As Arkansas' only female bariatric surgeon, Dr. Kristin Patton provides a unique perspective for her patients looking to lose weight. She chose bariatric surgery as her specialty when she realized the impact weight loss surgery can have on a patient's life. For her, it's about helping patients live the life they want to live without being held back by weight or other health issues caused by being overweight.
With advanced training in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, Dr. Kristin Patton specializes in bariatric surgery with smaller incisions, shorter hospitalization and faster recovery. She completed her general surgery internship and residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, followed by an advanced GI surgery fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she also served as a visiting assistant professor.
Dr. Patton and her family live in Benton and she sees patients from across the state looking to lose weight in our Benton clinic.
Dr. Porter is board certified in general surgery and is a fellow in the American College of Surgeons. He received his doctorate of medicine from Howard University in Washington, DC, and his general surgery training from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He is a board certified general surgeon with extensive bariatric experience, including a preceptorship in laparoscopic bariatric surgery. He has performed hundreds of laparoscopic RNY gastric bypasses. He also has a wealth of experience in advanced surgery of the pancreas and liver. He has served as chief of surgery and is currently co-director of trauma services at Saline Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Salem is double board certified in general surgery and colorectal surgery and double fellowship trained in bariatric and colorectal surgery. He is a fellow with the American College of Surgeons. He completed his general surgery residencies at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and at Lankenau Medical Center in Philadelphia. He then completed a bariatric and foregut fellowship at St. Luke's Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Utilizing minimally invasive techniques, Dr. Salem performs weight loss surgery including laparoscopic and robotic gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy as well as foregut surgery. He also performs advanced surgery for colon and rectal diseases. Dr. Salem performs cutting edge procedures for rectal cancer preserving the anal sphincter whenever possible, sparing the patient a permanent colostomy.
He is a co-author in several peer-reviewed publications describing the first single-port robotic colectomies.
Traci Crump has more than 25 years of experience in nursing. She started her career as a surgical scrub/first assist and progressed to director of surgical services. She earned her master’s degree from UAMS College of Nursing in 2017 and got her license as a certified nurse practitioner in 2018. She helps patients on the medically supervised weight loss program.
