Centra has announced the hiring of Dr. Joshua Alley, to offer bariatric surgery, which is weight loss surgery, to the region. A Lynchburg native, Alley handled 650 bariatric surgery cases over his eight-year career, most recently in Pennsylvania. Alley also will handle general surgery cases through Centra Medical Group Surgical Specialists.

As obesity trends continue to rise across the country, Alley brings another dimension to Centra’s comprehensive care. Alley specializes in the three most common, minimally invasive bariatric surgeries, including laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic adjustable gastric band.

Centra Weight Loss Services will offer a continuum of care, including nutrition education, health maintenance and bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery is a great fit for Centra, which is well-positioned to offer a myriad of related services, including Centra Medical Group Piedmont Psychiatric Center, Centra Medical Group Plastic Surgery Center, Centra Sleep Disorders Center and Centra Rehabilitation.

Alley treats obesity as a disease, caring for each patient with compassion to help them reach their weight loss goals and live a more active and fuller life.

“Centra has a strong reputation in this community for offering high-quality care,” Alley said. “Bariatric surgery can extend that reputation into a new field. We will have a premier program and are putting together all the pieces so patients can have a collaborative, lifelong relationship and a skilled surgery team.”

According to research, bariatric surgery benefits patients with type 2 diabetes and significantly reduces vascular events, sleep apnea, hypertension, joint disease and cholesterol. Studies also show that individuals with obesity live longer after having bariatric surgery.

Alley will host regular seminars throughout Central Virginia to provide an overview of bariatric surgery in Lynchburg and Gretna.

For more information on weight loss surgery and upcoming seminars, call (434) 200-3901.