As medical director of Sarasota Memorial’s Bariatric and Metabolic Health Center, Dr. Arundathi Rao oversees the full range of medical, surgical and support services provided by Sarasota Memorial Hospital and its bariatric team. She also serves as the bariatric surgeon on staff at First Physicians Group in Sarasota, Fla. Board certified in general surgery, Dr. Rao was fellowship trained in Bariatric, Minimally Invasive and Robotic surgery.

Sarasota Memorial recruited Dr. Rao not only for her expertise and success in advanced, minimally invasive weight-loss procedures, but also for her compassionate, comprehensive and personal approach to helping patients lose weight and resolve obesity-related health issues. She welcomes questions and aims to ensure that patients have a complete understanding of their surgical options and treatment plans for overcoming obesity. Dr. Rao regularly hosts Meet the Surgeon seminars, where you can learn more about the SMH bariatrics program and have all of your weight-loss surgery questions answered.

Dr. Rao’s specialties and practice focus on advanced surgical procedures for weight loss, including:

• da Vinci-assisted, robotic bariatric surgery
• Roux-en-y gastric bypass
• Sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve)
• Adjustable gastric banding (lap banding)
• Complex revisions or repairs of previous bariatric procedures

Board Certification

General Surgery, American Board of Surgery

Medical Education

St. George’s School of Medicine, St. George’s, Grenada

Residency

Morehouse School of Medicine, in Atlanta, Ga.

Fellowship

Celebration Hospital in Celebration, Fla.

Professional Affiliation

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery