Our Surgeon

DR. RONNIE KEITH, D.O., FACOS

DR. RONNIE KEITH, D.O. completed undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma and Southwest Oklahoma State University, graduating with a BS in Pharmacy. After five years of working pharmacy, he completed medical school at Oklahoma State University of Osteopathic Medicine and completed general surgery residency in SI. Louis, Missouri. Board-Certified and a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgery, he is also a fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

In addition to general surgery, DR. RONNIE KEITH, D.O. has a special interest in weight loss surgery and is the founder of Oklahoma Weight Loss Options (a full service program certified as a "Center of Excellence" by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, asmbs.org) He also serves as director of the Bariatric Service Program at Norman.

DR. RONNIE KEITH, D.O. enjoys teaching and has conducted physician workshops and proctored physicians individually in both Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and Adjustable Gastric Band cases. He has traveled from Albany, New York, to Phoenix, Arizona, and other locations throughout the country to assist bariatric surgeons add new surgical options to their practices.

"The patients we help show extreme changes in their appearance and their outlook on life. Their gracious appreciation provides our weight loss surgery team with rewarding and satisfying experiences. We have shared hugs, kisses, and even tears of joy as these life-altering changes occur."

Join us in reviewing the information that will allow you to decide if weight loss surgery is an option for you.

Receptionists

Our receptionists are knowledgeable and friendly! They will assist you with your general questions, make appointments, meet and greet on office days and direct you to the appropriate persons for individualized questions.

Your first contact with our office is intended to be a positive experience.

Nursing

Nursing assistants Ms. McCurdy, Ms. Schaeckel, Ms. Lamb, and Ms. Arbuckle are responsible, experienced and dedicated care providers. Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Schaeckel have worked with DR. RONNIE KEITH, D.O. for a combined 23 years with Ms. Arbuckle and Ms. Lamb complementing the "enduring duo" with their set of skills. These ladies do final checks on all patients going to surgery, scheduling and more. They also assist with post operative questions, office appointments, etc.

Nutritional

Mary Montgomery, MS, RD/LD and Brian Delacruz, MA, RD/LD bring experience and knowledge to this extremely important part of the program.

Behavioral Medicine

Michelle Townsend, M.A., L.M.F.T. and Jamie Buecker MA/LPC provide preoperative mental health evaluations plus post operative consultations as needed. They also assist with our support groups and are dynamic in preparing patients for the mission ahead.

Physician Assistant

Winter Bathe PA-C joined us 5+ years ago and has been an invaluable addition to the program. Extremely intelligent and an easy conversationalist, she can relate to anyone and her communication skills most often create a strong bond with patients, (unless her giggling is annoying!!). She assists on our weight loss procedures and most of the general procedures we perform and is also excellent in that patient care area. Recently, she was selected by each of the two companies that provide Adjustable Gastric Bands, (Lap-Band and REALIZE) to be an educator for our methodology of band adjustment procedures. She will assist physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to learn our "scientific approach" to this rather subjective area of Band care.

Program Assistants

Mark Obermiller, RN/CBN, Manager of Metabolic Surgery Unit at Norman Regional Hospital is probably the most passionate supporter of weight loss surgery that DR. RONNIE KEITH, D.O. talks about. With the program in various capacities since the beginning of 2002, he can and does do it all. An excellent seminar presenter and unequaled patient educator, he is assembling an exceptional nursing team at Norman Regional Hospital for your care. He is one of only a few Certified Bariatric Nurses in this part of the country.

Leah Melton, RN/BSN, Bariatric coordinator for Norman Regional Hospital brings a wealth of talent to the program. Analytical at situation solutions, she remains highly personable and truly represents "all" parties in her coordinator position. A champion of "patient comes first," she also coordinates the support group program both locally and at the satellite locations. Ms. Melton sees patients daily at the hospital to assist Mr. Obermiller with oversight of the Metabolic Surgery Unit.

Newsletters

2011		2010
Summer Spring Winter		Fall Summer Spring Winter

Center of Excellence RONNIE KEITH, D.O. (surgeon), OKlahoma WEIGHT LOSS OPtions (program) and NORMAN Regional Hospital (facility) have each earned recognition as CENTER of EXCELLENCE by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.