4th Annual Bariatric Graduation Celebrates New Year and New Life
Owasso, Okla. – On Saturday, January 10, The Center for Bariatrics at Bailey Medical Center will host its 4th annual Bariatric Graduation from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Bailey Education Foundation. This event is a celebration for all patients who have had a bariatric procedure at the Owasso hospital.
The event offers graduates the opportunity to share their before & after photos and stories of success with guests, Bailey Bariatrics team members and fellow graduates. This year, approximately 200 graduates are expected to attend.
Saturday’s celebration will be a culmination of several months of preparation and a new commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Because bariatric surgery is a life-altering procedure, prospective patients are required to complete extensive physical and emotional preparation prior to their procedure. Patients attend a support group and meet with a dietitian, exercise consultant and psychologist. Prospective patients must also pass a series of physical examinations including a sleep study, pulmonary testing, cardiac testing and extensive lab work to ensure their body’s readiness for the procedure.
Bariatric procedures help morbidly obese patients lose weight and have been proven to reduce type 2 diabetes, cancer and overall mortality. It has also been credited with reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke.
“The annual graduation is one of our most anticipated events of the year. It is a time for our patients to come together to reflect on their accomplishments and to celebrate a second chance on life,” said Brandon Varnell, M.D., Director of the Center for Bariatrics at Bailey Medical Center. “Obesity is often linked to a number of serious health conditions, which begin to fade away as patients lose weight. In addition to the health benefits, there are great emotional benefits associated with living in a healthier body. This event is a time for our patients to look at how far they have come and to look toward to their future with a renewed sense of excitement, confidence and health.”
The Center for Bariatrics at Bailey Medical Center is a Level 1 accredited facility by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) and has performed gastric surgeries since 2007. To learn more about the Center for Bariatrics, please visit www.BaileyBariatrics.com.
Bailey Medical Center (BMC), located at 106th and North Garnett, is a 73-bed acute care hospital serving Owasso and the surrounding communities. BMC provides a wide range of services, including 24-hour emergency care, inpatient and outpatient surgery, obstetrics, cardiology, orthopedics, medical and surgical weight loss, sleep medicine, as well as imaging, laboratory and rehabilitation services. To learn more about Bailey Medical Center, please visit www.BaileyMedicalCenter.com.
While this is an invite only event, members of the media are invited to attend. Patients, physicians and support staff will be available for interviews and photos.
