Dr. Michael Schweitzer developed the laparoscopic bariatric surgery programs at the Medical College of Virginia (one of the 1st ten laparoscopic gastric bypass programs in the country), Georgetown University, Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, and Johns Hopkins University, where he is currently a full-time faculty member. He was the first surgeon in the mid-Atlantic area to perform laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the first in Maryland to perform laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery and laparoscopic duodenal switch with biliopancreatic diversion. He has performed well over 1000 laparoscopic bariatric operations to date.
Dr. Schweitzer is currently the chair of the membership committee for the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons. He is also a site inspector for the American College of Surgeons Bariatric Center of Excellence Program. He is on three editorial boards; Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (the official journal of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons), and Bariatric Times. He also performs peer review for the Archives of Surgery.
Dr. Schweitzer was first in the world to publish a technique for endoscopic stoma reduction using transoral endoscopic suturing. A great deal of attention is focused on the future of transoral surgery to avoid abdominal incisions for routine surgery ("No Scar Surgery") and Dr. Schweitzer is one of the first to apply this technology to bariatric patients.
Dr. Schweitzer has written numerous papers, chapters, and review articles on bariatric surgery. Several of his laparoscopic bariatric surgical techniques are featured in the American College of Surgeons Cine Video Series. He is also considered an international expert on venous thromboembolic complications after bariatric surgery. He has one of the lowest complication rates as documented in the world literature.
Dr. Schweitzer currently has a very active laparoscopic bariatric practice that includes; laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic duodenal switch with biliopancreatic diversion and revison of previous bariatric surgery.