The Northwest Hospital Bariatric Program specialists are dedicated to providing each patient with comprehensive and personalized care. The highly skilled multi-disciplinary team is led by Dr. Joseph Chebli, a renowned bariatric surgeon. The team includes a registered dietician, a physical therapist, a behavioral therapist, a clinical nurse specialist and other clinicians from a variety of areas to appropriately address the specific needs of bariatric patients.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Joseph E. Chebli, MD, FACS
Medical Director, Northwest Hospital Bariatric Surgery Program

Dr. Joseph E. Chebli is an active member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Chebli offers patients Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery and Laparoscopic Adjustable Banding using the LAP-BAND.

Dr. Chebli graduated from Georgetown University in 1991. He obtained his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1995. He completed his General Surgery training at Georgetown University in 2001. He became a Board Certified General Surgeon in 2002. Dr. Chebli is currently an active member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, an active member of The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Nicole White, MD

Dr. White is a board certified general surgeon specializing in laparoscopic esophageal and weight loss surgery. She graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha honors from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed her residency in categorical general surgery at the Montefiore Medical Center-Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, N.Y. Dr. White completed her fellowship in minimally invasive foregut/non-cardiac thoracic surgery at the Ryan Hill Foundation at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Most recently, Dr. White served as an assistant professor of surgery at the New York University School of Medicine. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons.

Carmela Pontillo, RN, MSN

Carmela Pontillo received her master’s degree in nursing from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She has been in nursing for more than 20 years, mostly in critical care settings. Carmela also has research experience and worked as the director of a cardiac rehabilitation and wellness center. Currently, Carmela works as a clinical nurse specialist in surgery and is program coordinator for Northwest Hospital’s Bariatric Surgery Program. She is an allied health member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Tricia Clement, RD, CD, CDE

Tricia Clement received her degree in clinical dietetics from the University of Washington. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a dietician at Northwest Hospital, working with both inpatients and outpatients. Tricia is a certified diabetes educator, co-teaches the “Living Well Diabetes” classes at the hospital, and frequently participates in community events to promote wellness. She is also an active member of the Weight Management Practice Group of the American Diabetes Association.

Mark Nelson, PT, MS

Mark Nelson has been a staff physical therapist at Northwest Hospital & Medical Center since 1994. He obtained his master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Puget Sound in 1993. At Northwest Hospital, Mark provides direct patient care for both inpatients and outpatients with various acute cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, orthopedic and medical diagnoses. He is also a clinical instructor and guest lecturer at the University of Washington’s physical therapy program.

Randy Brandeis, MSW, CSW

Randy Brandeis is a board-certified clinical social worker who obtained his masters in social work from the University of Illinois in 1976. He has been a consultant with the Northwest Clinical Nutrition Center for the last 16 years. The focus of his practice has been on the cognitive and behavioral treatment of both obesity and addictive/compulsive behavior patterns. In addition, he frequently leads courses on eating disorders, the psychology of facilitating lifestyle adjustments and the psychology of sport and exercise.

Michele Owen, ADN, MPH

Michele Owen has an associate degree in nursing, a bachelor’s degree in healthcare services administration from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA, and a master’s degree in public health from the University of San Francisco. She has been a nurse for more than 23 years, mostly treating surgical patients. At Northwest Hospital, she has been the nurse manager of the hospital’s surgical unit since 2002.

Theresa F. Malijan RN, BSN, CNOR

Theresa Malijan is manager of surgical services at Northwest Hospital. She graduated from the University of Santo Thomas in the Philippines in 1975 and has been with Northwest since 1984. In 1992, she received certification in operating room nursing. She is an active member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses and has been a member of the bariatric surgery team since the program’s inception.