eye while some experience bumps in the road, needing more input from those who have walked the road before them.
Emotional Support Group ( Schedule )
This group meets from 7:00 - 9:00 on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Facilitated by a Clinical Psychologist who is an eating disorder and bariatric specialist, it focuses on the emotional adjustments made after surgery. Patients discuss changes in relationships with family, friends, workmates and strangers. Family members are welcomed to share their experiences alongside their loved one in the group setting, as everyone who has a close relationship with a patient is affected by the changes in the patient’s lifestyle, increased level of confidence, etc. Although the overall changes are very positive, they occur rapidly and it is worthwhile to share adjustment issues in a group setting.
North County/Fallbrook
This support group addresses both emotional and general post operative issues and is for patients who are in North County San Diego. The meeting is held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Deans, 4325 Los Padres Dr., Fallbrook, CA 92028 on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 PM. Tom Deans tjdeans@netzero.net 760-728-0028
(See Calendar)
Leslie Jester (see below) facilitates this group.
Leslie Jester, CNP, is our support group leader. A former patient herself, having maintained her weight loss since her surgery in 1994 and having had two children since her gastric bypass, she specializes in post-operative support. She worked for many years in the bariatric clinic at Alvarado, directing nursing care, support groups and pre and post-operative education. She has contributed to several research studies and landmark publications in weight loss surgery and has lectured at many educational events and conferences, including the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Leslie is held in extremely high esteem by hundreds of patients whom she has assisted in making the adjustment to Gastric Bypass and Gastric Banding Surgery.
Yuma, AZ
This group meets at 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM on the first Wednesday of each month, at the Yuma Regional Corporate Business Center at 399 W. 32nd Street, Yuma, AZ, 85364 (See Map).
Our Yuma leaders are:
Kathie Brown: (see photos of Kathie) kebyuma@hotmail.com (928) 343-4051
Betty Lee: (see photos of Betty Lee) leeleetruck@roadrunner.com (928) 345-2362
Alaska Support Groups
I have several former patients who facilitate the support groups in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. Both of these support groups receive ongoing educational updates from me and provide my post-operative educational information to their attendees. According to the leader in Fairbanks, the educational information that they share has made their group so popular that patients from the other support group in town are now attending hers!
Even if you are not from Alaska, you are welcomed to contact any of our group leaders. They will be able to answer many of your questions “from a patient standpoint”, and they would be glad to chat with you.
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Anchorage, Alaska:
This group is facilitated by Claire Miller and Bert Dozark. They meet at the REMAX office at 110 West 38th Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 PM.
Claire: 907-696-7086, akhands@gci.net
Bert: (see photos of Bert) 907-333-4222, xbert@gci.net
Fairbanks, Alaska
This group meets at the the Tanana Valley Clinic in the 3rd floor Dunlap Conference Room, 1001 Noble Street, Fairbanks, on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 PM. Contact information for the leader is shown below:
John Chavis:907-322-5106 (cell), 907-451-1991 (home), chavss@gcinet
