ABOUT THE NEW YORK BARIATRIC GROUP

tri state bariatrics

Our Team

Learn More About Our Team

When you visit The New York Bariatric Group Center for Minimally Invasive Weight Loss Surgery you will find a team of talented and caring office staff ready to help you in any way we can. Whether we are answering questions about the LAP-BAND® System procedure, coordinating with an insurance provider or scheduling an appointment, the NYBG Team also comprises a bariatric nutritionist, a board certified Social Worker and two talented physician assistants all dedicated to providing our patients the utmost care and attention.

Our Surgeons

Learn More About Our Surgeons.

Four of the country’s leading bariatric surgeons are practicing in Long Island and have joined to form the New York Bariatric Group. Providing bariatric surgery options such as laparoscopic banding, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, our surgeons represent New York’s elite institution for the treatment of morbid obesity. With an array of different types of bariatric surgery, innovative new solutions, ongoing after bariatric surgery care, and more, we’re different in the best way possible.

MEET THE SURGICAL TEAM

Our Doctors

Shawn M. Garber M.D.


Dr. Garber has performed more than 3500 gastric bypass procedures and 3200 Lap-Band® procedures and over 300 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies.

Spencer A. Holover M.D.


Dr. Holover has performed over 1200 Laparoscopic Gastric Bypasses, over 1800 Lap-Bands and 400 Sleeve Gastrectomy procedures. He is one of the first and most experienced surgeons on Long Island to perform Single Incision Lap-Band Surgery (SILS).

Jeffrey W. Chiao M.D.


A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Chiao is a board certified bariatric and general surgeon from the American Board of Surgery.

Eric A. Sommer M.D.


Performed over 300 bariatric procedures including Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding.

Nikhilesh Sekhar M.D.


Dr. Sekhar is a Board Certified Bariatric and General Surgeon. He is a graduate of, UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey,

Joseph R. Gaudio M.D.


Board certified anesthesiologist provides anesthesia during endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures in our office.

Pankti Patel M.D.


Dr. Patel is American Board of Surgery certified as well with the daVinci System for Robotic Surgery and is an active member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Sherard Chiu M.D.


A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Dr. Chiu completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery from the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine.

Kevin Small M.D.


Dr. Kevin Small is a well-known innovator and an educator in the fields of plastic and reconstructive surgery. He has received many honors and awards citing his excellence in academics, teaching, and research from prestigious organizations.

Channing Chin M.D.


Dr. Chin is a native of Louisiana. He has trained extensively in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery and has practiced on both east and west coasts.

Candice Chipman M.D.


Dr. Chipman graduated from Tufts University in Medford, MA. After graduation, she got involved in health care, working in New Orleans to create health councils to improve public health.

Elizabeth Godshall M.D.


Dr. Godshall completed her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at Smith College in Northampton, MA. She earned her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Nirav Desai M.D.


Dr. Desai studied in Chicago at Northwestern University where he completed his undergraduate education.

Edward Cussati M.D.


Dr. Cussatti is a board certified general and bariatric surgeon who completed his general surgery training at The Stamford Hospital, Stamford, CT.

Cynthia Weber M.D.


Dr. Weber is a graduate of a combined B.S/ M.D. program at Kent State University and Northeastern Ohio Universities’ College of Medicine. She is also Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Gregory Nishimura M.D.


Dr. Nishimura was born and raised in San Jose, California. He graduated from Hahnemann University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1994 and completed his surgical residency at Nassau County Medical Center.

If you are ready to lose weight, you have many options at our Tristate Bariatric Group. We combine surgical expertise, patience, compassion, and the confidence to lead you through the journey to successful weight loss.