Are you searching for a bariatric surgeon who truly understands the importance of lifelong support? Do you want to know how inclusive healthcare can transform your bariatric journey? Then you don’t want to miss this conversation because it may completely change how you think about your options for obesity care.

Before we dive in, we’re thrilled to share that BariNation is a national sponsor of the TREO Foundation’s Walk to Stomp the Stigma which is happening in 10+ cities throughout the fall. The Virtual Walk is on Saturday, September 27th and we invite you to join our BariNation team. Together, we’ll shine a light on the importance of better access to obesity care for all. Click the link in the show notes to join our BariNation team and walk with us virtually—you don’t want to miss the chance to be part of this movement.

In today’s episode, we sat down with Dr. Maria Brown, a fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon in Arizona who specializes in robotic bariatric surgery and leads a comprehensive program designed to give patients everything they need in one place. Her practice offers medical weight loss, nutrition support, fitness guidance, and a line of vitamins to ensure no piece of the puzzle is missing. Dr. Brown is deeply committed to building safe healthcare spaces where every patient—regardless of their background, identity, or financial status—feels seen, heard, and supported.

Tune in, and don’t forget to join the BariNation Community to attend community meetups, watch exclusive bonus content and support the podcast for as little as $5 per month!  You can also contribute to BariNation and become a Drive To Thrive Supporter with a one-time or recurring donation.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Opening
• (00:29) Join BariNation for the TREO Foundation’s Walk to Stomp the Stigma on Saturday, September 27th
• (01:55) Dr. Brown is a bariatric surgeon specializing in robotic bariatric surgery
• (05:17) Discussion of inclusive healthcare, Medicare, Medicaid, self-pay, and ensuring obesity care for all patients
• (05:52) Brown’s practice is a safe space for every patient, including the LGBTQIA 
• (08:34) Shop around for the right bariatric surgeon and build a lifelong relationship of trust 
• (10:40) Obesity care doesn’t end with surgery—it’s a chronic disease requiring long-term support
• (11:52) Patients deserve to feel seen and heard

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Building a strong BariNation Community and long-term patient support system is just as important as the medical side of bariatric surgery, helping patients succeed beyond the operating room.
• Dr. Maria Brown emphasizes inclusive healthcare and safe healthcare spaces, ensuring that every patient—regardless of race, gender, or sexuality—has access to compassionate obesity care.
• A holistic approach that combines robotic bariatric surgery, medical weight loss, nutrition support, fitness guidance, and specialized bariatric vitamins creates a comprehensive path to better outcomes on the lifelong bariatric journey.

RESOURCES:

• BariNation Website
• BariNation - Email
• BariNation Partner and Practice Monthly Membership   
• BariNation’s How to Find an Obesity Specialist Guide
• TREO Foundation - The Walk
• Join BariNation on the TREO Walk
• Dr. Brown - Website
• AZ Weight Loss Surgery

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Maria Brown, a Cuban American from Upstate New York, studied Spanish in Mexico and earned a B.S. in Biology from Siena College, graduating magna cum laude. She gained healthcare experience in Belize, worked at Pfizer, and trained at St. George’s University School of Medicine, with rotations in England, Grenada, and New York City. After completing her General Surgery Residency and a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Robotic, Advanced GI, and Bariatric Surgery, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she is owner and director of Valley Bariatric Medical & Weight Loss Center and a national proctor for Intuitive’s da Vinci Robotic Systems. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and paddleboarding with her two Huskies.

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

April Williams: You've just tuned into a podcast that welcomes you into a community, a resource center, and a safe place that powers your [00:00:15] journey towards personal wellness.

Natalie Tierney: Our goal is you leave us today feeling hopeful, inspired, and ready to live your best bariatric life.

Their virtual walk to stomp the stigma is on Saturday, September 27th, and we want you to walk with us. Join our Virtual Bari Nation team by clicking the link below in these show notes. Join the team, [00:01:00] walk with us, raise awareness when we come together as a nation. Great things happen. Hi friends. Welcome back to the Bari Nation Podcast.

It is something that you are striving to ensure everybody has access to care. Regardless of where they fall on, on any spectrum. And today I really want to [00:01:45] understand how this inclusive approach has helped you help more patients. So before we dive into that conversation, will you introduce yourself for people that don't know you?

Surgical weight loss, uh, nutrition guidance and fitness as well. So we also recently launched our own vitamin line to make sure we support our [00:02:30] patients all in one single place. Um, I'm born and raised in New York and came out here for the outdoors, but found heat, unfortunately. What,

April Williams: A little too far

Dr. Maria Brown: south?

Dr. Maria Brown: [00:03:00] Exactly. Exactly. And that's a huge part of it is, you know, when you're offering everything and you're a private practitioner, you want to be able to offer not only the medical part of it, but also the support part, because as we talked before, you know, the [00:03:15] support component is directly related to how successful you are long term, you know?

April Williams: Yeah. But, and thank you for calling that out.

You're performing surgery, you're saving lives, right? You have [00:04:00] this holistic program, but if you have a community like variation that you can tap into when you need that support. And your surgeon is behind it as well. It's just amazing, right? Because that support is available for you when and where you need it.

Dr. Maria Brown: Oh, absolutely. And I mean, there are things that as a surgeon, I offer and they're my area of expertise, but there are a lot of things that, as a [00:04:30] surgeon, I don't offer.

April Williams: Well, we are thrilled, uh, in our partnership.

Dr. Maria Brown: So I think, you know, when I opened my practice, um, it was always my goal to be able to serve everyone and anyone. A big part of that was what insurances do I take. Uh, we have never [00:05:30] stopped taking insurances that are governmental, for example, Medicaid or Medicare. Um, that has always been a big part of.

To us, it doesn't matter. And you know, some of my closest friends are gay. And they have told me, you know, I feel like I'm not always welcome everywhere. Mm-hmm. And so a big part of when we [00:06:15] started to launch our online support, et cetera, we made sure that we were listed as a safe place. It breaks my heart that I have to list myself as a safe.

And I just, I think that's the way it should [00:06:45] be. I don't, you know, necessarily think I'm unique in that. I just, that's how I was raised, that everybody deserves access to healthcare.

And as you and I both know, there are already plenty of barriers to [00:07:15] access care when it comes to obesity treatment. And if. Discrimination because of your race, your gender, your sexuality is another barrier. We're only moving away from helping people truly be healthy. And I understand when you say it's sad [00:07:30] that I have to say that I'm a safe place, but what I kind of hear in that is.

It really is a beacon of hope and light for people in the greater bariatric community who are a [00:08:00] little bit scared to onboard treatment because they're worried about that. But knowing that you're always gonna be that safe place to go for care is really powerful.

Yeah. Um, you know, financial, anything should not be a barrier to getting healthcare. I think we unfortunately live in a unique. Country where there are already a lot of barriers when compared to other places, and that mm-hmm. Absolutely shouldn't be one of 'em. I [00:08:30] think that, you know, you said that that comes up in your community a lot.

I see my patients for life and it is so [00:09:00] important that you are comfortable, completely comfortable with the person that is caring for you no matter what, so you have choices. That's it. Without question, do your research, go see someone else. Never feel for one [00:09:15] second bad about leaving a situation you're uncomfortable in.

The point is, is that you are allowed to try these people on. You are allowed [00:09:45] to vibe check. You are allowed to ask those questions. You are the consumer, and you get to choose where you spend your time, your energy, and your dollars. And I understand that. Yeah. It can be some work, right? To find [00:10:00] multiple surgeons to interview them.

We'll link it in the show notes right here for you. We want you to be able to find that person and right. Maria, you're open to this too. You [00:10:30] want people to come in, ask you these questions, see if they're the right fit. And the only way you do that right is

Dr. Maria Brown: getting in front of them. And there are people, they come to see me.

They've had some weight recurrence. They're back. We're talking about nutrition, [00:11:00] fitness, maybe GLP ones, medications like that. That relationship continues not just until the day of surgery. It is forever, and I think it needs to be a good relationship.

I had a wonderful surgical experience. That team was excellent. It was great. Uh, but now that I have gotten to know more experts like yourself in this community, it's like, oh, that [00:11:30] would've been a little bit different this way and. My journey is my journey and I'm just so thankful that people like you are alive in this era to help all of us treat this lifelong, chronic and progressive disease that is obesity.

Dr. Maria Brown: I hope that when people see this, they feel like they are seen and they are heard [00:12:00] no matter where you go. And just because you see someone that maybe didn't see you or hear you the way you wanted to be seen or heard, you have the option to go somewhere else and get that care that you deserve.

April Williams: Yes, they are. Uh, that's the classic definition of a mic drop moment right there.

So if you're looking for additional expert led support that happens every single day. Join us in Bar Nation, Dr. Brown, thank you so much for reading with me today, and welcome to the Bar Nation family.

April Williams: That wraps up another empowering episode of the Bari Nation podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, keep the conversation going by joining the Bari Nation membership community. [00:13:30] Where you can attend live support events, access on-demand resources, and find a caring community.

Natalie Tierney: Join us at Barination.mn.co.

Jason Smith: And just remember at the end of the day, you've got this. We've got you. And we'll see you next time. Bye everybody.