Mercy San Juan Medical Center's bariatric program has become one of nine programs in California to be designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, according to the American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).

In addition to the ASBS designation, Mercy San Juan's bariatric surgery program is the top contributor among seven participating bariatric centers in a five-year, $1.9 million National Institutes of Health clinical study on obesity and bariatric surgery.

"The bariatric surgery program is another example of a Mercy San Juan service that has received national distinction because of its best practices and results," says Brian Ivie, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Mercy San Juan.

A list of all bariatric surgery centers of excellence can be found at www.surgicalreview.org.

"We are very pleased with this designation," says Laura Machado, MD, who began the bariatric surgery program at Mercy San Juan in 2003. "It reinforces the quality of our program and helps us remain focused on excellence and safety. Bariatric surgery can dramatically improve the quality of life for obese patients, and we have a dedicated team of providers that understand their unique needs."