Dr. John Baker
John W. Baker, MD, FACS, is President of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the largest association in the world dedicated to this particular specialty.  He is also a past board member and past president of the ASMBS Foundation.

Dr. Baker is a leading expert in the surgical treatment of obesity.  He has performed more than 2,500 weight loss surgical procedures during his career.  He is also an active member of several other professional associations and societies including the American College of Surgeons, the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolism (IFSOM), the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), and the American Medical Association

Currently, he is a solo practitioner and serves as the medical director for Baptist Medical Center’s Baptist Health Weight Loss Center, as well as co-director of the hospital’s bariatric surgery program in Little Rock, Arkansas.

He is working with Operation New Life on mission trips to Honduras helping with advanced laparoscopic techniques with the attending surgeons and surgical residents at the Hospital Escuela medical school in Tegucigalpa. 

Dr. Baker has co-authored numerous studies and has been published in several peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Trauma, Obesity Surgery and Surgical Forum.   He has also made numerous presentations on trauma and obesity surgery topics. Dr. Baker has worked with the Arkansas State Medical Board and was asked to lead a committee to establish a list of complications for mandated informed patient consent for gastric bypass surgery with the Arkansas General Assembly in 2003.

Dr. Baker graduated from Louisiana State University-Shreveport in a six-year accelerated M.D. program, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981 and a medical degree from LSU Medical Center-Shreveport in 1983.  He completed both his internship and residency at LSU Hospital in 1983 and 1988, and also served as chief resident of general surgery.

He practices and lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with his wife Melissa and his two children.

You may email him at jbsurg@obesity-surgery.net.

Christy Lockard ~ Patient Coordinator
Christy came to work for Dr. Baker 10 years ago!  She facilitates the pre-scheduling process for patients and schedules procedures once insurance approval has been obtained.  With her wealth of knowledge and experience she is a great asset to both the office and our patients.  We are very lucky to have Christy on our team!

Christy is a whirlwind of activity and always stays super busy.  In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her two teenagers.

Courtney Sutterfield, MS, RD, LD
Courtney is our dietician.  She began her career at Baptist Medical Center prior to joining our treatment team.  She has been with the office since 2003.  She has experience with outpatient nutritional counseling and enjoys helping people understand that eating healthy doesn't have to be a bad thing. Nutrition counseling is provided in one to one sessions and is tailored to suit each individual's needs. Courtney is married and enjoys cooking, walking, and spending time with her two young daughters.

Erica Henson ~ Patient Representative
As our receptionist she is one of the first team members you’ll meet.  She has worked in the medical field since 2001, primarily in the hospital setting.  Erica joined our staff two years ago to enjoy a more family friendly position while continuing in the field that she loves.  “It’s a privilege to work for one of the best bariatric surgeons in the state”. 

Erica has three children who keep her pretty busy.  In what little spare time she has, she enjoys the unique hobby of paranormal investigation.

Mattie Morrow ~ Account Representative
Mattie joined our team in May of 2007 as our patient accounts representative after working with our office during a college internship.   Mattie handles all patient accounts, and insurance filing and appeals processes.  Mattie does an excellent job of staying on top of the billing issues and is a great resource for any patient experiencing billing challenges.   “It’s an honor to work with someone I consider to be one of the greatest surgeons in America”.

Mattie lives in North Little Rock with her 9 year old son.  She says her hobbies vary on a day to day basis, depending on what her son wants to participate in. 

Shannon Cooper, MNSc, APN, FNP-BC
Shannon, is the newest addition to our clinic; she joined our office as our nurse practitioner in September 2009. She attended the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences nurse practitioner program where she graduated with honors and specialized in family practice.  In collaboration with Dr. Baker, she sees patients for their follow-up appointments and adjustable gastric banding fills. She is married and has one son. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to the lake, camping, and especially loves spending time with her patients!

Shannon McLendon ~ Patient Representative
Shannon joined our staff as a Patient Coordinator in March. She has been a great addition to the staff. Shannon works diligently with our patients to facilitate the sometimes daunting task of scheduling. As a post-bariatric patient herself, Shannon brings a knowledgeable perspective to each patient's personal journey. "I love working with the patients and helping them achieve their goals for surgery".

Shannon lives in Little Rock, with her husband of 8 years and 3 children.