Nohemi found a partner in the care she needed close to home.

For more than two decades, Nohemi Abrago has been a dedicated member of the team at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus. Although Nohemi’s career connected her to the hospital, it was there she also found the support she needed to help her transform her health and life for the better.

Nohemi struggled with her weight for years, and at just five feet tall, she had seen the number on the scale climb up to 235 pounds. Like most people struggling with weight loss, Nohemi turned to diets, pills and exercise to no avail. It was during her niece’s quinceañera when she could not find a dress that would fit her, that she realized she needed to make a life-changing decision, one that would completely change the course of her weight loss journey.

As a food service manager at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus, Nohemi had seen bariatric patients come in for surgery and later leave the hospital healthier, happier and full of confidence. Although she knew Abrazo had an award-winning bariatric program, she was scared. But Nohemi put her faith in the experienced hands of Dr. Daniel Fang, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Medical Director at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus.

Nohemi underwent gastric bypass surgery, a procedure that creates a much smaller stomach pouch and reroutes the digestive system to assist with longer-lasting weight loss. "I only spent one night in the hospital and went home the next day with no pain, like I never had the surgery," said Nohemi. She added, "I wouldn't hesitate to do it again."

Now down to 140 pounds and wearing size 5-6 pants, Nohemi credits the experienced and compassionate care of Dr. Fang and the entire bariatric team at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus for her successful weight loss journey. Abrazo Scottsdale Campus offers a personalized approach in complex health care, specifically bariatric surgery.

“The best results from bariatric surgery occur when the patient is dedicated to improving their health and lifestyle,” says Dr. Fang. “There is an understanding that bariatric surgery is a ‘tool’ to help with weight loss. The surgeon and medical team, as well as nutritionists and psychologists, work together closely with the patient to make changes in preparation for surgery and continue long-term follow-up for years to maintain substantial and sustainable weight loss. We want to achieve improvement in all aspects of health to create a more rewarding lifestyle.”

The bariatric program at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus also holds designations from Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center+, Aetna Institute of Quality and a Cigna 3 Star Center, highlighting its reputation for excellence in weight loss surgery. The facility has also been recognized as a Center of Excellence by OptumHealth Care Solutions. This reputable designation reflects its commitment to clinical quality, cost efficiency and comprehensive bariatric patient care.