The rather quaint waiting room with rows of monotone chairs immediately transforms with the arrival of Dr. Nilesh Patel. In a wave of personality and speed, the founder of Texas Bariatric Specialists (TBS) walks through the newly energized space greeting each patient with a hearty handshake, pat on the back and maybe even a hug or two.

“He has such a connection with his patients,” says Donna Adames, who is both TBS' program director and one of Patel's patients. “Working with him, you see his genuine passion. He takes the time to get to know each patient personally and is thrilled to see all the changes and continues to be a part of their success after surgery. This passion is why we do what we do.”

Patel's reputation can also be attributed to the fact that he is good at what he does. TBS will soon be the only practice in South Texas with two surgeons who completed a fellowship dedicated solely to bariatric surgery. Patel's practice is centered exclusively on minimally invasive weight-loss procedures, including gastric bypass, gastric band, gastric sleeve and revision surgeries.

His expertise, confidence and methods of care have garnered him national recognition and countless awards, including “Best of the Best” by the Caller Times for the last two years. In his Corpus Christi office, these traits stand as beacons of hope for those who have struggled with morbid obesity for years and have already tried every diet on the market, have lost their confidence, their health and their quality of life.

“The one thing I hope to teach a new patient before they walk out of my office is that morbid obesity is truly not their fault. It is a metabolic disorder which you can’t catch, even if you try,” says Patel. “Yet, the perception of morbid obesity in the United States is a tragedy and the only form of prejudice that remains unchecked in our society. We collectively need to change that perception before we can really conquer this disease entity that has taken the country at epidemic proportions.

“Do I think the prevalence of morbid obesity will change in the near future? Sadly, no. The only thing I can do at this time is to acknowledge the fact that morbid obesity is here and it is a life-threatening disease. I strive to be a leader in raising the standard of care to show everyone that what we are doing is probably one of the best ways to not only treat patients and manage their associated diseases, but also to support them as survivors of a horrible disease for the rest of their life.”

While we may not be able to change this reality anytime soon, Patel is quick to point out that some of the answers lie in our own homes. “Childhood obesity is even more concerning that that of adults,” he says. “It is our responsibility as parents to limit fast food, use of gaming systems, and demand that school districts disallow vending machines and French fries in the cafeteria.”

In just five years, Patel has performed nearly 1,900 weight-loss procedures with impressive results. TBS now has additional offices established in five other cities across South Texas, including San Antonio, Austin, Killeen and Del Rio. As Coastal Bend’s first surgical clinic primarily dedicated to weight-loss procedures, Texas Bariatric Specialists stands out as the only bariatric practice to offer a single-visit program where a patient can meet with the surgeon, psychologist and nutritionist all in one day including Saturdays. This team of specialists helps to fully treat a patient before, during and long after their surgery.

According to Patel, the 30 minutes a patient spends on the operating table during a gastric bypass or lap-band procedure is just the tip of the iceberg. Maintaining a healthy weight will take a lifetime of effort and Patel is there every step of the way, offering support groups, supplements, free seminars, nutritional guidance and his unwavering confidence.

“To be able to support the patient for the rest of their lives is as equally rewarding as being able to complete an operation with efficiency that exceeds the national average,” says Patel. “There are few others out there who do what we do as well as we do. We’re impacting great change.”

Born and raised in New Jersey, Patel credits his success to his humble upbringings and core values instilled by his parents. Originally from India and settings not far from those depicted in the movie, “Slumdog Millionaire,” his parents entered this country with only a few dollars in their pockets and an unwavering determination to provide a better life for their family.

Although his parents strongly encouraged a career in the medical field, Patel chose medicine because he desired to build a lasting relationship with people, in addition to providing care. He first focused on family practice, then general surgery and even surgical oncology, but none of those avenues matched his aggressive personality and overwhelming desire to affect immediate change with tangible long-term results.

“I wanted to be able to help people, but I wanted to be able to be part of their recovery and to enjoy their accomplishments long after surgery is over,” he says.

At the urging of his mentor, Dr. Joseph Colella, Patel agreed to a one-year fellowship in bariatric surgery at Alleghany General in Pittsburgh. Almost immediately upon starting his fellowship, he met a patient with a baby on her lap – a baby named after her weight-loss surgeon.

“When I walked out of that room I thought about the relationship that Dr. Colella had with his patient and I was astonished. It was amazing that through a single surgery, two people, particularly a surgeon and patient, could share such a strong, and in some ways, intimate bond. This particular patient was infertile for years and was finally able to have a baby because of her weight loss,” recalls Dr Patel.

The path from then to now has not always been a smooth one. Corpus Christi, in particular, was the first city TBS expanded into and one of the most difficult offices to establish. Patel recalls inviting his parents, wife and daughter to attend a well-advertised seminar he had scheduled soon after the Corpus office opened.

“Nobody showed. And my dad looked at me and said, ‘Son, do you really know what you’re doing here?’ I told him, ‘Pops, I think there’s potential here, but I haven’t figured out how to get to it yet.’ ”

Just 18 months later, Patel’s father returned to find a bustling practice with 10 exam rooms, a sleep center, nutritional resource store and as many as 100 patients a day.

“It is most rewarding to help so many patients who are similar to the manner, in which I was raised, in terms of family values and holding the doctor-patient relationship to a high standard,” he says. “If someone wants to come to Corpus Christi and provide a bariatric service full-time, we are the benchmark that you have to beat, where we have multi-disciplinary programs, all the services under one roof and a staff of experts readily available to provide lifelong support.”

Having broken the code for successful bariatric clinics, the sky is the limit now. Patel envisions taking his practice to a national level and is already looking to establish another hub in Phoenix or Albuquerque. Of course, even as his practice expands, he remains committed to maintaining the same level of care. The new surgeon he will soon hire to join his practice, for instance, must share Patel’s passion to help those suffering from morbid obesity and honor the family values, which are the hallmark of his practice.

“This is more than just a job. I consider this a vocation. The monetary awards have to be and are a side effect if you are really following your heart,” he says. “The premise behind medicine is optimal patient care, and then business, recognition and the appropriate amount of gratitude will always come hand in hand with that.”

Patel cannot easily answer perhaps the simple question: Are you successful?

“For me I hold myself to at least four measuring sticks – surgeon, son, father, husband. I think I am successful as a surgeon. I probably get a B-minus as a son because I should probably call my mom more often. As a father, I think I do a pretty good job and as a husband I probably do a fair job because my wife pays the greatest price for devotion to bariatrics and she is my toughest critic, yet my biggest cheerleader.”

Back in his San Antonio office, success is easily measured in the accolades and expanding patient base. Yet, Patel’s achievements as a surgeon are probably represented best in TBS' dedicated staff of which several are patients, as well.

“I think that alone is a testament to the kind of doctor he is,” says Adames, who underwent gastric bypass surgery nearly three years ago and has lost 156 pounds. “We strive to meet the same standards Dr. Patel holds himself to, and we can truly empathize with what patients are going through. “

“This is a life-changing process, and we are here for the long run. What we do is not just a calling, it's our passion.”