CIMIS members

His experience in laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery is one of the most extensive in the United States. Dr. Frantzides created the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and was the Director of the center from 1995-1997. Dr. Frantzides has served as the Director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center and professor of surgery at the University of Chicago from 1997 to 2000. He was also the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Weiss Memorial Hospital from 1997-2000. Dr. Frantzides was the Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago and professor of surgery at Rush University from 2000-2003. He was also the Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery (2003-2006) and Director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship program (2003-2008) at Northshore University Health System (previously Evanston Northwestern Healthcare). Under his Directorship and because of his high number of procedures, and excellent outcomes Evanston Northwestern Healthcare was named a Center of Excellence by The American College of Surgeons. In addition Dr. Frantzides was Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University from 2004-2009.

He has traveled internationally to perform and teach laparoscopic operations. In recognition of his efforts in teaching advanced laparoscopic techniques, he was named honorary member of the Brazilian Society of Surgery (Colegio Brasileiro de Cirurgia Digestiva), the Hellenic Surgical Association, and the Greek Laparoscopic Society. During the last 19 years, he has organized 31 laparoscopic courses through which 331 surgeons were trained in laparoscopic surgery. He has created the first laparoscopic fellowship program in the United States (1995) for training young surgeons in the art of minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Frantzides is a member of numerous professional societies and has been the recipient of several awards and honors as well as grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and from the surgical industry. Dr. Frantzides has made more than 200 contributions to the medical literature and has written two books on laparoscopic surgery. He was the first to introduce and perform 14 different laparoscopic procedures in the world. He has worked extensively on the laparoscopic management of Gastro- Esophageal Reflux disease and Hiatal Hernia, Hepatobiliary diseases, Incisional Hernia, Esophageal Achalasia, and the laparoscopic treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the colon. He developed a new safer technique for the laparoscopic gastric bypass (“Triple staple technique,” Archives of Surgery, 2003.) He is credited with inventing two surgical instruments used in laparoscopic surgery. Due to his academic activities in laparoscopic surgery as well as his surgical skills he was given the “Achievement award for advanced laparoscopic surgery” by the American Society of General Surgery. He was also named in 2007 & 2008 America's Top Surgeon by the Consumers' Research Council of America.

The CIMIS staff, Jerri and Teresa

The CIMIS staff, Jerri and Teresa, are experienced and understanding of patient's needs. They are knowledgable of the process to be followed for insurance pre -authorazation for surgery. They are always available to answer your questions.

Dr. Frantzides has been instructing Fellows in Laparoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery since 1995. This fellowship is a one year program designed to improve the advanced laparoscopic skills of individuals who have completed an approved surgical residency. The fellows work "one-on-one" with Dr. Frantzides in all aspects of his practice including preoperative and postoperative care of the patients, as well as helping him perform all aspects of complex laparoscopic procedures. In addition, the fellow helps with clinical research and preparing papers for publications which are often presented at national and international meetings.

Mark A. Carlson, M.D. obtained a Doctor of Medicine degree from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland), and then in 1995 completed a residency in General Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Carlson was Dr. Frantzides' first Fellow in Minimally Invasive Surgery in 1995-1996. From 1996 to 1999, Dr. Carlson was a Research Fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Since 1999, Dr. Carlson has been at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he currently is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery and a Staff Surgeon at the VA Medical Center in Omaha. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery, with a sub-specialty in advanced laparoscopic general surgery. His clinical interests include gastroesophageal reflux disease, abdominal wall hernia, and gastrointestinal malignancy. Together with Dr. Frantzides, Dr. Carlson published in 2009 the first comprehensive DVD-Atlas of Minimally Invasive Surgery. In addition to his practice of general and minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Carlson runs a federally-funded basic science laboratory which studies wound healing and regeneration. He is leading a research effort to engineer a skin replacement therapy and also a novel hemostatic bandage for life-threatening bleeding. He has over 90 contributions to the medical literature.

George P. Stavropoulos, MD

George P. Stavropoulos, MD obtained a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Athens University School of Medicine in 1985. He completed a residency in General Surgery at Evagelismos General Hospital in Athens-Greece in 1993, and a fellowship in surgical critical care in 1997. He was Dr. Frantzides' fellow in Minimally Invasive Surgery from 2000-2001. Dr. Stavropoulos has completed a Ph.D. thesis and he is certified by the European Board of Surgery. His main interest is Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery and Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery.

Atul K. Madan, MD

Atul K. Madan, M.D. received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1996. He completed a residency in General Surgery at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2001. He was Dr. Frantzides' Fellow in Minimally Invasive Surgery from 2001-2002. Since that time he has become an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Tennessee - Memphis. He also is the Director of the Bariatric Program at the Mid-South Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Madan has over 50 contributions to the medical literature.

Ronald E. Moore, Jr., M.D.

Dr. Moore received his medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 1997. He is a board certified general surgeon who has completed his fellowship (2002-2003) in Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Rush University in Chicago under the supervision of Dr. Frantzides.

Dr. Moore has restricted his practice to obesity surgery and is one of the few surgeons in the United States specializing in this field. He has already performed hundreds of laparoscopic bypasses with an extremely low complication rate. Dr. Moore is currently in private practice in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

John G. Zografakis, M.D.

John G. Zografakis, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery (NEOUCOM- Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine), board certified in general surgery, completed his fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery with Dr. Frantzides at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in June of 2004. In August of 2004, he returned to Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio (residency in general surgery 1998-2003). He now serves as the Director of Advanced Laparoscopic Surgical Services and the Director of the Bariatric Care Center. He continues to perform a high volume of weight reductive surgery as well as advanced laparoscopic general surgery procedures."

Tallal Zeni, MD

Tallal M. Zeni, MD, a board certified surgeon, obtained a Doctor of Medicine degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. He went on to complete his general surgery training at Indiana University in June of 2004. He completed a Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship with Dr. Frantzides at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare from June 2004 until July 2005. He has gone into private practice at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, MI. Dr. Zeni has completed research with Dr. Frantzides regarding the use of endoscopy prior to gastric bypass, a review of Dr. Frantzides experience with laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic spinal fusion, and laparoscopic redo Nissen fundoplication, among other topics.

Louis Laguna

Dr. Laguna is a graduate of Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN. He has completed one year fellowship with Dr. Frantzides (2005-2006). Dr. Laguna has worked closely with Dr. Frantzides in publishing chapters and scientific papers including: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy, Laparoscopic transverse colectomy. Dr. Laguna and Dr. Frantzides were awarded by the society of Laparoscopic surgeons for their presentation on hiatal hernia repair with mesh in the 2006 society annual meeting.

Minh Luu, M.D.

Dr. Minh Luu completed his medical education and residency at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC). After his residency training in general surgery, Dr. Luu obtained his fellowship in minimally invasive surgery under the guidance of Dr. Constantine Frantzides from (2007-2008) at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (now Northshore University Health System). Dr. Luu is currently an Assistant Professor of Surgery at RUMC.

Jacob Roberts, D.O.

Dr. Roberts received his medical degree at Michigan State University and was chief resident St. John Oakland hospital. He is board certified in general surgery. Dr. Roberts was Dr. Frantzides fellow (2008-2009) and he completed his fellowship at the Chicago Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery and at St. Francis hospital at Evanston, IL. He played a key role in the gathering of clinical data for the completion of two important studies. In specific, the effects of vagotomy on gastric bypass patients and the use of anticoagulants in bariatric patients.

George D. Ayiomamitis, M.D.

George D. Ayiomamitis, MD obtained a Medical Doctor degree from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, School of Medicine in July 2000. He is a certified General Surgeon (CCST), after completion of a full residency program in General Surgery at Tzanion General Hospital at Piraeus, Greece on January 2007. He also obtained at the same period a postgraduate Diploma in Emergency & Critical Care Medicine. He has been working on a Ph.D thesis at the University of Crete since 2003 as a Research Fellow in the Laboratory of Gastrenterology. He has completed a fellowship program (Oct 2007 – Aug 2008) in Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Advanced Laparoendoscopic Surgery at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, University Hospital, Manchester,U.K.. He was Prof. Frantzides' visiting fellow in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Bariatric Surgery from Sept 2008 – Dec 2008, at Chicago, USA. Dr Ayiomamitis main interest is Advanced Laparoscopic & Bariatric Surgery.

Jennifer Glover, M.D.

A native of Chicago land, Dr. Glover received her M.D. from Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center. She served her internship and initial residency in General Surgery at Indiana University, and continued her residency in General Surgery at the University of Chicago. She also pursued a fellowship in trauma/critical care at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Dr. Glover is board certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care.

Dr. Glover was Dr. Frantzides' laparoscopic fellow for the period of July 2009 to June 2010.

Dr. Welle received his D.O from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie Pennsylvania. He served his internship at Mount Clemens General Hospital (Mount Clemens, Michigan) and his residency in General Surgery at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital (warren, Michigan). Dr. Welle is board eligible in General Surgery.

Dr. Welle will engage in education, research, and clinical activities under the direction of Dr. Frantzides at St. Francis Hospital over the next year to develop his expertise in Minimally-Invasive surgical procedures and techniques.

Want to Know More About Dr. Frantzides? See what others are saying:
www.ObesityHelp.com

Constantine T. Frantzides M.D., PhD, F.A.C.S.