SURGERY IS NOT JUST ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT, IT BRINGS BACK THE QUALITY OF LIFE LOST
GEM Obesity & Diabetes Surgery Centre is now the proud recipient of South India’s FIRST & ONLY Bariatric Surgery Centre of Excellence (COE).
Internationally renowned Prof. C . Palanivelu , a pioneer in the field of laparoscopy and robotic surgery started the department way back in 2002, proudly so as to say that GEM hospital was oneof the earliest hospitals in the country to start an exclusive bariatric surgery centre.
Dr. P. Praveen Raj is responsible for placing GEM Obesity and Diabetes centre as a centre of excellence globally. He and his team are credited with performing over 3000 bariatric surgical procedures.
Our mission is to “holistically and safely approach to treat obesity and its associated disorders”. This is effectively done with our multi disciplinary team headed by Dr.Praveen raj. The team consists of Bariatric surgeons, Bariatric anaesthetist, bariatric nutritionist, Psycologist, pysiotherapist, fitness trainer,intensivist,Physician, Cardiologist and a bariatric coordinator.
Our vision is to ‘motivate and empower people in their fight against obesity’ by creating awareness, giving support and extending out our resources for effective coverage of affected people.
Our strengths
- Patient first approach
- High ethical values
- Highest level of safety and professionalism
- Empathy and kindness
- Quality teamwork
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Dr. P. Praveen Raj has taken the department to great heights on a global scale. His efforts has made sure that patients receive care and treatment in par with the best centres around the world.
Dr. Praveen Raj has completed his Bachelors of Medicine in PSG Institute of Medical Sciences, Coimbatore with Honours and the Masters in General Surgery from the prestigious Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai. He also secured his masters in Surgery and Surgical Gastroenterology from the National Board
(DNB).He completed his fellowship in Bariatric surgery from Tugun, Australia and the Weill-Cornell University at NYC. He’s also been honoured with the Honorary Fellow in Advanced laparoscopy by the Indian Association for Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons (IAGES). He’s also the first in Asia to be awarded with a doctorate (PhD) in bariatric surgery by the Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur.
He has authored two textbooks in the field of bariatric surgery,’ Bariatric surgical practise guidelines’ and ‘Clinics in bariatric and metabolic surgery’. He has
authored several papers and presentations on laparoscopy and bariatric procedures, and has held several workshops and conferences on obesity, bariatric surgery and laparoscopy across asia.
He constantly pushes the envelope in the field of metabolic research and has numerous publications and presentations to his name. His research on non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease has shown insights into how obesity can increase the incidences of liver diseases and the role of bariatric surgery in reducing and preventing this. He has also spear-headed the idea of Enhanced Recovery in surgery(ERAS) for bariatric surgery wherein the patients recover quickly and comfortably that they can be discharged in one day after the surgery.
Has performed over 3000 bariatric procedures being the largest in South India
- First Surgeon in the World to perform series of laparoscopic DuodenoJejunal bypass surgeries for treatment of Obesity & Diabetes
- First Surgeon to perform Single Incision Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass in the country
- First South Indian Surgeon to be recognised as an International Surgeon of Excellence the by Surgical Review Corporation, USA 2012
- President, International Excellence Federation in Bariatric Surgery(India Chapter)
- Honorary Secretary , Obesity Surgery Society of India
DR. PRAVEEN RAJ IS A MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING ASSOCIATIONS
- Obesity Surgery Society of India (OSSI)
- International Federation of the Society of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO)
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric surgery Society (ASMBS)
- Association of Surgeons of India (ASI)
- Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India (AMASI)
- Indian Association for Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons (IAGES)
DR.PRAVEEN RAJ IS CURRENTLY THE
- President for the International Excellence Federation for Bariatric Surgery (India Chapter),
- Honorary Secretary for the Obesity Surgery Society of India,
- Chair -Young-IFSO-APC and
- Organising Committee Member representing India for the upcoming World Congress of the International Federation for Surgery for Obesity to be held in Dubai in September 2018.
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Our team comprises of highly motivated and qualified medical and management professionals. Each team member brings with them vast experience and an overarching dedication to the holistic care of the bariatric patient.
![](https://obesitysurgeryindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/prof-c-palanivelu.jpg)
Dr. C.PALANIVELU – MS, MCH, MNAMS, FACS, FRCS(ED), FICS
Founder & Chairman of GEM Hospital, Institute of Gastroenterology & Laparoscopy
“A pioneer in laparoscopic, who revolutioned laparoscopic surgery for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract”
![](https://obesitysurgeryindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/dr-p-praveen-raj.jpg)
Dr. P. PRAVEEN RAJ MS, DNB (GEN SUR), DNB (SURG GASTRO), FALS (HONS), FMAS, FICS, FACS, PHD
Head & Consultant – Obesity & Diabetes Surgery Centre
- Director- Gem Hospital, Institute of Gastroenterology & Laparoscopy
- President -Obesity Surgery Society of India
MS. N. ISHWARYA
Dr.VANMATHI
Anaesthetist
Dr.AJITH PILLAI
Dr.BABU NARAYANAN
Our team comprises of highly motivated and qualified medical and management professionals. Each team member brings with them vast experience and an overarching dedication to the holistic care of the bariatric patient.
![](https://obesitysurgeryindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/prof-c-palanivelu.jpg)
Dr. C.PALANIVELU – MS, MCH, MNAMS, FACS, FRCS(ED), FICS
Founder & Chairman of GEM Hospital, Institute of Gastroenterology & Laparoscopy
“A pioneer in laparoscopic, who revolutioned laparoscopic surgery for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract”
![](https://obesitysurgeryindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/dr-p-praveen-raj.jpg)
Dr. P. PRAVEEN RAJ MS, DNB (GEN SUR), DNB (SURG GASTRO), FALS (HONS), FMAS, FICS, FACS, PHD
Head & Consultant – Obesity & Diabetes Surgery Centre
- Director- Gem Hospital, Institute of Gastroenterology & Laparoscopy
- President -Obesity Surgery Society of India