Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota recently named University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview a national center for bariatric care. The designation closely follows the recent designation of the Obesity Surgery Center at the medical center as a center of excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

The Obesity Surgery Center, which provides patient-centered care to people interested in achieving significant, long-term weight loss, is also a HealthPartners Preferred Provider and a PreferredOne Center of Excellence due to its exceptional outcomes.

The center’s comprehensive services combine all aspects of weight loss, including surgical treatment options, pre-operative testing and education, nutritional counseling, psychological evaluation and behavioral therapy, medication interventions and monthly support groups.

The center's surgeon partners include University of Minnesota Physicians surgeons Drs. Sayeed Ikramuddin, Henry Buchwald, Todd Kellogg and Rafael Andrade along with Hennepin Faculty Associate surgeon Howard Lederer, M.D.

For more information about the Obesity Surgery Center, located on the University campus, call 612-625-8446. For information about the Riverside campus Obesity Surgery program call Fairview On Call, 612-672-7272 or 800-824-1953.