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.

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OUR SURGEONS

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OUR STAFF

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OUR PARTNERS

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.

Dr. Eaton is certified by the American Board of Surgery, with added qualifications in vascular surgery. He completed Medtronic and Guidant Endovascular AAA Training programs. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the Oregon Medical Association, and the American Medical Association.

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.

Originally from New York, Dr. Castillo enjoys the mountains and many outdoor activities such as hiking and running. However, in recent years he has discovered a love of Cross Fit. He also enjoys skiing, biking, and cooking. Dr. Castillo and his wife, Sherry Jo (a local Family Practice physician) moved to this area to enjoy the benefits of living in a small community. They have five daughters.

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.

Dr. Street was the first surgeon in Southern Oregon to perform both laparoscopic and endovascular surgery. He continually brings new technology in minimally invasive surgical procedures to the Rogue Valley. An expert laparoscopic surgeon, he has now educated many surgeons throughout the world in the method for performing several different surgical procedures.

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.

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.

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.

Reeger’s focus at SOBC is to provide continuity of care for SOBC patients during the entire length of their treatment phase; including pre-operative medical evaluation and education, assistance during surgery, as well as short and long-term post-operative care.

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

Bette Brower, RN

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Bette Brower, RN, has worked in the Bariatric field of medicine for the last 11 of her 32 years as a nurse. She graduated from the School of Nursing at Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo CA in 1985. This is her fourth bariatric program — her prior experience was with Scripps Hospital in San Diego, St. Helena Hospital in Napa Valley, and David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in CA.

She is thankful to now be a part of the SOBC Team and her position here allows her to be involved with the patient from the very start at their initial screening appointment. This appointment allows Bette to see the patient as a whole with their medical history, what thoughts they have for bariatric surgery and walking the patient through the Pathway to Surgery guidelines. She states she enjoys working in this area of medicine to see patients change their lives to be healthy and surgery is just one component of that process. Bette has four wonderful children and loves giving to others.

Susan Hubartt, LPN

BARIATRIC LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

Susan is our newest addition to SOBC and comes 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, CMSRN

RRMC BARIATRIC PROGRAM COORDINATOR

(541) 789-4703

Melissa assumed the role of Rogue Regional Medical Center Bariatric Program Coordinator in 2016. As the RRMC program coordinator, Melissa collaborates with the bariatric surgeons, SOBC staff, and all RRMC hospital departments. She closely monitors the program to ensure program compliance with national accreditation standards as an MBSAQIP Accredited Comprehensive Center for Bariatric Surgery. She educates patients preparing for surgery to understand what they can expect during their hospital stay. She also oversees and assists with staff education as it relates to caring for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery including sensitivity training, nursing care, and specialty equipment.

Prior to becoming the Bariatric Program Coordinator, Melissa was a bedside nurse for 6 years on the Post-Surgical Unit of Rogue Regional Medical Center where she cared for patients who had undergone bariatric surgery. Melissa graduated from Oregon Health & Science University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and additionally holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University. She has acquired specialty certification as a Certified Medical-Surgical Nurse and is in the process of becoming a Certified Bariatric Nurse. She is an associate member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Melissa is passionate about promoting a safe and healing environment while you recover from surgery.

Noelle Taylor

ASC PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Photo and Bio coming soon

Linda Ruette

FRONT OFFICE ASSISTANT

Photo and Bio coming soon

Lindsey Miller

FRONT OFFICE ASSISTANT

Photo and Bio coming soon

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.

Damon is a graduate of Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotion/Fitness Management and has been a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach for 20 years. He received certification through the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Senior Fitness Association for personal training, as well as several other health promotion certifications.

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

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.

“This decision has given me a wonderful new life!”

I find myself more active today than I have been in years. I am not sure I can convey to those reading this the emotion I felt when I played golf for the first time in three years or the day I was able to sit in a restaurant booth.

Read Doug's Story

Call (541) 930-7819. Your transformation starts here.

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