Expert Clinical Care Supporting Your Health Goals
Your Weight Loss Journey to Sustainable Success Starts Now
Your Board-Certified Physician
Clinical Expertise Empowering Your Success
Rafael Alvarez, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Rafael Alvarez, MD, FACS, FASMBS is a physician dedicated to helping patients with obesity achieve meaningful, lasting weight loss and improved health. Dr. Alvarez completed medical school and residency training at the University of Michigan, and later pursued additional fellowship training focused on quality improvement and the management of obesity. As a board-certified physician with years of experience supporting patients through every stage of their weight loss journey, he brings a thoughtful, evidence-based approach to care that is both comprehensive and practical.
Dr. Alvarez’s care philosophy is grounded in collaboration, patient-centered care, and a genuine commitment to helping each patient reach their personal health goals. He strives to create an encouraging environment where patients feel heard, supported, and motivated—because long-term success starts with trust and a plan that fits real life. Patients consistently praise Dr. Alvarez for his excellent bedside manner, his ability to listen attentively, and his talent for clearly explaining complex treatment options in a way that feels empowering and easy to understand. Recognized by U.S. News as a top choice for patients, Dr. Alvarez is widely recommended for the time and care he dedicates to every individual he sees.
Your Board-Certified Physician
Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae
Education
Institution & Location: | University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI |
Degree, Year Awarded: | MD, 2013 |
Post-Graduate Training
Institution & Location: | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI |
Title: | General Surgery Residency, Department of General Surgery |
Start-End Years: | 2013 – 2020 |
Institution & Location: | Section of General Surgery, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, MI |
Title: | Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Fellowship |
Start-End Years: | 2020 – 2021 |
Institution & Location: | Department of Surgery, Division of General and GI Surgery University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH |
Title: | Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship. Foregut Fellowship. Minimally Inavasive Surgery Fellowship |
Start-End Years: | 2021 – 2022 |
Academic Appointments
Rank & Department: | Clinical Lecturer in General Surgery, Department of Surgery |
Institution & Location: | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI |
Start-End Years: | 2020 – 2021 |
Rank & Department: | Clinical Instructor in General Surgery, Department of Surgery |
Institution & Location: | Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH |
Start-End Years: | 2021 – 2022
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Rank & Department: | Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery |
Institution & Location: | University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO |
Start-End Dates: | 2023 – 2026
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Professional Appointments
Position: | General Surgery Staff Surgeon |
Institution & Location: Department: | VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI Section of General Surgery |
Start-End Dates: | 2020 – 2021 |
Position: | Director of MBSAQIP-Accredited Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program. Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeon |
Institution & Location: Department: | Mosaic Life Care, Saint Joseph, MO General Surgery |
Start-End Dates: | 2022 – 2026 |
Position: | Medical Director |
Institution & Location: Department: | My Weight 1st MEDICAL, Kansas City MO |
Start-End Dates: | 2026 – Present |
Board Certification
Name of Board: | American Board of Surgery |
Certification Status: | Certified |
Certificate Number: Date Issued: | 071478 3/24/2022 |
Designations
Issuing Organization: | American College of Surgeons |
Designation: | Fellow of the American College of Surgeons |
Member Number: | 3220846 |
Date Issued: | 10/19/2024 |
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Issuing Organization: | American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery |
Designation: | Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery |
Member Number: | 24779 |
Date Issued: | 12/1/2024 |
Publications
- Pannucci CJ, Obi A, Alvarez R, Abdullah N, Nackashi A, Hu HM, Bahl V, Henke PK. Inadequate venous thromboembolism risk stratification predicts venous thromboembolic events in surgical intensive care unit patients. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2014 May;218(5):898-904. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2014.01.046
- Obi A, Alvarez R, Reames B, Moote M, Thompson M, Wakefield T, Henke PK. A prospective evaluation of standard versus battery-powered sequential compression devices in post-surgical patients. The American Journal of Surgery. 2014 May;218(5):898-904. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.06.017
- Obi A, Pannucci C, Nackashi A, Abdullah N, Alvarez R, Bahl V, Wakefield T, Henke P. Validation of the Caprini venous thromboembolism risk assessment model in critically ill surgical patients. The Journal of the American Medical Association Surgery. 2015 Oct;150(10):941-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2015.1841
- Stevens H, Stricklen AL, Ross R, Carlin AM, Alvarez R, Ghaferi AA. Patient Perspectives on Emergency Department Self-Referral. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2017 Oct 1;13(10):S3-S4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2017.09.012
- Alvarez R, Bonham AJ, Buda CM, Carlin AM, Ghaferi AA, Varban OA. Factors Associated with Long Wait Times for Bariatric Surgery. Annals of Surgery. 2018 May 23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000002826
- Alvarez R, Lewis AG, MH Toure, Seeley RJ. A comparison of Rodent Models of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.” Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2018 Jul 2. pii: S1550-7289(18)30368-X. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2018.06.022Alvarez R, Ridelman E, Rizk N, White MS, Zhou C, Chan HP, Varban OA, Helvie MA, Seeley RJ. Assessment of mammographic breast density after sleeve gastrectomy. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2018 Aug 1. pii: S1550-7289(18)30295-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2018.07.024
- Alvarez R, Matusko N, Stricklen AL, Ross R, Buda CM, Varban OA. Factors Associated with Bariatric Surgery Utilization among Eligible Candidates: Who Drops Out? Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2018. 2018 Dec;14(12):1903-1910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2018.08.014
- Evers SS, Lewis AG, Tong C, Shao Y, Alvarez R, Ridelman R, Grant B, Seeley RJ. The unconventional role for gastric volume on weight loss and glucose lowering. Ann Surg. 2020 Jun;271(6):1102-1109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000003240
- Alvarez R, Sandoval D, Seeley RJ. A Rodent Model of Partial Intestinal Diversion: A Novel Metabolic Operation. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Feb;16(2):270-281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2019.10.026.
- Tong J, Alvarez R, Russell GB, Khouri, AN, Seeley RJ, McClain DA. High Serum Ferritin Predicts Inferior Diabetes-Related Outcomes after Gastric Bypass but Not Sleeve Gastrectomy Bariatric Surgery. Diabetes. 2020 Jun;69 (Supplement 1) 2315-PUB. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/db20-2315-PUB
- Khouri A, Alvarez R, Matusko N, Varban OA. Characterizing the Preventable Emergency Department Visit after Bariatric Surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Jan;16(1):48-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2019.10.013.
- Alvarez R, Stricklen AL, Buda CM, Ross R, Bonham AJ, Carlin AM, Varban OA, Ghaferi AA,Finks JF. Factors Associated with Completion of Patient Surveys One Year after Bariatric Surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2020.10.028
- Alvarez R, Youssef JM, Zadeh JR, Sarode AL, Barger RL, Abbas M, Khaitan L. Sleeve Gastrectomy Morphology and Long-term Weight-loss and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Outcomes. Surg Endosc. 2023 Jan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-022-09555-6
- Zadeh JR, Alvarez R, Khaitan L, Abbas M. Conversion of Gastric Sleeve to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Overall Outcomes and Predictors of Below-Average Weight Loss. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2023 Feb. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2022.10.029
- Alvarez R, Ward BL, Xiao T, Zadeh JR, Sarode AL, Khaitan L, Abbas M. Independent Association of Preoperative Hill Grade with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Two Years After Sleeve Gastrectomy. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2022 Dec. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2022.12.013
- Obeid NR, Gibbs KE, Faler B, Eckhouse S, Corcelles R, Alvarez R, Chen J, Husain FA, Ghanem OM, Kroh M, Kurian M. The SAGES MASTERS program bariatric surgery pathway selects 10 seminal publications on adjustable gastric banding. Surg Endosc. 2024 May. DOI: 1007/s00464-024-10812-z
Testimonials
Support That Makes a Difference
Patient
Missouri
Dr. Alvarez is a life changer! My husband and I both see him. We are both successfully losing weight for the first time in our lives. The time and compassion that Dr. Alvarez has shown us was amazing and still is because he continues to care throughout your journey. Most doctors treat you like money in their pocket, but he comes in and makes eye contact shakes your hand every single time and actually listens from one appointment to another. He remembers me personally down to the little details. Thank you, Dr. Alvarez I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me and I’m glad to have you by my side every step of the way. Or should I say every pound and inch along the way!!!!
Patient
Missouri
I just want to say how grateful I am for Dr. Alvarez and the amazing care he’s given me. From the very beginning of my treatment to my 3-month follow-up, he has been nothing short of supportive, kind, and understanding. He truly takes the time to listen and makes sure I feel comfortable and cared for. At my 3-month appointment, he celebrated my progress and gave me the encouragement I needed to keep moving forward. I’m so thankful for his care and helping me change my life.
Patient
Missouri
Dr. Alvarez’s care has been positively life changing for me. My family and friends all comment on how much this treatment has positively improved my health and that I’m happier and more confident now. Several of my friends are now also going to see him to be helped in their life changing journey. Thank you, Dr. Alvarez, for all your great care!
Patient
Missouri
Dr. Alvarez is amazing. He takes extra care in explaining everything, providing information, and addressing any issues or concerns. He’s been great after the initial visit and always quick to answer back when I reached out with questions. Even more so, he listens and takes into account your life and situation. I’m so grateful he’s the Doctor I chose for this experience. I can’t be more thankful.
Patient
Missouri
Dr. Alvarez is an exceptional doctor who has made me feel genuinely cared for. The results have been better than expected. He made me feel calm and reassured throughout my entire treatment and has answered any and all questions I had following. I could tell my health and wellbeing was a top priority. Highly recommended!
Patient
Missouri
I highly recommend Dr. Alvarez! He always makes sure all my questions are answered thoroughly, and he is very personable! He gave me all my options across my weight loss journey. I am very happy with the results so far! I’m down 65 pounds and am still going! I can’t say enough positive things about Dr. Alvarez!
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