Our Physicians in Louisiana

The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, The Total Weight Loss Solution, is a group of nine board-certified surgeons who have extensive experience in laparoscopic weight loss surgery, incisionless bariatric procedures, and non-surgical weight loss.

Louisiana Southeast Division

Thomas E. Lavin, MD, FACS, graduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Miami University in Ohio. He received his medical degree from Medical College of Ohio and completed his General Surgery residency at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans in 1995. He is a board certified surgeon and has been a pioneer in developing and promoting the field of laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Lavin is the founder of The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana. He is a national proctor who teaches and credentials other surgeons for the laparoscopic gastric bypass and gastric banding procedures. Dr. Lavin is a Fellow of ASMBS (FASMBS) and has been approved as an ASMBS Center of Excellence Bariatric Surgeon. He is director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at Fairway Medical Center.

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Michael J. Thomas, MD, FACS, is a native New Orleanian who graduated from Jesuit High School and summa cum laude from Tulane University. He received his medical degree from LSU Medical School and completed his general surgery residency at LSU in 1999 where he served as teaching chief resident. Dr. Thomas practiced in LaFouche Parish for two years before joining the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana. He is skilled in advanced laparoscopy and has been actively involved with our bariatric program since its inception. Dr. Thomas is a national proctor who teaches and credentials other surgeons for the laparoscopic gastric bypass and gastric banding procedures and is the Director of Bariatric Surgery at Southern Surgical Hospital. Dr. Thomas is a Fellow of ASMBS (FASMBS).

Matthew S. French, MD, FACS, a native of New Orleans and graduate of Isidore Newman School, received his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University and medical degree from Tulane University Medical School. He completed his general surgery residency in 2000 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Dr. French is fellowship trained in advanced laparoscopic surgery and ultrasound and is an instructor for the American College of Surgeons Abdominal Ultrasound Course. He is a leading surgeon in performing laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors.

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Rachel L. Moore, MD, FACS, graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham in 1997, then completed her general surgery residency at Louisiana State University in 2002. She is board-certified in general surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Her practice includes traditional general surgery in addition to advanced laparoscopic procedures including laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic gastric banding, and laparoscopic hernia repair. Because she is one of the only female general surgeons practicing in our area, Dr. Moore has a special interest in women's health and diseases that commonly affect women such as obesity, gallbladder and breast disease. Dr. Moore is a Fellow of ASMBS (FASMBS) and has also been approved as an ASMBS Center Of Excellence Bariatric Surgeon.

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Clark G. Warden, MD, FACS, a native New Orleanian, is a graduate of De La Salle High School, Tulane University School of Engineering and Tulane University School of Medicine. He completed his surgical residency at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989. He is board certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care and is a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons. Dr. Warden joined the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana after he spent 14 years in South Mississippi building the leading general surgery practice in the region and was instrumental in the development of advanced laparoscopic surgery on the Gulf Coast. He is active in the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and is a national proctor who teaches and credentials other surgeons for the laparoscopic gastric bypass and gastric banding procedures. Dr. Warden is listed in Best Doctors in America, Southeast Region and Guide To America’s Top Physicians. Dr. Warden is a Fellow of ASMBS (FASMBS) and has also been approved as an ASMBS Center Of Excellence Bariatric Surgeon.

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James G. Redmann, MD, FACS, is a 1986 graduate of Jesuit High School. Dr. Redmann received his B. A. in Latin from the University of Texas and graduated from L.S.U. Medical School in 1994. He performed his surgical residency at L.S.U. covering New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. Upon completion in 1999, he opened his private practice as a general surgeon in Eunice, LA, where he served as Treasurer, Vice President and most recently as President of the St. Landry Parish Medical Society (2004-2005). He was Chief of Surgery as well as Vice-Chief and Chief of Staff at Acadian Medical Center in Eunice. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, American Hernia Society, and Rotary International.

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Louisiana Southwest Division

Gary H. Stevens, MD, FACS, graduated from the University of Southern California and received his medical degree from the University of California School of Medicine in Los Angeles in 1965. He completed his internship at the University of Utah Affiliated Hospitals and his General Surgery residency at UCLA School of Medicine. As a general and thoracic surgeon, Dr. Stevens’ capabilities include the management of surgical conditions of both the abdomen and chest, including breast surgery, gastrointestinal surgery and anorectal procedures, with more than 50% of his gastrointestinal procedures performed laparoscopically. Before joining the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, Dr. Stevens practiced with the Hamilton Medical Group in Lafayette Parish for 13 years. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the American Medical Association, Lafayette Parish Medical Society and Louisiana State Medical Society. Dr. Stevens is a fellow of both the American College of Chest Physicians and the American College of Surgeons. He is also a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons and the American Hernia Society, and a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Stevens is a Fellow of ASMBS (FASMBS) and has been approved as an ASMBS Center Of Excellence Bariatric Surgeon.

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Uyen B. Chu, MD, FACS, was born in Vietnam and raised in New Orleans. She graduated cum laude from Tulane University in Biochemistry in 1989 and received her medical degree from LSUMC in 1993. Dr. Chu completed her General Surgery residency at the University of Florida in Jacksonville in 2000 where she received the award for Outstanding Clinical Resident. She spent two additional years during her residency training in investigational science, at which time she published numerous articles in the field of neuro-trauma and received national awards for best scientific presentations. Dr. Chu completed her fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the University of Kentucky, specializing in advanced laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery. Before joining the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, Dr. Chu practiced with the Hamilton Medical Group for seven years. She is the Director of Southwest Surgical Weight Management Center, a member of the Board of Trustees for Southwest Medical Center and an executive committee member of the Lafayette Parish Medical Society. In 2005, Dr. Chu is a Fellow of ASMBS (FASMBS) and has been approved as an ASMBS Center Of Excellence Bariatric Surgeon.

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Carson C. Cunningham, MD, graduated cum laude from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and received his medical degree from LSU School of Medicine. He completed his residency in General Surgery at LSUHSC-Shreveport where he served as Chief Resident from 2003-2004. After residency, Dr. Cunningham attended a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery. He joined the practice of Drs. Stevens and Chu in the fall of 2006. Dr. Cunningham is Board Certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery. He is a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society and the Lafayette Parish Medical Society. Dr. Cunningham is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the ASMBS (FASMBS) and has been approved as an ASMBS Center of Excellence Surgeon.

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