Meet the Surgeons
One of your most important considerations should be the experience of your surgeon. How many weight loss surgeries have they performed? Are they experienced in minimally invasive techniques? Do they have a low complication rate?
Sentara Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery Center has performed thousands of weight loss surgeries. All of the surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Surgery and are experienced in minimally invasive gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgeries.
Our surgeons have a record of excellent clinical outcomes and successful patient weight loss experiences. All are supported by the knowledge and experience of the complete weight loss multidisciplinary team at Sentara Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery Center and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Bariatric Program Director
MD Degree: Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA:, 1983
Internship & Residency: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
Current Academic Appointment: Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
Board Certification & Memberships: Surgery, 1990, recertified 2000
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric Clinical Director
MD Degree: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 1992
Internship & Residency: Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia, 2000
Additional Training: Advanced Laparoscopy and Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery, 2004
Board Certification & Memberships: Surgery, 2001 Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal & Endoscopic Surgeons
Click here to view Dr. Fontana's Video Profile.
MD Degree: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 1994
Internship & Residency: State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY
Current Academic Appointment: Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
Board Certification & Memberships: Surgery, 2000
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Society of Breast Surgeons
MD Degree: George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 1996
Internship & Residency: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, 2001
Additional Training: Trauma Critical Care, 2002
Advanced Laparoscopy and Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery, 2005
Board Certification & Memberships: Surgery, 2002
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
MD Degree: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 1996
Internship & Residency: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
Board Certification & Memberships: Surgery, 2002
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Valerie LeGrone, MSN, APRN, BC, ANP, CNORDegree: Master of Science, Nursing, University of Texas, Arlington, TX.
Bachelor of Science, Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Board Certification & Memberships:
Virginia Board of Nursing
Competency and Credentialing Institute
American Nurses Credentialing Center