1-800-NEW-SELF

Nicholson Clinic for Obesity Surgery at Baylor Plano recognized as Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)

Dallas, TX -- Jan. 23, 2008 -- The Nicholson Clinic for Obesity Surgery at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The Nicholson Clinic is led by Dr. Nick Nicholson who is Board Certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and a member of the American College of Surgeons. The ASMBS was established in 1983 and is the largest society in the world dedicated exclusively to bariatric surgery.

Dr. Nicholson has been performing weight loss surgery for more than seven years. At the Nicholson Clinic he leads a hand-picked team which include a dietician, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, psychiatrist and psychologist to provide the information and expertise patients need for long-term success.

To be recognized by the ASMBS as a Center of Excellence a facility must meet numerous requirements and rigorous criteria. The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation is only awarded to hospitals or institutions that perform at least 125 bariatric surgeries per year. Surgeons must have performed at least 125 bariatric surgeries and perform at least 50 per year. The facility must have a dedicated multi-disciplinary bariatric team that includes surgeons, nurses, medical consultants, nutritionists, psychologists and exercise physiologists. In addition, the facility must report long-term outcomes and submit to an on-site inspection to verify the information. Currently, 546 surgeons from 310 hospitals and institutions are designated as Centers of Excellence in the U.S.

"It's quite an honor for the Nicholson Clinic to receive this designation - it represents the ASMBS and our peers recognize the superior medical care and successful results the Clinic is providing," said Dr. Nick Nicholson of The Nicholson Clinic at Baylor Plano. "It's also extremely helpful to our patients on the insurance front since many insurers value these accreditations and recommend and approve only certified Center of Excellence hospitals to their patients."

Dr. Nicholson became interested in advanced laparoscopic and weight loss surgery procedures during his residency at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Parkland Memorial Hospital. He continues to pursue his passion in bariatric surgery, expanding his expertise in multiple advanced procedures in the belief there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss surgery.

A native of Texas, Dr. Nicholson began undergraduate studies at UT Austin and pursued his MD at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston before completing his residency at UT Southwestern at Parkland. He now practices bariatric surgery in Dallas, and is active in several organizations, including the American Medical Association, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscope Surgeons and the American Society of Bariatric Surgery. For more information, please visit nicholsonclinic.com.

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest society for this specialty in the world. Founded in 1983, foremost American surgeons have formed the society's leadership and have established an excellent organization with educational and support programs for surgeons and allied health professionals. The purpose of the society is to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery by continued encouragement of its members to: pursue investigations in both the clinic and the laboratory; interchange ideas, information and experience pertaining to bariatric surgery; promote guidelines for ethical patient selection and care; develop educational programs for physicians, paramedical persons, and lay people and promote outcome studies and quality assurance.