Department of Surgery Faculty
Richard M. Peterson, MD, MPH, FACS
Assistant Professor and
Chief, UTHSCSA Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
Director, UT Center for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
Division: General and Laparoendoscopic Surgery
Email: petersonr3@uthscsa.edu
Website: UTWeightLoss.com
Board Certifications:
American Board of Surgery - General Surgery
Education:
MD, American University of the Caribbean, St. Maarten, Dutch West Indies, 2000
MD candidate, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 1996-1998
MPH, 1994-1995, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA
Postgraduate training:
General Surgery Internship, 2001-2002, St. Agnes Hospital Department of Surgery, Baltimore, MD
General Surgery Residency, 2002-2006, St. Agnes Hospital Department of Surgery, Baltimore, MD
Fellowship, Minimally Invasive Surgery / Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, 2006-2007, University of Southern California, Department
of Surgery, Los Angeles, CA
Current research:
Parikh A, Alley J, Peterson R, Harnisch M, Pfluke J, Tapper D, Fenton S. (December 2010)
Management Options for Symptomatic Stenosis Following Sleeve Gastrectomy in the Morbidly
Obese. Accepted for oral presentation at SAGES 2011 meeting.
Alley J, Parikh A, Fenton S, Tapper D, Peterson R. (December 2010) Laparoscopic removal of adjustable gastric band with conversion to sleeve gastrectomy. Accepted for oral presentation at SAGES 2011 meeting.
Fenton S, Parikh A, Alley J, Peterson R. (December 2010) Laparoscopic revision from sleeve gastrectomy to Roux- en-Y gastric bypass for persistent high gastric sleeve stenosis. Accepted for video presentation via SAGES TV at SAGES 2011 meeting.
Alley J, Peterson R, Fenton S. (August 2009) Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Medical Management for Remission of Diabetes in Mild to Moderately Obese Patients (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00965302)
Kakar K, Peterson R (December 2010) Amyand's Hernia and Appendiceal Diverticulitis. Accepted for poster presentation at the 14th Annual American Hernia Society Meeting, March 2011, San Francisco, CA.
Publications:
Parikh A, Alley JB, Peterson RM, Harnisch MC, Pfluke JM, Tapper DM, Fenton SJ.
Management options for symptomatic stenosis after laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy
in the morbidly obese.
Surg Endosc. 2012 Mar;26(3):738-46. Epub 2011 Nov 2.
Alley JB, Fenton SJ, Harnisch MC, Tapper DN, Pfluke JM, Peterson RM. Quality of life after sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding. Surg Obes Relat Dis, 2012 Jan;8:31-40.
Alley JB, Fenton SJ, Harnisch MC, Angeletti MN, Peterson RM Integrated Bioabsorbable Tissue Reinforcement in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Obes Surg. 2011 Aug;21(8):1311-5.
Peterson R. Customs and Courtesies. General Surgery News 36(11): 15, November, 2009.
Alley JB, Fenton SJ, Peterson RM, The 'Tip-Stitch': A Time Saving Technique for Specimen Extraction in Sleeve Gastrectomy. Obes Surg 19(7): 926, July 2009
Katkhouda N, Peterson R, Raizada A, Dous S. Malpractice, Standards and Surgical Journals. Surg Endosc 20: 1339 – 1340, September 2006.
Peterson R., Ollayos C., Merchant D. Urachal Adenocarcinoma: Incidental Finding During Laparoscopy for Ruptured Appendicitis. Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons 10(3): 392-395, 2006
Peterson R. A Tale of Two Residencies – The 80-Hour Workweek. General Surgery News 32(9): 24, September, 2005
Peterson R., Sardi A., Ballo M. Analytic Uncertainty and Clinical Impact of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor – 2 (HER-2/neu)Testing. Surgical Rounds July 2006
Peterson R. Hippocrates versus Hypocrisy: Defending Medicine from Defensive Medicine. Current Surgery 62(4): 449-450, July/August 2005
Peterson R., Sardi A. Hemicorporectomy for chronic pressure ulcer carcinoma: 7 years of follow up. American Surgeon. 70(6): 507-511, June 2004
Electronic publications:
Peterson R.
Desist
or Persist: A Second Surgeon's Call to Arms.
The Surgical Post, General Surgery News Online; Posted March 28, 2007
Peterson R. Collateral Damage: The Impact of the 80-hour Workweek on Families. The Surgical Post, General Surgery News Online; Posted February 23, 2007
Peterson R., Henry G. Mediastinal Mass: Transsternal Thymectomy Clinical Folio and Discussion. Vesalius.com; June 2006.
Textbook chapters:
Peterson R., Parce P., Spence R.
Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Transfusion Management.
In: Spiess B., Spence R., Shander A., ed. Perioperative Transfusion Medicine, Baltimore, MD Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2005: 319-327.
Presentations:
Peterson R, Tapper D, Fenton S, Alley J. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band
Removal and Revision to Sleeve Gastrectomy. Video Presentation at the 96th
Annual American College of Surgeons Meeting (ACS), October 2010 Washington DC.
Peterson R., The Downsizing of America: Surgery's Answer to the Obesity Epidemic. Presented at SAMMC Department of Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, August 2010, San Antonio, TX
Peterson R., Alley J., Fenton S., Incorporating Sleeve Gastrectomy into Your Practice. Presented at the Covidien Product Booth at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Meeting (ASMBS) Annual Meeting, June 2010, Las Vegas, NV
Peterson R., Early and Late Complications of Bariatric Surgery, What Every General Surgeon Should Know. Presented at The Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons Meeting, April 2009, Denver, CO
Singh K, Peterson R., Averbach A. Routine Use Of Intraoperative Endoscopy Decreases Gastrojejunostomy (GJA) Related Morbidity Of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (LGP). Oral presentation at 10th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery, September 2006, Berlin, Germany
Singh K, Peterson R., Averbach A. The Safety of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass in a Resident Training Program. Oral presentation at 10th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery, September 2006, Berlin, Germany
Singh K, Peterson R., Averbach A. Retrocolic, Retrogastric Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (RRLGB) Does Not Result In Increased Late Morbidity. Oral presentation at 10th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery, September 2006, Berlin, Germany
Singh K, Peterson R., Averbach A. Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (LGB) In Patients With BMI >60. Oral presentation at 10th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery, September 2006, Berlin, Germany
Peterson R., Averbach A., Singh K. Routine Use Of Intraoperative Endoscopy Decreases Gastrojejunostomy (GJA) Related Morbidity Of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (LGP). Presented at St. Agnes 10th Annual Medicine/Surgery Resident Research Awards, May 2006, Baltimore, MD
Peterson R. Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: The Durability of Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication. Presented at St. Agnes Hospital Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, March 2006, Baltimore, MD
Posters:
Alley J, Fenton S, Angeleti M, Harnisch M, Tapper D, Peterson R. (June 2010)
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectromy versus Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding:
Patient preference in surgery and Quality of Life outcomes. Poster presented at
ASMBS 2010 Annual meeting, Las Vegas, NV.
Alley J, Fenton S, Peterson R. (April, 2010) Integrated Bioabsorbable Tissue Reinforcement in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. Poster presented at SAGES 2010 Annual meeting, Washington, DC.
Peterson R., Averbach A., Singh K. (April, 2006) Routine Use Of Intraoperative Endoscopy Decreases Gastrojejunostomy (GJA) Related Morbidity Of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (LGP). Poster presented at the SAGES April 2006 Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX
Peterson R., Averbach A., Singh K. (April, 2006) The Safety of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass in a Resident Training Program. Poster presented at the SAGES April 2006 Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX
Peterson R., Averbach A., Singh K. (April, 2006) Retrocolic, Retrogastric Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (RRLGB) Does Not Result In Increased Late Morbidity. Poster presented at the SAGES April 2006 Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX
Peterson R., Averbach A., Singh K. (April, 2006) Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (LGB) In Patients With BMI >60. Poster presented at the SAGES April 2006 Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX
Peterson R., Averbach A., Singh K. (February, 2006) Surgical Resident Learning Curve: The Safety of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Poster presented at the February 2006 Southeastern Surgical Congress, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Peterson R., Sardi A., Ballo M. (2005, February) Analytic Uncertainty and Clinical Impact of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor - 2 (HER-2/neu) Testing in a Community Hospital. Poster presented at the February 2005 South Eastern Surgical Congress, New Orleans, LA
Peterson R., Sardi A. (2004, February) Hemicorporectomy for chronic pressure ulcer carcinoma: 7 years of follow up. Poster presented at the February 2004 South Eastern Surgical Congress, Atlanta, GA
Honors and awards:
2010, Meritorious Service Medal - Awarded for outstanding service, teaching and
accomplishments related to Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgery, development of the largest
Department of Defense Bariatric Surgery program and institution of the first Laparoscopic
Surgery Fellowship in the Air Force.
2010, Scene in SA magazine Top Docs
2010, Air Force Commendation Medal – Awarded for Deployed Surgical Support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
2008, Air Force Commendation Medal –
Awarded During Operation Iraqi Freedom for contributions related to advancement of
laparoscopy in combat trauma care.
2006, St. Agnes HealthCare Resident Research Awards – First Place, 'Routine Use Of
Intraoperative Endoscopy Decreases Gastrojejunostomy (GJA) Related Morbidity Of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (LGP).'
2005, Outstanding Career Achievement Award, Air Education and Training Command, United States Air Force.
2005, General Surgery News National Resident Writing Contest – First Place -
'A Tale of Two Residencies – The 80-Hour Workweek.'
2005, St. Agnes HealthCare Resident Research Awards – Third Place.
'Analytic Uncertainty and Clinical Impact of Human Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptor – 2 (HER-2/neu) Testing in a Community Hospital.'
2004, appointed to pursue a civilian sponsored Laparoscopic Surgery Fellowship by the Joint Service
Graduate Medical Education Selection Board, United States Air Force.
2004, St. Agnes HealthCare Department of Surgery, Resident of the Month Award.
2004, St. Agnes HealthCare Resident Research Awards – Second Place -
'Hemicorporectomy for chronic pressure ulcer carcinoma: 8 years of follow up.'
2003, St. Agnes HealthCare Clinical Research Foundation: $5,000 Project Grant for
'Analytic Uncertainty and Clinical Impact of Human Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptor – 2 (HER-2/neu) Testing in a Community Hospital'.
2001, St. Agnes HealthCare Clinical Research Foundation:
$4,600 Project Grant for 'Assessing Medical Student Debt in Relation to Surgeon Income'.
1999, First place for student presentation: Leukotriene modifiers and their role in asthma.
St. Agnes Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine.
1998, Best student of 4th semester, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
Professional organizations:
American College of Surgeons
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons
Texas Medical Association
Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons
The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Eta Sigma Gamma, Gamma Xi Chapter, National Professional Health Education Honorary, Charter Member, East Stroudsburg University
Biosketch: Dr. Richard Peterson obtained his Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in biology from the University of California, Riverside. He then went on to obtain a Masters in Public Health (MPH) at the East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA. He obtained his MD degree from the American University of the Caribbean. He completed his General Surgery residency at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He then went on to pursue a fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at the University of Southern California. This training has made him one of a select few surgeons who perform a completely hand-sewn laparoscopic gastric bypass.
Following the completion of his training he entered into Active Duty service with the United States Air Force. He served two combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During his time in the Air Force, Dr. Peterson served as Chief of Bariatric and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center. He expanded the program to be the largest bariatric surgery program in the Department of Defense. He also served as the Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General on Bariatrics during this time. Dr. Peterson was recently selected by his fellow physicians as one of San Antonio's Best Doctors.
Dr. Peterson is fluent in Spanish, enjoys running and resides in San Antonio with his wife and two children.
