LaparoscopicIncisionalHerniaRepair near Florence, SC

Biography: I am one of only a few Charlotte surgeons whose medical training includes a dual fellowship in hepatobiliary (liver, pancreas and bile duct) surgery and surgical oncology (cancer surgery). This means I focus on care for individuals with liver, pancreas, biliary, stomach, neuroendocrine, sarcomas, ovarian and peritoneal disease. These areas of medicine focus on less common tumors that can have a dramatic impact on a patient's quality of life and well-being. That is why I have dedicated my career to caring for patients who need a specialist with expertise in treating these diseases, and I truly enjoy being of service. \n At Novant Health, I lead more than a dozen physicians in the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary group as well as the hepatobiliary multidisciplinary conference, which promotes best practices for treating patients who have liver, pancreas and bile duct disorders. I also serve on a committee that selects novel therapies to study through Novant Health Cancer Institute clinical trials. All of this, combined with my membership in the American Board of Surgery and the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, keeps me connected to the latest treatments and research. \n I take a patient-centered, hands-on approach when caring for patients. You also will have access to the expertise of a team of other skilled and experienced providers who are well-versed in your medical history and will help manage your treatment. I am committed to developing techniques that help patients recover faster and see better outcomes. This can include minimally invasive laparoscopic and/or robotic surgery, as well as help with food choices, pain control and therapy before, during and after surgery. \n Communication, both to my patients and their loved ones, is important to me. I want my patients to be informed and empowered to make decisions about their care. \n In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling. I am married and have two children.

Care Philosophy: Dr. Rawlins Care Philosophy is rooted in empowerment, encouragement, and empathy. He will always provide every patient with the same excellence of care, and the feeling that he understands them and listens to them. Dr. Rawlins will always provide inspiration for each patient to feel empowered to reach their goals.

Biography: Very little has changed in my approach to bariatrics since we started our clinic in 2005. We believe that morbid obesity is a chronic, relapsing, multifactorial lifelong condition. Therefore, it must be treated and monitored throughout the life of the patient using multiple therapies. \n Our entire practice is geared toward finding the best weight management program for each individual patient, be that lifestyle management, medical management, surgical management or a combination. \n Our clinic has pioneered many advancements in bariatrics. I was the first surgeon to perform the sleeve gastrectomy in the Charlotte region, and our clinic was also one of the first in the country to have its own registered dietitian, exercise physiologist and behavioral counselor. In 2013, 11 years after completing my fellowship in bariatric surgery, I became board-certified in bariatric medicine to offer a more comprehensive approach to treating obesity. \n Over the years, I have been involved in many clinical research projects and trials to develop new surgical techniques, trial devices and equipment and to study new protocols to improve patient outcomes and advance the field of bariatrics. Most recently, we have been studying a new revisional surgery technique, a device to decrease wound infection and a program to optimize patients prior to orthopedic and spine surgery. \n I'm most proud of our clinic becoming the first Bariatric Center of Excellence in Charlotte in 2007. We have been recertified three times, which I believe shows the quality of work that we perform and the comprehensive program that we have built. \n In addition to my roles at Novant Health, I serve on the board for the Queen City Teaching Farm, a nonprofit that provides health and wellness education, fresh produce and job opportunities to at-risk communities through outdoor classrooms and teaching gardens developed at public schools. I am also active with the American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery and currently serve on two task forces with the organization - one on weight recurrence after bariatric surgery and the other on the development of telemedicine in bariatrics. \n My wife and I are the proud parents of a teenage daughter and son, a Cavapoo, an Aussiepoo and a guinea pig. My favorite thing to do is spend time with my family at home or traveling to the mountains, the beach or places the kids have never been. My wife and I enjoy cooking and grilling on the weekends. I love to fish anywhere anytime, but I particularly enjoy bass fishing and fly fishing. I also pretend to be a gardener and a birder. I have an herb garden and a cutting garden at home surrounded by more different bird feeders and birdhouses than I should mention.