We offer support groups for patients who are considering or have had weight loss surgery.
M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital's Weight Loss Surgery Support Group is a patient-lead forum that meets monthly at the hospital. Facilitated by our staff, the support group shares experiences, provide encouragement, and education and is open to those who have had weight loss surgery, are scheduled for surgery, and those whom are considering surgery.
Support Group sessions take place the third Wednesday of the month from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital in the Au Fait Nursing Education Room.
July 21 - Tuesday July 21st, Fairview Southdale bariatric support group will resume via Skype For Business. This will be the first virtual group. This will be a dial-in session where patients can ask questions and receive support. It will not be video-based. It will be facilitated by Donna Ziemer, the program Clinical Coordinator and Nurse Educator. Both pre and postoperative patients are welcome to attend.
Individuals interested in joining the conversation will need to provide their email address to either of the following places:
1. Call the nurse line direct at 952-345-4198 and provide their email address in a phone message.
2. Send a My Chart message with their email address to their Fairview Weight Loss Surgery Clinic provider.
Prior to the meeting, a link with directions regarding how to join the meeting will be sent to the patients.
The August bariatric support group is yet to be determined.
August 19 – TBD
September 16 – Michael Howell MD, FAAN, FAASM, Associate Professor, Vice-Chair, Education Department of Neurology, U of MN , Medical Director, Fairview Sleep Services - Edina will speak. Topic: Sleep Better: Tips for the Bariatric Support Group.
October 21 – TBD
November 18 – TBD
December 16 – TBD
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we will be doing our support group virtually using Microsoft Teams. You will need to get an invitation to the group from Paul Bagdade, Ph.D., LP at psbagdade@healtheast.org and to learn about using Microsoft Teams. The next meeting is on Tuesday, July 14 between 6:30 and 8 PM and there will be no formal speaker.
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30
to 8 PM and will be held again at M Health Fairview St. Joseph’s Hospital in
the 3M Education Center (A-B room) when the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
The group is led by Paul Bagdade, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, M Health
Fairview Comprehensive Weight Management Program. There is no cost for group
participation and is open to all M Health Fairview (and those external to this
program) pre- and post-operative bariatric surgery patients as well as their
support system.
This is a support group for M Health Fairview bariatric patients (and those external to M Health Fairview) who have undergone bariatric surgery and are at least 3 months post-surgery. There is no cost to attend and registration is not required. It will meet the 4th Wednesday of the month virtually using Microsoft Teams. You will need to get an invitation to the group from Emily Feig, RN at esfeig@healtheast.org who leads the group and to learn about using Microsoft Teams. She will start the group again on August 26, 2020 from 11 AM to 12 PM.
The New "U" Support Group is a bi-monthly support group for people who are interested in having bariatric surgery and those who have already had bariatric surgery. Friends and family are also welcome. The group meets on the 1st Wednesday of every other month starting with February from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (February, April, June, August, October, December). They meet at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Clinics and Surgery Center - Conference room 1.4 (1st floor) at 909 Fulton Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Use valet parking.
2020 Meetings
February 5: Game Night: Test your knowledge of Bariatric Surgery, Health and Wellness
April 1: Natalie Heckert - Personal Trainer
June 3: Open Forum
August 5: Testimonial - Weight Loss Surgery Patient
October 7: Dr Wise - Bariatric Surgeon
December 2: Open Forum
