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Meet Dr. Bilof
Dr. Michael Bilof founded Garden State Bariatrics in April 2007. His vision was to offer lifesaving solutions for individuals with obesity and related diseases. In this short podcast, Dr. Bilof shares his personal story and his desire to improve lives with his skills in bariatric surgery.
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Learn more about Michael Bilof, MD
Michael Bilof, MD
Dr. Michael Bilof began his career as a vascular surgeon where he continuously saw chronically ill patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. Dr. Bilof was frustrated by the overwhelming acceptance of maintaining the comorbidities (e.g., obesity) associated with type 2 diabetes and believed there had to be something more doctors could do to help. In 2003, upon the urging of his wife, Dr. Bilof left his successful vascular practice and retrained in general surgery, specializing in bariatrics. In April 2007, he founded Garden State Bariatrics and began offering lifesaving solutions for individuals with obesity and related diseases.Learn more about Michael Bilof, MD
Transcription:
Bill Klaproth (Host): This is more about Dr. Michael Bilof, a bariatric surgeon. He is also the founder of Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center. First off, Dr. Bilof, can you give us a brief background on your education?
Dr. Michael Bilof (Guest): Sure. My practice as you mentioned is called Garden State Bariatrics, so we are obviously based here in New Jersey. I have lived in New Jersey basically my whole life and I often like to tell people I am a product of public school education in New Jersey for better or for worse from K through medical school. So, I basically have been here from kindergarten all the way through my graduation at New Jersey Medical School in 1990.
Bill: So, you are a Jersey boy?
Dr. Bilof: Indeed, indeed. I can’t seem to get out of this state despite its reputation.
Bill: And how about your medical education?
Dr. Bilof: Right, so medical school I went to college at Rutgers and then I went to medical school at Newark in Newark at New Jersey Medical School and then I did my surgical residency at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston where I currently practice.
Bill: So, I know you have an interesting background. What makes you different as a bariatric surgeon?
Dr. Bilof: Yeah, I think the thing that makes me most different and kind of gives me a unique perspective on this population of patients and what they deal with is I used to be a vascular surgeon. Actually, after I finished my residency training at St. Barnabas, I did specialized training in vascular surgery for several years. I was actually in practice as a vascular surgeon for four years practicing with a group of vascular surgeons again here in New Jersey and during that time, I dealt with patients who have circulation problems basically and many of those patients were and are diabetic and diabetes can cause a whole host of medical problems in the body, but one of the things it does is cause circulation problems. And so, they would come to me for treatment of those circulation problems and while I was practicing as a vascular surgeon, I was talking to a colleague friend of mine who was doing bariatric surgery and he said bariatric surgery can cure diabetes. And immediately, my interest was piqued because I thought to myself well if I could cure someone’s diabetes they wouldn’t develop these bad vascular problems and have to utilize the services of a vascular surgeon. So, I essentially left my practice as a vascular surgeon, something that’s really kind of unheard of after four years and having developed a pretty successful practice. I left that practice and started all over again. Retrained. Had to learn how to do bariatric surgery, retrained and I became a bariatric surgeon. This was back in 2003. And I think that’s a rather unusual sort of way to get into this field but gives me an interesting and unique perspective on this patient population and what they deal with. Diabetes is a really bad disease and when it – after you have been diabetic for a number of years you develop medical problems like circulation problems and kidney problems and problems with your eyesight and a whole host of medical problems. And this surgery, can in many cases, make that diabetes go away and then you avoid all of those problems. So, in that sense, it’s in my opinion, really the ultimate preventive medicine and when I found that out fifteen years ago I basically ended a quite successful practice, retrained for several months learning a whole new skill set and then started my practice in bariatric surgery. And so, diabetic patients I think can really appreciate my commitment to their wellbeing and to their – to hopefully resolution of their diseases.
Bill: Right, a complete understanding and look at the whole problem, not just being obese, but also the comorbidities that come along with it. So as far as other credentials, Dr. Bilof, can you tell us about being the former president of the ASMBS and what is that?
Dr. Bilof: Sure, so the ASMBS is the organization that really all bariatric surgeons belong to. It stands for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. And most states have their individual chapters. New Jersey does as well and so I was the chapter president here in New Jersey several years ago. It’s a two-year term and it’s a pretty big honor. You have to be nominated and elected by your fellow bariatric surgeons and so the bariatric surgeons here in New Jersey nominated and then elected me to be the president of the state society and I was quite honored to do so. I think there has been only five of us so far in the history of the state chapter here, so I definitely consider that a bit of a feather in my cap and an honor that my fellow surgeons thought that I was worthy of the position. I was also the Chief of the Bariatric Section at St. Barnabas Medical Center which is one of the two or three busiest bariatric programs here in New Jersey and I was the Chief of Bariatric Surgery there for about six or eight years. So, I’m pretty well-established and well-known in the bariatric community here in New Jersey.
Bill: Which is wonderful. And when it comes to your overall approach to bariatric surgery; what do you want potential patients to know?
Dr. Bilof: I guess what I want them to know is I really do look at the whole patient. Given my background, which is pretty unusual; I’m not just focused on the problem so to speak, of their weight, but their whole overall medical condition and what the weight problems cause. So, for example, the diabetes, and the high blood pressure and those other things. It’s not just about their weight. Obviously, we focus on the weight and it is something we keep track of, but it’s really their medical conditions. As their doctor, I want to make sure that their medical conditions get better which will lead to a better life and also a longer life.
Bill: And Dr. Bilof, can you tell us a little bit about your personal life, your family and what do you do for fun?
Dr. Bilof: Sure, so again, I’m a as you mentioned earlier in the interview, a Jersey boy, born, raised and bred. I’m married. I have been married for 26 years this year actually so, I like to spend time with my beautiful bride and we are still very good friends in addition to being married to each other. And in terms of my free time, I guess I would say I try to practice what I preach. I try to take care of my body and make sure I stay healthy as an example for my patients that I walk the walk, but I also- or I talk the talk, but I also walk the walk so to speak.
Bill: So, important. Well Dr. Bilof, thank you so much for your time and sharing information about yourself. This has been more about Dr. Michael Bilof, a bariatric surgeon and the founder of Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center.
Bill Klaproth (Host): This is more about Dr. Michael Bilof, a bariatric surgeon. He is also the founder of Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center. First off, Dr. Bilof, can you give us a brief background on your education?
Dr. Michael Bilof (Guest): Sure. My practice as you mentioned is called Garden State Bariatrics, so we are obviously based here in New Jersey. I have lived in New Jersey basically my whole life and I often like to tell people I am a product of public school education in New Jersey for better or for worse from K through medical school. So, I basically have been here from kindergarten all the way through my graduation at New Jersey Medical School in 1990.
Bill: So, you are a Jersey boy?
Dr. Bilof: Indeed, indeed. I can’t seem to get out of this state despite its reputation.
Bill: And how about your medical education?
Dr. Bilof: Right, so medical school I went to college at Rutgers and then I went to medical school at Newark in Newark at New Jersey Medical School and then I did my surgical residency at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston where I currently practice.
Bill: So, I know you have an interesting background. What makes you different as a bariatric surgeon?
Dr. Bilof: Yeah, I think the thing that makes me most different and kind of gives me a unique perspective on this population of patients and what they deal with is I used to be a vascular surgeon. Actually, after I finished my residency training at St. Barnabas, I did specialized training in vascular surgery for several years. I was actually in practice as a vascular surgeon for four years practicing with a group of vascular surgeons again here in New Jersey and during that time, I dealt with patients who have circulation problems basically and many of those patients were and are diabetic and diabetes can cause a whole host of medical problems in the body, but one of the things it does is cause circulation problems. And so, they would come to me for treatment of those circulation problems and while I was practicing as a vascular surgeon, I was talking to a colleague friend of mine who was doing bariatric surgery and he said bariatric surgery can cure diabetes. And immediately, my interest was piqued because I thought to myself well if I could cure someone’s diabetes they wouldn’t develop these bad vascular problems and have to utilize the services of a vascular surgeon. So, I essentially left my practice as a vascular surgeon, something that’s really kind of unheard of after four years and having developed a pretty successful practice. I left that practice and started all over again. Retrained. Had to learn how to do bariatric surgery, retrained and I became a bariatric surgeon. This was back in 2003. And I think that’s a rather unusual sort of way to get into this field but gives me an interesting and unique perspective on this patient population and what they deal with. Diabetes is a really bad disease and when it – after you have been diabetic for a number of years you develop medical problems like circulation problems and kidney problems and problems with your eyesight and a whole host of medical problems. And this surgery, can in many cases, make that diabetes go away and then you avoid all of those problems. So, in that sense, it’s in my opinion, really the ultimate preventive medicine and when I found that out fifteen years ago I basically ended a quite successful practice, retrained for several months learning a whole new skill set and then started my practice in bariatric surgery. And so, diabetic patients I think can really appreciate my commitment to their wellbeing and to their – to hopefully resolution of their diseases.
Bill: Right, a complete understanding and look at the whole problem, not just being obese, but also the comorbidities that come along with it. So as far as other credentials, Dr. Bilof, can you tell us about being the former president of the ASMBS and what is that?
Dr. Bilof: Sure, so the ASMBS is the organization that really all bariatric surgeons belong to. It stands for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. And most states have their individual chapters. New Jersey does as well and so I was the chapter president here in New Jersey several years ago. It’s a two-year term and it’s a pretty big honor. You have to be nominated and elected by your fellow bariatric surgeons and so the bariatric surgeons here in New Jersey nominated and then elected me to be the president of the state society and I was quite honored to do so. I think there has been only five of us so far in the history of the state chapter here, so I definitely consider that a bit of a feather in my cap and an honor that my fellow surgeons thought that I was worthy of the position. I was also the Chief of the Bariatric Section at St. Barnabas Medical Center which is one of the two or three busiest bariatric programs here in New Jersey and I was the Chief of Bariatric Surgery there for about six or eight years. So, I’m pretty well-established and well-known in the bariatric community here in New Jersey.
Bill: Which is wonderful. And when it comes to your overall approach to bariatric surgery; what do you want potential patients to know?
Dr. Bilof: I guess what I want them to know is I really do look at the whole patient. Given my background, which is pretty unusual; I’m not just focused on the problem so to speak, of their weight, but their whole overall medical condition and what the weight problems cause. So, for example, the diabetes, and the high blood pressure and those other things. It’s not just about their weight. Obviously, we focus on the weight and it is something we keep track of, but it’s really their medical conditions. As their doctor, I want to make sure that their medical conditions get better which will lead to a better life and also a longer life.
Bill: And Dr. Bilof, can you tell us a little bit about your personal life, your family and what do you do for fun?
Dr. Bilof: Sure, so again, I’m a as you mentioned earlier in the interview, a Jersey boy, born, raised and bred. I’m married. I have been married for 26 years this year actually so, I like to spend time with my beautiful bride and we are still very good friends in addition to being married to each other. And in terms of my free time, I guess I would say I try to practice what I preach. I try to take care of my body and make sure I stay healthy as an example for my patients that I walk the walk, but I also- or I talk the talk, but I also walk the walk so to speak.
Bill: So, important. Well Dr. Bilof, thank you so much for your time and sharing information about yourself. This has been more about Dr. Michael Bilof, a bariatric surgeon and the founder of Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center.