Surgeons

Laurie Spaulding, MD, FACS, is the director of the Bariatric Surgery program at Fletcher Allen Health Care, which she founded in 1992.  She is an associate professor of Surgery at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. 

Patrick Forgione, MD, is an assistant professor of Surgery at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery.  He completed a fellowship in laparoscopic surgery in 2005.

Deborah Wachtel, ANP, MPH, has been a nurse practitioner since 1986 with a focus on secondary prevention of chronic disease, international health care services, and women’s health.  She is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and specializes in diabetes education and management.

Richard Dickhaut, RN, BS Ed, has been a registered nurse since 1996.  He holds degrees in both nursing and education.  His practice specialties include psychiatry, physical rehabilitation, and internal medicine.  His interests include patient education and program development.

Ellen Evans, MS, RD, has been a clinical dietitian since 1977 when she received her masters degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics.  Her focus has been providing nutritional assessment, planning, and counseling for medically high risk populations.

Maryanne Ludlow, MS, RD, CDE, has a Masters degree in Nutrition Education, is a certified diabetes educator and has worked in many different fields of nutrition including cardiac rehabilitation. Her focus is behavioral methods of weight loss and the benefits of weight loss on cardiovascular health and diabetes.  She is a co-leader in a behavioral weight loss program and has worked in the Bariatric Surgery program since 2000.

Jill Sullivan, RD, CD, received a bachelors degree in Clinical Nutrition in 2000 and specializes in medical nutrition therapy with a focus on weight loss and nutritional counseling.  She is a co-leader in a behavioral weight loss program.  She has been working in the Bariatric Surgery program since 2001.

Kaitlin Anderson, RD, CD, received a bachelors degree in Clinical Nutrition in 1998 and has been working in the Bariatric Surgery program since 2005.

Nancy T. Silberg, PhD, has practiced as a licensed psychologist specializing in behavioral medicine since 1990 after receiving her doctoral degree in clinical psychology.  Dr. Silberg’s clinical interests include weight management, eating disorders, and psychophysiologic disorders.  

Renee Corbett has been an administrative assistant in this program since 2002. 

Kimberly Kermode has been an administrative assistant since 2004.

Johann Patlak has been an MA since 2003 and is a certified emergency medical technician.