This Center of Excellence renewal by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) grants the Program this designation for an additional three years. This is the highest level of approval. With this level of continued certification, Sound Shore maintains its record as a provider for exceptional outcomes in surgical weight loss. In fact since the Program’s inception in 2002, more than 700 procedures have been successfully performed, all with quality clinical outcomes.

“As pioneers in the field of minimally invasive surgery, Drs. Madhu Rangraj and Leonard Maffucci are widely respected surgeons in the region and have helped establish Sound Shore as a leading Bariatric Program”, said John R. Spicer, Sound Shore Medical Center’s President and CEO. He continued, “For individuals contemplating bariatric surgery, the Society’s certification identifies a Program as meeting the highest standards. Our Bariatric reputation, coupled with our ongoing Center of Excellence designation, makes SSMC an strong choice for patients considering weight loss surgery.”

In an effort to assure quality in this surgical arena, the ASMBS has established stringent criteria to safeguard the public, including a rigorous approval and renewal process. The requirements for a Center of Excellence specify that a program have an educational component, a strong multi-disciplinary support team to address both emotional as well as physical needs during the peri-operative experience, along with a minimum number of surgeries that must be performed annually with a history of quality outcomes. According to Madhu Rangraj, MD, FACS, Bariatric Program Director, “Sound Shore’s ongoing distinction, coupled with our Program being a Bariatric surgical training center, offers assurance that we provide well-established, quality weight loss options for those whose health and quality of life are compromised.”

For more information on SSMC’s Bariatric Surgery Program, please call the Program Director, Peggy Coll at 914.365.3284.