UH Bariatric Surgeon Builds Lasting Bonds with Patients

UH Clinical Update | February 2024

Bariatric surgeon Linden Karas, MD, first got intrigued by surgery as a middle school student, tagging along to the human anatomy lab her mom taught at Case Western Reserve University. But it was a rotation in bariatric surgery as a first-year surgical resident that sealed the deal and set her on her current path.

Linden Karas, MD

“I was taking care of all the patients post-operatively and learned that a lot of the patients who come in requiring insulin don't need to go home on it,” she says. “These patients’ diabetes and high blood pressure got better right away after surgery, and it really intrigued me. I had never heard of such a thing that a surgery was correcting these medical diseases.”

Presence at UH

Dr. Karas has been at UH just under two years, having moved from a central Ohio critical access hospital where she spent five years establishing a new bariatric surgery program. But in that short time, she’s made a measurable impact. She played a pivotal role in the reaccreditation of the bariatric surgery program at UH Geauga Medical Center, while also serving as a provider champion and source of wisdom on UH’s move to Epic. In addition, she regularly speaks to the public about bariatric surgery, both in UH Health Talk webinars and at in-person events in the community.

“Dr. Karas has made herself an invaluable part of the UH Geauga team,” says Marlea Miano, MD, Chief Medical Officer at UH Geauga. “She participates in endoscopy call coverage at UH Geauga, which supports our limited GI services, allowing for fewer transfers to UH Ahuja and UH Cleveland medical centers and enabling more patients to stay in the community. Dr. Karas is committed to providing exceptional patient care by doing what is right and treating others with respect.”

UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, recently recognized Dr. Karas for her exceptional and compassionate approach to care with a “Dinner with the Doc” honor.

Specialized Care to Meet Patients’ Needs

Bariatric surgery patients are not like most other surgery patients, Dr. Karas says, often presenting with everything from joint problems to diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, acid reflux, cardiac issues, asthma and COPD. A multidisciplinary, holistic approach is essential. Access is also important. To promote that, Dr. Karas does endoscopy at UH Geneva Medical Center once a month for patients in the Ashtabula area who are preparing for bariatric surgery.

“The point is to be able to do all of your bariatric workup locally in Ashtabula and you only have to come to UH Geauga for the actual surgery,” she says.

Long-term follow up is another distinction that makes bariatric surgery patients different from others. Dr. Karas sees her patients at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, and then one year post surgery. After that, an annual follow-up is on the books for the rest of their lives.

There’s always a photo and a weigh-in. But Dr. Karas says it’s her patients’ “non-scale victories” that matter most.

“Throwing away your insulin, throwing away your CPAP machine, being able to ride on a roller coaster, being able to get on the ground and play with your grandkids, doing your first 5K, flying on an airplane without a seatbelt extender, being able to get pregnant when you couldn't before surgery,” she says. “Those are the things that make me cry tears of joy when I leave the room.”

To nominate a physician for this honor, please click here. The next deadline is May 2.