Bariatric support programs are key to long-term success. In this episode of BariNation, Kellie Armstrong, RN and Integrated Health Director at ASMBS, shares insights from her 20-year journey as both a bariatric patient and healthcare leader. She discusses the evolution of obesity medicine, the power of multidisciplinary care, and the three C’s of success—continuous, conversation, and connection—highlighting why strong patient-provider communication changes everything.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
- 06:35 Kellie’s first bariatric surgery patient in 2000, and how nursing education has evolved in obesity medicine
- 13:09 The intersection of professional and patient life: merging your bariatric identity with everyday life
- 19:27 Why bariatric support programs are not a quick fix and the importance of using tools from your toolbox
- 22:27 Creating patient-provider communication pathways and keeping integrated health teams accessible to patients
- 26:59 The three C's framework: continuous, conversation and connection for long-term weight loss success
- 30:22 How ASMBS accreditation programs share best practices and collaborate across bariatric care coordination teams
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Bariatric surgery is just one tool, Long-term success requires lifelong, integrated care including nutrition, behavioral health, medication, and lifestyle support.
- Choose programs that stay with you. Find a bariatric team offering real relationships and full support, or ask to be connected with obesity medicine specialists.
- Your bariatric journey becomes life. Stay connected through post-op groups, annual follow-ups, and peers who understand your experience for years to come.
- Bariatric care has evolved — from open surgeries and long hospital stays to minimally invasive procedures and comprehensive, team-based obesity treatment.
BariNation - Partnership Monthly Membership
BariNation’s How to Find an Obesity Specialist Guide
No One Left Behind: Dr. Richard Peterson
https://www.facebook.com/kellie.fredette.armstrong
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-armstrong-msn-rn-fasmbs-ih-cbn-4766501b/
Website: https://www.brownhealth.org/centers-services/center-medical-and-surgical-weight-loss
BIOGRAPHY:
Kellie Armstrong's RN career began at Rhode Island Hospital in 1998, progressing from staff nurse to Bariatric Surgery Service Line Manager when Brown University Health merged its bariatric programs in 2012. In 2007, she became Rhode Island's first Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN) and has since presented at national venues, co-authored articles in Bariatric Times, and served as co-chair of the 2024 Integrated Health Obesity Summit. Her dedication earned her the 2021 Hurvitz Quality Award for revamping the bariatric support program during COVID-19, the 2022 Distinguished CBN award, and inclusion in the first FASMBS-IH Leadership Academy cohort in 2024. Kellie is currently the ASMBS Integrated Health Section President and brings a unique perspective as both a healthcare leader and a bariatric surgery patient since 2005.
ABOUT:
If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.
About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need and when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.