Surgeons

Paul J. Chappano, MD, FACS

President of North Florida Surgeons

Education:

• University of Pittsburgh – B.S. Chemistry
• University of Pittsburgh – Doctor of Medicine

Internship:

• Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh

Residency:

Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh:
• Residency in General Surgery
• Chief Surgical Resident

Certification:

• American Board of Surgery – General Surgery

Specialties:

• Minimally Invasive Gastric Banding
• Minimally Invasive Colon Surgery
• Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
• Breast Surgery
• General Surgery

Special Interests:

Dr. Chappano sits on the Board of the American Cancer Society’s Duval Unit. He previously served in the U.S. Navy at Naval Hospital Jacksonville as well as at Camp Pendleton in California.

Dr. Chappano enjoys being involved in his children’s activities, as well as spending time outdoors and by the ocean.

Javier Herrera, MD, FACS

Chairman of General Surgery Department

Education:

• University of Florida – B.S. Engineering Sciences
• University of Miami – Doctor of Medicine

Internship:

• Washington Hospital Center – General Surgery Intern

Residency:

Naval Medical Center, San Diego:
• General Surgery Residency

Certification:

• American Board of Surgery – General Surgery

Specialties:

• Minimally Invasive Gastric Banding
• Minimally Invasive Sleeve Gastrectomy
• Minimally Invasive Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
• Revisional Bariatric Surgery
• Minimally Invasive/Robotic Colon Surgery
• Breast Surgery
• General Surgery

Special Interests:

Dr. Herrera currently serves as Chairman of General Surgery Department.

Miro Uchal, MD, FASMBS, FACS

Director of Bariatric Surgery

Education:

• University of P.J. Safarik in Kosice, Slovak Republic

Previous Appointments:

• District Hospital, Stara Lubovna, Slovak Republic: Department Chair
• Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA: Director of Minimally
invasive surgery education and Director of Bariatric Surgery.

Residency/Fellowships:

• District Hospital, Stara Lubovna, Slovak Republic
• St.Vinzenz Krankenhaus in Germany Hanau am Mein, Germany
• SSSF Teaching Hospital, Forde, Norway
• Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA

Certification:

• American Board of Surgery – General Surgery
• Fellow of American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Specialties:

• Trained in and currently uses the daVinci Robotic Surgical System
• Minimally Invasive Gastric Banding
• Minimally Invasive Sleeve Gastrectomy
• Minimally Invasive Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
• Revisional Bariatric Surgery
• Robotic Gastric Bypass
• Robotic Revisional Bariatric Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Adrenal Surgery, Splenectomy, Distal Pancreatectomy
• Minimally Invasive Intestinal Surgery
• General Surgery

Special Interests:

Dr. Uchal currently serves as Director of Bariatric Surgery.

Program Manager

Jenna McKenna, CPC

Jenna has been with the practice since it’s origination. She has extensive knowledge on insurance companies and their requirements. She is available to answer any financial questions that you may have.

Bariatric Coordinator

Katherine Jewell

Katherine has worked at St. Vincent’s Medical Center for several years and is a patient herself at North Florida Bariatrics. She underwent the Lap Band procedure in 2007 and has lost 70 lbs. She assists our patients with navigating through the hospital experience, ensuring that you are receiving exceptional care and follow up after surgery. She supervises Bariatric program development, patient and staff education. She serves as the liaison between the hospital and surgical practice.

Dietitians

Mica Bestic, MS, RD, LD/N

Mica provides nutrition counseling to our patients seeking weight loss surgery. She works closely with the patients for the nutritional and behavioral changes needed for a successful outcome. She also facilitates the physician supervised weight loss program required by many insurance companies prior to surgery.

Cindy Schaul, MS, RD, LD/N

Cindy provides nutrition counseling to our patients seeking weight loss surgery. She works closely with the patients for the nutritional and behavioral changes needed for a successful outcome. She also facilitates the physician supervised weight loss program required by many insurance companies prior to surgery.

Lifestyle Coach

Lubi Uchal

Lubi works with our clients to motivate to actively participate in their own healthy future. She helps them focus on their health goals through personal one- on -one counseling. She supports our client’s through their fears and frustrations, and keeps them focused on moving forward. She provides support, educational resources, stress management and other health improvement tools.

Patient Advocate

Elizabeth Slough

Elizabeth first came to North Florida Bariatrics as a patient herself. She underwent Lap Band surgery in July 2007 and has lost over 135 pounds to date, meeting her weight loss goal. As a gastric band patient, Elizabeth can relate to what patients are experiencing throughout their weight loss journey. Elizabeth also works closely with our patients to prepare the neccessary paperwork required for insurance approval. Elizabeth is available to answer questions for prospective patients and our program.