Phoebe Bariatrics Celebrates 1,000th Surgery Milestone
Americus, GA | April 29, 2026 – The team at Phoebe Bariatrics, headquartered at Phoebe Sumter in Americus, recently celebrated a landmark achievement: the completion of their 1,000th bariatric surgery. Since launching in December 2013, the program has grown into a trusted and nationally-accredited regional center for weight loss surgery, serving patients from across the area.
“Behind every one of those 1,000 surgeries is a person whose life has been changed forever. That’s what drives us every day, and I’m incredibly proud of the team that makes it possible,” said Carlyle Walton, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center President.
The milestone reflects 13 years of dedicated care, clinical excellence, and a commitment to improving the lives of patients struggling with obesity and its related health conditions.
“Reaching 1,000 surgeries is a massive victory for our program and for our community. It shows that we’ve been here doing this successfully, for several years, with great outcomes,” said Sean Sheff, MD, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center Bariatric Surgeon.
What began as a sleeve gastrectomy program has expanded significantly over the past decade. The team now offers gastric bypass procedures and, most recently, transitioned to full robotic surgery, a technological advancement implemented over the past three years that enhances precision and supports faster patient recovery.
Dr. Sheff says the program’s strong safety profile and the rarity of complications are among the things he’s most proud of. Meanwhile, the other half of the surgical duo, Dr. Jeremy Joyner, says the success of the program goes beyond the numbers for him.
“My favorite stories are the quality-of-life victories on how easy it becomes to tie your shoes, wash your legs, get on a plane, or travel. Those things can impact your life more than anything else,” said Dr. Joyner.
The program also places a strong emphasis on comprehensive pre-surgical preparation, requiring multiple dietitian visits before surgery, and it has expanded access through telehealth appointments.
One of the program’s most distinguishing qualities is its accessibility. Unlike larger programs in metropolitan areas, where patients may navigate multiple layers of staff before reaching their care team, the Phoebe Bariatrics team prides itself on direct, personal communication.
“We’re available. Patients can reach us pretty much any time. They don’t have to go through a call system and wait for a callback. We respond very quickly, and we actually have a personal system where patients can text us directly. We’re a smaller team, and I think that’s our greatest strength,” said Ashley McCollum, Lead Clinical Dietitian for the Bariatrics Program at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.
The team’s longevity and cohesion also set it apart. With hardly any staff turnover since the program launched, the multidisciplinary team has developed a deep, seamless working relationship that translates directly into individualized patient care.
“One thing that makes us unique is that we’ve all been here from the beginning. We work very well together. We have a true multidisciplinary approach and work closely to make sure care is tailored to each individual patient’s needs. I like to call it big-city medicine with a small-town approach,” said Julie Lamb, Bariatric Program Representative at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.
The program measures success not only through clinical outcomes, but through what the team calls “non-scale victories”, real-life transformations that go far beyond weight loss. Improvements in conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are celebrated alongside patients’ personal milestones.
Dr. Joyner recalled one such story: “I had a patient who went to Disney World with her family and had to get off a roller coaster because the restraint wouldn’t close. Her daughter couldn’t ride alone, and it was an embarrassing moment. She came in and said, ‘I’m never going to let that happen again.’ It was incredibly meaningful when she later texted me photos from her next Disney World trip, riding every ride, with nobody able to tell her she couldn’t do something.”
Dr, Sheff shared a powerful transformation story as well: “Just today, I saw a patient I operated on about two years ago. He came in weighing more than 300 pounds, and now he has completely transformed his life. He’s taken up bodybuilding and had the courage to leave his job and start his own company. That’s what this is really about,” said Dr. Sheff.
Long-term maintenance of weight loss remains a core focus of the program’s philosophy.
“This is not a one-year or two-year plan. We’re looking at outcomes over at least 10 years. Sustainable, lasting change is what we’re committed to for every patient,” said Dr. Joyner.
As the team celebrates this milestone, they have their sights set on continued growth. Plans include integrating medical weight management alongside surgical options to broaden the spectrum of care available to patients.
“Our goals are to integrate medical weight management along with surgical weight management and to continue growing our volumes and our reach,” said McCollum.
Patients from across the region, some traveling two to three hours for their care continue to choose Phoebe’s Bariatrics Program, and many return to Phoebe Sumter for other healthcare needs and bring their family members with them.
Phoebe Bariatrics holds regular online seminars for people interested in learning more about their services. You can sign up for a seminar at www.phoebeweightloss.com or by calling 229-931-7144.