Meet Our Surgical Weight Loss Team
L. James Cook, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Bariatric Surgeon
Medical Director, FRMC Surgical Weight Loss Program
Dr. Cook attended medical school and general surgery residency at the University of Kentucky. He joined the Hickory Surgical Clinic in 1984. In addition to surgical weight loss procedures, his practice covers a wide range of general surgery interests, including laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, cancer surgery, colon surgery, general surgery (gallbladder, hernia, anti-reflux surgery, etc).
He established our surgical weight loss program in 2001, and his leadership has set the standard for excellence in bariatric surgery in our region. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS).
Monty Cox, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Bariatric Surgeon
Medical Director, CVMC Surgical Weight Management Program
Dr. Cox joined the Hickory Surgical Clinic in 2003. Originally from South Carolina, he attended medical school and surgery residency at MUSC in Charleston, SC. In addition to surgical weight loss procedures, he maintains a broad range of general surgical interests, including laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, cancer surgery, breast surgery, colon surgery, general surgery (gallbladder, hernia, anti-reflux surgery, etc). He has an interest in single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), where appropriate.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS), and member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons.
Jonathan Hata, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Bariatric SurgeonDr. Hata joined the Hickory Surgical Clinic in 2008. Originally from Oregon, he attended medical school and residency at Duke University. He then went on to complete an additional year of fellowship training at Duke, focusing on minimally invasive and advanced laparoscopic surgery. In addition to surgical weight loss procedures, his practice includes a broad scope of general surgery, including laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, cancer surgery, colon surgery, general surgery (gallbladder, hernia, anti-reflux surgery, etc). He has an interest in single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), where appropriate.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS), and member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons.
Hickory Surgical Clinic Staff
Jodi Lanier, FNP-C
Jodi joined the Hickory Surgical Clinic's surgical weight loss team in 2010. She received an Associate Degree in Nursing from CVCC in 2002, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2004, and her Master of Science in Nursing degree from UNC, Charlotte in 2007. She is certified
as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners since 2007.She has clinical experience in family primary care, but she has a special interest in the treatment of morbid obesity. At the Hickory Surgical Clinic, she dedicates her entire practice to the care and support of our bariatric surgical patients. She plays a key role in the pre-operative evaluation, post-operative management, and long-term follow-up and support of our patients.
She is universally well-received by our patients. Her presence in our clinic means that our patients have access to a readily-available, familiar clinician who has specific training and experience in the needs of the surgical weight loss patient. Of course, patients still see their surgeon when needed.
Clinical Support
Any surgeon's practice relies on a strong clinical foundation in the office. Our clinical support staff at Hickory Surgical is second to none. They help keep the sometimes unpredictable office schedule running smoothly, and they provide a familiar voice of experience when our patients need support.Utilization (Insurance) Support
Navigating the sometimes uncharted waters of insurance plan approvals can be a daunting challenge for many patients. The behind-the-scenes support of our utilization staff helps guide patients through the process as smoothly as possible.Hospital Staff
The surgical weight loss team would not be complete without the support of the hospital staff. The surgeons of the Hickory Surgical Clinic provide a full range of inpatient and outpatient surgical services at both of the hospitals in Hickory.At both Frye Regional Medical Center and Catawba Valley Medical Center, a dedicated team of clinical staff provide a friendly, familiar face to provide guidance and support on your surgical weight loss journey.
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For more information about the surgical weight loss team at each hospital, please click the links above.
