North Carolina Bariatric Institute Unveils New Name and Brand

HICKORY, NC (March 18, 2024) – Frye Regional Surgical Weight Loss unveiled today a new name and brand to better reflect the services provided to patients. Frye Regional Surgical Weight Loss Center will now be called North Carolina Bariatric Institute, a department of Frye Regional Medical Center. It will continue to provide services to patients in the same location and under the direction of a team of bariatric surgeons and medical weight loss specialists.

“We are so pleased to be able to share this new identity with our community,” said Philip Greene, MD, chief executive officer of Frye Regional Medical Center. “The new name and brand underscore the specialization that we have as well as the work that the team has put in to grow our bariatrics program. We are honored to provide bariatrics and weight loss services to the patients in our community.”  

While the program is getting a new look, it’s important to note that the care provided is not changing. “We want to emphasize that only the program name and brand are changing. Patients will receive the same high-quality care as always, with the same physicians and staff and in the same location,” added Dr. Greene. 

Dr. Montgomery Cox, Dr. Jonathan Hata and Dr. Baker Henson are trained bariatric surgeons, fellows with the American Board of Surgery and active members of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Cox completed his medical degree and residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. He joined the Frye Regional Medical Staff in July 2003. He performs gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures, both laparoscopically and robotically. Dr. Hata is the medical director of Surgical Weight Loss at the North Carolina Bariatric Institute. He completed his medical degree and residency at Duke University School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. Dr. Hata joined the Frye Regional Medical Staff in July 2008. He performs minimally-invasive laparoscopic gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures. Dr. Henson completed his medical degree at Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine and his residency at Pinnacle Health System in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Henson joined the Frye Regional Medical Staff in September 2016. He performs the gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures, both laparoscopically and robotically.

For patients ready to start their weight loss journey but not ready for surgery, medical weight loss services are also available under the direction of Dr. Ailisa Smith and Anita Gribble, PA-C. Dr. Smith is a board-certified family medicine physician with expertise in obesity medicine. She received her medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. Gribble specializes in the treatment of obesity management and brings over 30 years of experience in chronic disease to our weight management team. In addition to being a certified physician assistant, Anita received her Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine and is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association.

Obesity is recognized as a condition with significant health implications.  The Obesity Medicine Association has labeled it as a chronic, relapsing, progressive and treatable disease that responds best to changes in health behaviors, or a “lifestyle change.”  Our medical weight loss program takes an evidence-based approach which includes nutritional, exercise and, in some instances, medication support. This can be successfully combined before or after surgical weight loss. 

“What sets us apart from some programs is our approach to treating obesity,” said Dr. Smith. “There are many people who would see tremendous health benefits from weight loss. Whether patients are ready for surgery or would rather start with medical weight loss, our program is well-rounded and can assist patients at any step of their weight loss journey.” 

Following a health evaluation, Dr. Smith, Gribble and the team will help patients develop a personalized plan that meets their weight loss goals in a safe, medically supervised, and supportive environment. Patients will receive an individualized eating plan, fitness goals, and prescription weight loss medications when medically indicated. Eating plans and medications will be adjusted as needed and as appropriate.

North Carolina Bariatric Institute will continue to offer patients the same compassionate, comprehensive care that has been a hallmark of the practice for over 20 years. The practice’s multidisciplinary approach to bariatric services includes surgical and medical weight loss providers working collaboratively with a dietitian, insurance and intake coordinators, a psychologist, an exercise physiologist and experienced surgical teams to ensure successful, safe, quality care at every step of a patient’s weight loss journey.     

Frye Regional Medical Center, where Drs. Cox, Hata and Henson perform all surgical cases, features comfortable, private rooms where bariatric patients can receive pre-and post-operative care all in one location.

North Carolina Bariatric Institute remains located at 1781 Tate Blvd. SE, Hickory, NC 28601. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To learn more, please visit NorthCarolinaBariatricInstitute.com or call 828.315.5577.