Whether we are answering questions about the gastric bypass procedure, coordinating with your insurance provider, or scheduling an appointment with one of our weight loss surgeons, the New York Bariatric Group is dedicated to your journey. Our team is also comprised of a bariatric nutritionist, a board certified Social Worker, and two talented physician assistants who are all happy to provide patients the utmost care and attention.
Meet The Doctors
Shawn M. Garber
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Garber is the founder of New York Bariatric Group. He has performed thousands of bariatric surgeries including sleeve gastrectomies, over 3500 Lap Bands, and 3500 gastric bypasses. A leader in his field, Dr. Garber also helped develop the single incision Lap-Band and sleeve gastrectomy techniques. He is asked to teach other surgeons around the country this virtually scarless technique. His surgical skills, combined with his bedside manner, earn substantial praise from patients.
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Spencer A. Holover
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Prior to joining New York Bariatric Group. Dr. Holover was the Clinical Professor of Surgery at The University of Pittsburgh. During this time he performed cutting edge research, gave presentations at major national meetings, and helped train surgeons around the country. Dr. Holover was one of the first surgeons to perform a gastric sleeve, and also one of the first surgeons to publish a clinical gastric sleeve article. He has done thousands of weight loss surgeries, and has won multiple awards including placement on the “Top Doctors” list and “Most Compassionate” list.
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Eric A. Sommer
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Sommer is a native of New York. Although he went to California for college, and Boston for surgical training, he is proud to return to NYC to perform bariatric surgery. To advance his knowledge and surgical expertise, Dr. Sommer completed a fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic, Bariatric, and Robotic Surgery. He brings his skill to New York Bariatric Group, where he performs a variety of weight loss surgeries for patients.
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Nikhilesh R. Sekhar
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Sekhar is a New York native who is a Board Certified Bariatric and General Surgeon. After graduating from medical school, he received his general surgery and trauma training at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, NY. He then completed a fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Vanderbilt. In addition to performing extensive weight loss surgeries, Dr. Sekhar is an expert in treating reflux and hernias.
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Jeffrey W. Chiao
MD, FACS, FASMBS
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Chiao is a Board Certified Bariatric and General Surgeon. He developed an interest in minimally invasive techniques in all aspects of surgery, especially bariatrics, and decided to pursue advanced training. Following general surgery training, Dr. Chiao completed a fellowship in Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, and has now joined New York Bariatric Group to treat patients locally.
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Pankti Patel
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Patel is American Board of Surgery certified as well with the daVinci System for Robotic Surgery. Additionally, she is an active member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
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Sherard Chiu
MD
A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Dr. Chiu completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery from the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine. Dr. Chiu is certified with the daVinci System for robotic surgery and is American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Certified.
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Kevin Small
MD
Dr. Kevin Small is a well-known innovator and an educator in the fields of plastic and reconstructive surgery. He has received many honors and awards citing his excellence in academics, teaching, and research from prestigious organizations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation.
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Channing Chin
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Chin is a native of Louisiana. He has trained extensively in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery and has practiced on both east and west coasts.
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Elizabeth Godshall
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Godshall is a New York native, born and raised in Westchester County, New York. Dr. Godshall completed her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at Smith College in Northampton, MA. She earned her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA where she was honored by induction into the AOA Honor Medical Society.
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Nirav Desai
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Desai grew up in Columbus, Georgia, a southern city known for its charm. He studied in Chicago at Northwestern University. He completed medical school at Case Western Reserve University where he had the opportunity to train with many of the world’s most innovative physicians at the Cleveland Clinic. He discovered his second home during his residency in New York City. He completed his General Surgery Residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel where he also discovered his passion for minimally invasive GI surgery. He accumulated a significant research background with several publications and presentations in the field of surgery.
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Edward Cussatti
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Cussatti is a board certified general and bariatric surgeon who completed his general surgery training at The Stamford Hospital, Stamford, CT. He then went on to complete his specialty training in minimally invasive surgery at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Cynthia Weber
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Weber is a graduate of a combined B.S/ M.D. program at Kent State University and Northeastern Ohio Universities’ College of Medicine. This program allows select students to complete undergraduate and medical school studies in 6 years rather than the typical 8 years. In addition to this unique program, she was inducted into the AOA Honor Medical Society in medical school. While completing her general surgery residency at Loyola University Medical Center, she dedicated part of her training to research- advancing the science of surgery. She published extensively and presented her work nationally and internationally.
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Robert Felte
MD
Dr. Felte completed his Bachelor of Science with honors at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Dr. Felte completed his post-baccalaureate pre-medicine education at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
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Harvey Rainville
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Harvey Rainville is a board certified General and Bariatric surgeon. Originally from Dallas Texas, he completed his undergraduate education at Baylor University.
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Kartik Gohil
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Kartik Gohil was raised in Baroda, India. After completing his high school in the top 1 percentile of his class, he proceeded to complete his medical training at esteemed Baroda Medical College at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He graduated top of his class. He completed his General Surgery Residency at Michigan State University, Lansing. From there he pursued specialty training in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Stony Brook University Medical Center, NY.
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Naveen Ballem
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Naveen Ballem and his family are excited to be back and established in the town where he was raised. He attended the Montclair Kimberley Academy, where he was awarded a Garden State Scholarship. He then moved to Boston for further education at Boston College. Dr. Ballem completed his General Surgery residency in New York City, and then pursued specialty training at The Cleveland Clinic in both Endocrine & Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery.
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Paayal Mehta
MD
Paayal Mehta is a board certified, fellowship trained advanced laparoscopic surgeon, specializing in bariatric surgery. She has a passion for, and commitment to weight loss surgery and performs a wide spectrum of bariatric procedures including gastric banding, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and revisional procedures.
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Anish Shah
MD
Dr. Shah started his education in 2006 at Columbia University in New York City. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry and Economics. He then went on to pursue his medical school training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and completed his general surgery residency at Stony Brook Medicine, where he developed a profound interest in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery.
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M. Shuja Shafqat
MD
Dr. M. Shuja Shafqat is a board-certified plastic surgeon with NYBG Plastic Surgery, a subsidiary of New York Bariatric Group. He has extensive training in all aspects of plastic surgery including body contouring, post-bariatric procedures, facial cosmetic surgery, cosmetic breast surgery, and reconstruction from head to toe. In addition, he as additional training and expertise in reconstruction, complex cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery, revisional breast surgery, skin cancer reconstruction and hernia repairs.
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