Meet the Bariatric Surgeons
Joshua E. Roller, M.D.*
Bariatric Medical Director for Northwest Health
Joshua E. Roller, M.D., is a fellowship-trained minimally invasive bariatric and general surgeon, who honed his skills at Duke University, which operates one of the nation's premier bariatric surgery centers. Dr. Roller was the first fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon and advanced laparoscopic surgeon in Arkansas, establishing his practice here in 2007.
He graduated from medical school at University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City, OK representing the top 10 percent in his class. He completed his general surgery residency and internship at University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX, before completing his fellowship training at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, in advanced minimally invasive bariatric and general surgery.
Dr. Roller speaks regularly at national conferences and has published a number of research papers in major journals. Dr. Roller's specialties include: bariatric surgery and advanced laparoscopic general surgery procedures (including laparoscopic colon/rectal resection, adrenalectomy, splenectomy, gastrectomy, pancreatectomy, Nissen fundoplication, paraesophageal hernia, inguinal and ventral/incisional hernias. He has performed more than 7,000 bariatric procedures. He has achieved certification in general surgery from the American Board of General Surgery.
Jaime N. Dutton, M.D.*
Jaime N. Dutton, M.D., is a board-certified general surgeon and fellowship-trained minimally-invasive laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon.
She earned her undergraduate degree in biology at Johns Hopkins University prior to attending medical school at the University of Kansas. Dr. Dutton completed her general surgery residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Pennsylvania and completed a fellowship in advanced minimally invasive bariatric and general surgery at Stanford University.
Dr. Dutton’s specialties include: bariatric surgery and advanced laparoscopic general surgery procedures which include laparoscopic colon/rectal resection, adrenalectomy, splenectomy, gastrectomy, pancreatectomy, Nissen fundoplication, paraesophageal hernia, inguinal and ventral/incisional hernias. She has achieved certification in general surgery from the American Board of General Surgery.
Yong Kwon, M.D.*
Yong Kwon, M.D., is a fellowship trained minimally invasive laparoscopic general and bariatric surgeon.
He completed his undergraduate education in neurosciences at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he graduated with honors. He received his medical education at the University of Washington School Of Medicine in Seattle, Washington, where he also served an internship in general surgery and completed his fellowship in advanced laparoscopic, minimally invasive bariatric and general surgery.
Dr. Kwon’s specialties include: bariatric surgery and advanced laparoscopic general surgery procedures with emphasis in esophageal and gastric surgery, as well as other operations of the gastrointestinal tract including laparoscopic colon/rectal resection, adrenalectomy, splenectomy, gastrectomy, pancreatectomy, Nissen fundoplication, paraesophageal hernia, inguinal and ventral/incisional hernias. He has performed more than 1500 bariatric surgeries since 2011. He has achieved certification in general surgery from the American Board of General Surgery.
Jessica Pries, M.D.*
Jessica Pries, M.D., is a general surgeon and fellowship-trained minimally invasive and laparoscopic bariatric surgeon.
A graduate of the University of Kansas Medical School, her general surgery residency was completed at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. She returned to the Midwest for advanced minimally-invasive surgery training for a fellowship at the University of Missouri’s bariatric surgery program.
Dr. Pries has training in advanced minimally invasive techniques for both bariatric and general surgical procedures such as inguinal and incisional hernia, gallbladder, hiatal hernia, anti-reflux procedures, peritoneal dialysis catheters and more.
Noe Rodriguez, M.D.*
Noe Rodriguez, M.D., is a board-certified general surgeon and fellowship-trained minimally invasive and laparoscopic bariatric surgeon.
Dr. Rodriguez graduated from medical school in 2004. Due to his significant interest in metabolic, weight loss and gastrointestinal surgery, Dr. Rodriguez spent three years as a clinical research fellow in the Department of Metabolism and Nutrition at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston. Dr. Rodriguez then completed his general surgery residency at Florida Atlantic University, followed by fellowship training in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Dr. Rodriguez is board certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery with experience in robotic surgery.
He is an active member of Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), serving in a leadership role on the guidelines and robotic committees. He has published papers regarding the effects of stress on metabolism, the effects of weight-loss surgery in improving fatty liver disease and liver function, and whether robotic/laparoscopic/endoscopic surgery may offer patients a better long-term outcome with regards to esophageal disorders such as achalasia, gastro-esophageal reflux disease and paraesophageal hernia. He has spoken at many national conferences regarding his research. He is currently involved in the development of national guidelines for the treatment of hernias of the abdominal wall. While Dr. Rodriguez’s main focus is advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery, he practices all aspects of general surgery.
He is fluent in both English and Spanish.
*Independent members of the medical staff at Northwest Medical Center – Springdale and Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital.