Leading the Way in Complex Metabolic Care
The Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and USF Health Bariatric Center delivers surgical and medical management, as well as complex care to manage some of the most challenging bariatric cases. No patient is turned away from this academic center, whether they are struggling with obesity, preparing for transplant and other procedures, or patients with autism experiencing developmental delays. Tampa General is one of the oldest accredited institutions by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
LED BY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED “BEST DOCTOR”
Francesca Dimou, MD, MS, FACS, FASMBS, is a nationally recognized bariatric and gastrointestinal surgeon who serves as director of the Bariatric Center at Tampa General Hospital. Board-certified and fellowship-trained, Dr. Dimou specializes in robotic bariatric surgery, including highly complex revisional procedures and has been honored as a “Best Doctor” in Tampa for both General and Bariatric Surgery. In addition to her surgical expertise, she is committed to education, having delivered numerous regional and national lectures on robotic bariatric surgery with an emphasis on training the next generation of bariatric surgeons.
At USF Health, she holds an appointment as Associate Professor of Surgery at the Morsani College of Medicine and provides advanced bariatric, foregut and endoscopy services. Her leadership extends to several hospital committees at Tampa General, where she focuses on advancing quality and process improvement to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care.
At the national level, Dr. Dimou plays an influential role as co-chair of the Insurance Committee for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), where she advocates to expand access to care and improve insurance coverage for patients living with obesity. She is also an active member of the American College of Surgeons, the Obesity Society and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. An accomplished researcher with nearly 50 publications including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and editorials, Dr. Dimou is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of obesity care while mentoring students, residents and fellows. She envisions the center as a leading metabolic hub, designed to serve patients requiring the most complex, multidisciplinary care, while driving innovation, advocacy and excellence in the treatment of obesity.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF EXPERTS
A multidisciplinary team of surgeons, obesity medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, psychologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, pediatricians, geneticists and exercise physiologists work together to develop unique care plans for every patient. Each member of this impressive team brings their own perspective and understanding of how metabolic care is evolving. They stay abreast of the latest technology and treatments, which are incorporated into the care available to patients.
HIGH-VOLUME, MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES WITH LOW RISK
With the largest and busiest academic robotic program in Florida, the TGH Bariatric Program offers the most advanced, minimally invasive procedures, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy, SADI and the duodenal switch. The program also includes endoscopic surgery (transoral) for new patients and those needing revisional procedures. As the primary referral center for Florida’s West Coast, Tampa General is where other programs send their most complex cases.
ROBUST MULTIDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM
The center utilizes board-certified obesity medicine physicians in a clinic setting to care for all patients, regardless of complexity. Each month, the clinic reports more than 1,850 patient encounters. Working with teams across Tampa General Hospital’s institutes, bariatric specialists create an individualized care plan tailored to each patient’s unique medical needs, ranging from the most complex heart failure patients in need of a new heart to patients seeking weight loss for an overall better quality of life.
Patients with obesity and end-stage heart failure, kidney or liver disease whose weight would otherwise exclude them from organ transplantation are referred to Tampa General’s medical weight loss program to prepare them for surgery.
Tampa General’s medical weight-loss program is led by Chelsea Yost, MD, an obesity medicine specialist with experience providing comprehensive and personalized care, including obesity prevention and management, patient education, chronic disease management and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Lindsay Wiles, MD, DABFM, DABOM leads the advanced metabolic clinic at the TGH Brandon Healthplex as part of the Bariatric Center, providing a crucial resource for patients who are too high-risk for surgery but urgently need weight-loss support. As medical director of the center and one of the few physicians in the region board-certified in both family medicine and obesity medicine, Dr. Wiles specializes in managing complex cases such as transplant candidates, heart patients and those with severe developmental delays. She has pioneered the area’s first high-risk obesity medicine practice, addressing patients with the highest morbidity and mortality related to obesity. Her evidence-based, comprehensive approach integrates medication, nutrition, exercise and behavior change to improve metabolic health and optimize outcomes.
Dr. Wiles is an active member of leading professional societies, including the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Obesity Society and the Obesity Medicine Association, where she has served on the Bariatric Medical-Surgical Committee. Referring physicians can be confident that their most medically complex patients will receive expert, individualized care that bridges the gap between medical management and surgical readiness.
METABOLIC CARE AS A BRIDGE TO OTHER TREATMENTS
The Bariatric Center offers metabolic care as a vital bridge to a wide range of additional treatments, ensuring patients are in the best possible condition to succeed in their care journey. By providing expert support in weight loss and metabolic health, the center helps prepare individuals for complex procedures such as organ transplant, heart surgery and cancer treatment — where achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly improve outcomes.
For patients recovering from cancer treatment, metabolic care offers a pathway to sustainable weight management, which is often essential for restoring strength and reducing long-term health risks. Similarly, for women considering breast reconstruction, targeted weight-loss support before surgery can help lower surgical risks and enhance healing. In every case, Tampa General’s integrated approach empowers patients to achieve better overall health, creating a stronger foundation for successful treatment and recovery.
BARIATRIC SURGERY EXPERTISE MEANS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX COMORBIDITIES
The advanced expertise in bariatric surgery at Tampa General Hospital opens doors for patients with the most complex comorbidities — patients who, in many cases, were previously told they were not candidates for surgery. Dr. Dimou’s leadership brings innovative approaches that directly improve outcomes for these high-risk individuals. For example, she pioneers the integration of bariatric procedures with organ transplantation, including a groundbreaking combination liver transplant and sleeve gastrectomy. Patients with obesity and liver disease face significant challenges even after transplant, as excess weight can compromise both recovery and long-term graft survival. By incorporating weight-loss surgery at the time of transplant, Dr. Dimou and her team help improve transplant outcomes, reduce complications and extend the longevity of the transplanted organ.
This level of surgical innovation reflects a cutting-edge offering unique to the region and underscores the center’s commitment to addressing obesity as a central factor in managing complex diseases. From revisional patients who have been turned away elsewhere to transplant candidates seeking improved outcomes, Dr. Dimou ensures that bariatric surgery expertise serves as a tool for unlocking new treatment opportunities. By reframing bariatric surgery through an innovative, multidisciplinary lens, Tampa General expands access and redefines possibilities for patients once considered too high-risk.
REVISIONAL BARIATRIC SURGERY
Since Dr. Dimou assumed leadership of the Bariatric Center, the program has expanded, offering advanced revisional bariatric surgery for patients who previously underwent surgery elsewhere and now face complications or unsatisfactory outcomes. Many of these patients were historically turned away by other programs because of the complexity of their cases.
Under Dr. Dimou’s expertise, the center offers revision and reversal of gastric bypass procedures, as well as specialized management of nutrition and vitamin deficiencies that often accompany prior bariatric surgery. With her background in complex robotic revisional surgery, Dr. Dimou elevates the program’s ability to take on challenging cases, giving patients renewed hope for improved health and quality of life through safe, evidence-based care.
ADOLESCENT BARIATRIC SURGERY
Dr. Dimou also directs Tampa General’s Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program, where she has helped many adolescents achieve significant weight loss and recover from conditions such as adolescent hypertension and diabetes. Working in close partnership with Alyssa Woodard, MD, medical director of the program, and Dr. Wiles, who provides advanced medical weight management, Dr. Dimou ensures younger patients receive comprehensive care. Under their leadership, the program has expanded to Harborside and Brandon, increasing access for adolescents who need specialized treatment. With the increasing severity and prevalence of obesity in this patient population, the program continues to grow, with multiple providers working together to deliver coordinated surgical and medical care. When patients younger than 18 undergo bariatric surgery at Tampa General, Dr. Dimou and her team ensure that every
procedure meets the same high standards of safety and excellence as those for adult patients.
Tampa General’s Endoscopic Bariatric Program is led by Dr. Salvatore Docimo, whose unique specialty is transoral (incisionless) surgery. The procedure offers a minimally invasive alternative for complex revisional endoscopic procedures that may be too complex for traditional surgery. Dr. Docimo’s expertise has made him a national leader in transoral surgery. He was the first in Florida to perform the procedure. He is well-published, a national speaker and a leader within national surgical societies and Florida-based societies. Dr. Docimo is a strong advocate for expanding access and advancing treatment options for patients who may benefit from this approach.
TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION
As a high-volume clinical center, the bariatric program has trained numerous fellows, residents and medical students. Throughout the clinical setting, students and residents learn from experts within the program. The multidisciplinary team actively engages in research with more than 50 investigators. In this way, bariatric specialists at Tampa General help define academic medicine through clinical excellence, impactful research and a strong focus on surgical education.