Support Groups
The Alvarado Surgical Weight Loss Program offers support groups in San Diego, and Fairbanks and Anchorage, AK. I recommend that anyone who is interested in learning more about weight loss surgery attend the groups. All adult family members and friends are welcomed to attend. You are also welcomed to email any of the leaders with any questions that you might have.
San Diego, CA
Alvarado Support Group ( Schedule )
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| Visit Dr. Shapiro's website |
We offer two support groups - one for patients with the gastric band, and one for those with the gastric bypass. They both meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month, in the 6th floor classroom at Alvarado Hospital.
Gastric Bypass Group: 6 - 7 PM
Gastric Band Group: 7:15 - 8:15 PM
Facilitated by Jennifer Shapiro, PhD, a Clinical Psychologist who is an eating disorder and bariatric specialist, these groups focus on the emotional adjustments made after surgery. Patients discuss changes in relationships with family, friends, workmates and strangers and share strategies for success. Guest speakers focus on topics of interest, including exercise and plastic surgery. Family members are welcomed to share their experiences alongside their loved one in the group setting, as everyone who has a close relationship with a patient is affected by the changes in the patient’s lifestyle, increased level of confidence, hightened self-esteem and receiving public compliments etc. Although the overall changes are very positive, they occur rapidly and it is worthwhile to share adjustment issues in a group setting.
Alaska Support Groups
I have several former patients who facilitate the support groups in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. Both of these support groups receive ongoing educational updates from me and provide my post-operative educational information to their attendees. According to the leader in Fairbanks, the educational information that they share has made their group so popular that patients from the other support group in town are now attending hers!
Even if you are not from Alaska, you are welcomed to contact any of our group leaders. They will be able to answer many of your questions “from a patient standpoint”, and they would be glad to chat with you.
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Anchorage, Alaska:
This group is facilitated by Claire Miller and Bert Dozark. They meet at the REMAX office at 110 West 38th Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 PM.
Claire: 907-696-7086, akhands@gci.net
Bert: (see Bert's story and photos) 907-333-4222, xbert@gci.net
Fairbanks, Alaska
This group meets at the the Tanana Valley Clinic in the 4th floor Dunlap Conference Room, 1001 Noble Street, Fairbanks, on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 PM. Contact information for the leader is shown below:
LindaMae Scolman : (907) 490-7345, lindamae.scolman@ymail.com
Barbara Logan: (907) 347-6018 dlogan@alaska.net
