Montclair Magazine Back To School 2016 | Page 73

TOP DOCTORS Dr. Karl Strom, M.D., F.A.C.S. THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED BARIATRIC SURGERY | 123 HIGHLAND AVE. | GLEN RIDGE | (973) 429-7600 WWW.MONTCLAIRSURGICAL.COM | WWW.ADVANCEDBARIATRICS.COM | WWW.STATEWIDEBARIATRICS.COM DR. KARL STROM HAS BEEN ONE OF MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE’S TOP DOCS SINCE 2007, thanks to his work as medical director of The Center for Advanced Bariatric Surgery, which was named a Center of Excellence by the American Society of Baritatrics. He founded the Center in 2004 at Hackensack UMC Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, and has branched out to Hackensack UMC at Pascack Valley in Westwood, Hackensack Meridian, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, and Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel. Dr. Strom specializes in bariatric surgery, otherwise known as “weight-loss surgery” for patients who are morbidly obese and have been unable to achieve lasting weight loss by non-surgical methods. According to Dr. Strom, the most common bariatric procedure is Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, which removes a large portion of the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of food a patient can eat. Other procedures include Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, in which a small stomach pouch is created by dividing the stomach with a stapling device and Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (“Lap-Band”) surgery, which is a less complicated procedure which involves placement of an adjustable collar around the upper stomach. However, Dr. Strom points out that such surgeries are not performed just for vanity’s sake. “We don’t do this for the weight in pounds,” he says. “These people are struggling their whole lives with the diseases of obesity as they get older, like coronary disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, which leads to heart attack.” Dr. Strom has become a leader in the field of bariatric surgery. He is a member of the American Society for Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery (ASMBS), a Fellow at the American College of Surgeons and the New York Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Westchester Medical Center. Also, he is a member of the American Medical Association and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, and National Proctor of INAMED/ALLERGAN Lap-Band Courses. At The Center for Advanced Bariatric Surgery, the actual bariatric procedure is only a piece of a comprehensive health program. “Because this is elective surgery,” Dr. Strom explains, “we send patients through a rigorous medical and physical examination to make sure t hey’re safe for surgery as well as nutritional counseling and psychological evaluation. After surgery, we have a full-time dietary staff that helps them with their diet questions afterwards.” In short, education is key. “We provide free seminars throughout the month at multiple locations throughout the state,” he explains. “Patients have the opportunity to meet patients that previously had surgery at support groups, and we offer exercise programs at the facility at greatly reduced rates. It’s a very comprehensive program to make sure they succeed.” When asked what he provides for his patients, he says simply, “A healthier lifestyle. Basically, we change their lives.” SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION BACK TO SCHOOL 2016 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE 71