Meet Our Staff

		Tejwant S. Datta, MD, FACS, is a noted minimally invasive and bariatric surgeon who recently joined Southside Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Datta earned his undergraduate degree from The George Washington University in Washington, DC and received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA where he served as Chief Resident and was awarded the esteemed Ghosh Award for outstanding performance as voted by the attending surgical staff. He also completed an elective rotation with special concentration in Bariatric Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Datta completed his fellowship training in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery and was an Assistant Faculty member of the Department of Surgery at the renowned Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. In addition to bariatric surgery, Dr. Datta performs a wide variety of laparoscopic (minimally invasive) abdominal procedures including hernia surgery, colon and intestinal operations as well as surgery for severe heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Dr. Datta is Board Certified in General Surgery and has recently been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
		Ronnie L. Jowers, RN, MS, CBN, Bariatric Service Line Director, has specialized in bariatric patient care for most of his nursing career. He received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN). He combines the skills of a teacher and stand-up comic to achieve what he calls his life’s purpose of assisting people to improve the quality of their lives through the changes brought about after weight loss surgery (WLS). “When you realize that weight loss surgery can be the path to a longer, healthier life, you realize you truly can get your life back. It is liberating to regain your energy and to eat to live instead of living to eat.” As patient navigator, Ronnie believes in giving each patient individual attention from the pre-op educational classes through the surgical hospital experience and beyond. As your coach and cheerleader long after discharge, he focuses on the importance of protein intake and the need for exercise. As support group leader, he assists with goal setting and behavior modification, while emphasizing positive self esteem. Ronnie also believes humor can be a very effective tool in motivating patients to achieve and maintain their weight loss goals.