ABOUT US
Our Surgeons
Leadership is a choice. Not a position. ~ Steven Covey
Leaders in bariatric surgery.
If you are searching for a leading bariatric surgeon in Oregon, your search is over. Southern Oregon Bariatric Center is home to four certified bariatric surgeons who are experts in the most current bariatric surgery techniques. Our goal is to provide the most appropriate personalized care in the least invasive manner possible. That is why our surgeons are leaders in laparoscopic surgery—the minimally invasive approach to surgery. Those patients who are candidates for this minimally invasive technique benefit from smaller incisions, reduced pain and scarring, and typically recover quickly.

Mark A. Eaton, MD, FACS
BARIATRIC SURGEON
Dr. Eaton received his medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, NM. He attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX for his surgical residency and he completed a vascular surgery fellowship at University of Tennessee’s Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville, TN. Dr. Eaton is the medical director of Southern Oregon Bariatric Center. He became a strong proponent of bariatric surgery after he witnessed many patients greatly benefiting from bariatric surgery while he was completing his surgical training.
Read More...Originally from New Mexico, Dr Eaton and his wife, Shelly, moved to the Rogue Valley in the late 1990s. Both college athletes, they enjoy the wealth of outdoor activities available in Southern Oregon. In his spare time, Dr. Eaton enjoys working out at the gym and playing his guitar. He also plays the drums in an all-physician rock band. Dr. Eaton and his wife are the proud parents of two boys.

Juan M. Castillo, MD, FACS
BARIATRIC SURGEON
Dr. Castillo received his Doctorate in Medicine from the New York University Medical Center in New York, NY. He completed his surgical residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX. Dr. Castillo specialized in vascular surgery during his Vascular Fellowship at the New York University Medical Center in New York, NY. He is Board Certified in General and Vascular Surgery, is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Castillo believes strongly in the great value of bariatric surgery as a treatment for morbid obesity.
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David Lee Street, MD, FACS
BARIATRIC SURGEON
A native Californian, Dr. Street received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of California in Davis, CA. He was a surgical intern and resident at UC Davis. Dr. Street was a Research Fellow and Clinical Fellow in vascular surgery at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery with added qualifications in general vascular surgery. Dr. Street holds professional memberships in the Oregon Medical Association, the Jackson County Medical Society, Pacific Northwest Vascular Society, American Association of Vascular Surgery, International Society of Endovascular Specialists, and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgery.
Read More...Dr Street and his wife have been married for over 30 years and they have three grown children together. Dr. Street’s favorites hobbies include golf and fly fishing.

Patrick J. Phelan, MD
BARIATRIC SURGEON
While an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Phelan discovered his calling to medicine during an internship with the Wellcome Trust in Nairobi Kenya. He went on to attend Emory University School of Medicine, where he chose to pursue a career in surgery. After graduating with honors, he accepted a general surgery residency position at the University of Washington-Seattle. He is board-certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery. Read More...
In addition to his clinical training, Dr. Phelan spent two years in the laboratory studying lung injury after lung transplantation. He ultimately chose to pursue further training, winning a fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There he learned the art of traditional open surgery and participated in clinical trials probing the frontiers of new technology.
Dr. Phelan and his wife, Wei have been very excited about their time in the Rogue valley. Engaged on the slopes of Mount Rainier, the mountains have always been an important part of their lives. An avid mountain climber and skier, Dr. Phelan gets outdoors whenever possible. Together they look forward to raising a family in this vibrant community.
Our Staff
Caring. Knowledgeable. Compassionate.
Within minutes of meeting the staff at Southern Oregon Bariatric Center you will come to understand that their work is more than simply a job. Individually and together as a team they share a unique combination of the highest qualities of caring, knowledge, and compassion for our patients. They also love their work…

Reeger Cortell, MSN, FNP
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER
Reeger Cortell graduated from Western University of Health Sciences with a master’s degree in nursing and family nurse practitioner certification. We at Southern Oregon Bariatric Center (SOBC) are not only proud of the fact that Reeger graduated 1st in her class and with top honors but that she accomplished these goals by focusing her education upon obesity-related conditions and care of the bariatric patient.
Read More...But Reeger’s work does not stop there. In 2013 she launched the Weight Loss Surgery Podcast as a by-product of her passion and caring for people suffering from the disease of obesity. Her podcast is a mix of professional musings, interviews with people who have had bariatric surgery, and interviews with professionals in the area of obesity medicine. The podcast can be heard for free in iTunes and at WeightLossSurgeryPodcast.com

Jaymey Sweeney, RN, MN, FNP-C
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER
Jaymey Sweeney graduated from Oregon Health and Sciences University with a master’s degree in nursing and family nurse practitioner certification.
Jaymey has been a registered nurse for more than 23 years and 10 years of experience as a family nurse practitioner. She has worked with patients across the lifespan focusing on health maintenance and promotion as well as managing multisystem chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
Read More...Married for 28 years with 2 teenage children, Jaymey enjoys traveling, camping and spending time with her immediate and extended family and friends.

Jane Reese, RN, MBA, CBN
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Jane Reese, RN, MBA, CBN graduated from Houston Baptist University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She spent many years working in rehabilitation nursing and as a nursing manager and administrator. She returned to school earning her Master of Business Administration in 2004. Her career in bariatrics started with her own bariatric surgery in 2007.
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Julie Kokinakes, RDN, LDN
REGISTERED DIETITIAN
Julie received her Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University and completed her Nutrition and Dietetic Internship at Medical College of Georgia/University Hospitals in Augusta, GA. She holds certifications in Medical Weight Management from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and in Intrinsic Coaching and Motivational Interviewing.
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Susan Hubartt, LPN
BARIATRIC LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE
Susan came to us with many years of nursing experience. She is a 1992 graduate of Shasta College in Redding, CA with a Certificate of Completion in Vocational Nursing. Susan has had experience in Acute Care, Gastroenterology, Primary Care, Urgent Care, and most recently as a Clinical Scribe in an urgent care setting. Susan’s interest in Bariatric patients came as a result of having Bariatric surgery herself and seeing the benefits in her own life. She has also gone through the journey previously with her husband as well and feels like he would probably not be here with her today if it weren’t for his weight loss and Bariatric surgery. Susan works closely with SOBC Providers managing pre-operative requirements and post-op care including triage. Susan is excited about building relationships with our Bariatric patients and walking with them through their journey.

Melissa Rowan, RN, BSN, CBN
ARRMC BARIATRIC PROGRAM COORDINATOR
(541) 789-4703
Melissa joined the program in 2016 as the hospital-based Bariatric Program Coordinator at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. Melissa educates patients preparing for bariatric surgery to understand what they can expect during their hospital stay. She also oversees and assists with the training of hospital staff in the knowledge required to care for a patient having bariatric surgery. In her role, she closely monitors the program to ensure compliance with national standards established by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. Melissa is dedicated to promoting a patient-centered, safe and healing environment with knowledgeable and compassionate staff while you recover from surgery.
Read More...Melissa graduated from Oregon Health & Science University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University. Melissa has six years of bedside experience caring for patients in the hospital after bariatric surgery. She has acquired specialty certification as a Certified Bariatric Nurse and is an associate member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Damon Ramshaw
BAXTER FITNESS SOLUTIONS
(541) 776-9813
We are delighted to be partnering with Damon Ramshaw and the medical exercise specialists at Baxter Fitness Solutions. They began providing the fitness portion of our program in 2010.
Read More...Damon currently owns and operates Baxter Fitness for Fifty and Beyond in Medford, Oregon. Baxter Fitness is an exercise facility that uses very specific equipment in a medically safe environment to enhance strength, endurance, range of motion and function. He looks forward to spending the time to get to know you and help you enrich your fitness life style.
Phone: 541-776-9813
Email: damoram@charter.net

Bene Chavez
CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT
Bene recently joined the SOBC team as our Medical Assistant but has many years of prior experience working with the surgeons at Oregon Surgical. Bene is a certified medical assistant and her long term goal is to become a registered dietician.
Psychologists and Counselors
Southern Oregon Bariatric Center works with a number of psychologists, therapists and social workers who are experienced in counseling bariatric surgery patients before and after surgery. They are compassionate and solution oriented to support their clients with long term success after weight loss surgery.
All patients are required to have a pre-surgery psychological evaluation.
If you feel that individual or group therapy may be beneficial for you, please feel free to contact us for a list of names and phone numbers.
Our Partners
If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. ~ Henry Ford
Southern Oregon Bariatric Center is born out of a great partnership between Oregon Surgical Specialists, PC (OSS) and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. This unique blending of two outstanding medical facilities brings the best of both worlds to our patients.
Oregon Surgical Specialists
For over 25 years Oregon Surgical Specialists, PC has set the standard in our region for general, oncologic, endocrine, bariatric, vascular, and endovascular surgical services. In addition to their team of board certified general, bariatric, and vascular surgeons, OSS offers one of the most comprehensive diagnostic vascular labs in the region. OSS is also a member of the prestigious Cardiovascular Institute. As a dedicated partner in the Southern Oregon Bariatric Center, Oregon Surgical Specialists provides a staff of trained weight management professionals who understand the unique problems and challenges of the morbidly obese patient.
Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center
For nearly 50 years Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center has played a significant role in the lives of people throughout southern Oregon and northern California. Through high-quality services and leading-edge technology, Asante Rogue Regional provides superb medical care with genuine human compassion. As the regional referral center for nine counties, Asante Rogue Regional has earned a reputation for expertise in cardiovascular care and many other medical specialties.