In part 2 of the CEMMS blog, I want to introduce you to my team.
To be recognized as a “Centre of Excellence” internationally, the centre has to do around 100 cases a year, with each surgeon at least 50 cases a year and with the senior surgeon having a life-time experience of more than 250 cases. In South Africa there are unfortunately very few surgeons who can get to these numbers, mainly because the surgery is very expensive, and most patients simply cannot afford it. What I can say though is that the more experienced centres will always attract the most patients. The reasons we accredit these centres is because data captured shows these centres have 2 to 3 times lower complication rates and the lowest mortality risk. Furthermore, follow up of patient care is much more professional and effective, due to the experience and knowledge of all the professionals in the team.
In the Gauteng CEMMS team, we have two bariatric surgeons and one specialist surgeon assistant (who can deal with any possible complication). I, Dr Gary Fetter, am the senior surgeon, with more than 17 years’ experience in this field of surgery. I have done over 3000 primary surgeries and done over 250 revision operations during my career. All I can say is that I am still learning and evolving into what I consider a better, more effective, bariatric and metabolic surgeon. One can never stop learning and improving, no matter how old you are.
Dr Sudha Naidoo is the other surgeon in the team, with excellent laparoscopic and robotic skills. When he has complex cases, we do them together because we all understand this is best for patient care and outcomes. Dr Martin Lebos is a general and hepatobiliary/ gastrointestinal surgeon, who has been working as an associate with me for the last 4 years at Netcare Waterfall City hospital. We assist each other in all the major surgical cases we do, including most of the bariatric cases I do, and where his assistance is of great value is picking up any potential mistakes I might make during surgery and visa versa. Having assisted at hundreds of procedures with me, he knows almost as much as I do about the bariatric surgical procedures and complications.
Dr Leeann Spoolder is the Specialist Physician that Dr. Naidoo and I work with, to prepare our cases for surgery and to address the long-term follow up of our patients. She has recently completed the SCOPE course and other exams required by the board of SAMMSS to become a qualified and accredited bariatic physician of our team. She is in the process of bringing other young physicians on board and educating them as well. Her dedication to the field of obesity and associated medical diseases is admirable and I am honoured to have such an accomplished physician on our team.
Dr Adrian Webb (14 years), Dr Tanya de Roubaix (6 years), Dr Dawn Silberbauer (4 years), are the experienced anaesthetists in our team and also help other bariatric centres when required. I cannot tell you as patients, how safe you are in their expert hands.
David Goncalves is the psychologist who has more than 20 years of experience in this field of medicine. His wife, Irene Goncalves (20 years) and her team of physiotherapists provide exceptional post-operative physiotherapy for our patients too. Nicola Drabble (16 years) and other experienced dieticians in this field of medicine are part of our very experienced team and are always training new dieticians as well.
My theatre staff have been with me for over 14 years. They make the operations run very smoothly cutting down on at least 30 to 60 minutes of time wastage during these very complex procedures. The ICU nurses and ward nurses have been with me for a very long time as well, some since 2011 when we opened the hospital.
I cannot even begin to explain to you how privileged and honoured I am to have all these people around me who have remained loyal to me, and all these people have only one directive; to give the patient the best treatment.
The Gauteng CEMMS team is all about the best care for you as the patient.
