Our Staff

JAIME PONCE, M.D., bariatric surgeon, received his medical degree from ITESM School of Medicine in Monterrey, Mexico, and completed his residency at the East Tennessee State University general surgery program. Dr. Ponce is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Ponce and his partners have performed over 1000 gastric banding surgeries and have one of the largest banding practices in the country. Dr. Ponce is an active member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO).

Dr. Ponce, has been selected to serve as one of only twelve member surgeons on the Council for Advances in Bariatrics. He is part of the Medical Advisory Committee for Bioenterics Lap-Band System and is one of the surgeons approved for training and proctorship other surgeons in the United States.

STEVEN PAYNTER, M.D., bariatric surgeon, received his MD degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1983, and completed his residency in General Surgery in 1988 at East Tennessee State University. He has a special interest and training in the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band procedure. He has been an active participant in the lap-band program at Hamilton Medical Center since its inception in 2000. Dr Paynter is board certified by the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Member of the AMA, American Society of General Surgeons, the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, and the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.




RICHARD FROMM, M.D., is a Bariatric Surgeon particularly interested in the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band procedure. He graduated with Honors from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his General Surgery Residency at East Tennessee State University. Dr. Fromm is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

In addition we have a bariatric team of nurses, nutritionist/dietitians, psychologists, physical therapists, medical doctors, anesthesiologists and radiologists that will be assisting on your care.