Sanford Bemidji Podcast Highlights Expanded Bariatric Program, Self-Referral Options

Kayla Persons, bariatric coordinator at Sanford Bemidji, joined Dr. David “Dr. Dave” Faugno‑Fusci on Bemidji Now’s CHATABOUT to outline a new self‑referral pathway and the expanded services available through Sanford Health in Bemidji. The episode, titled "HEALTHY WEIGHTS," was posted by Bemidji Now on Feb. 26, 2026 and described the segment as covering “From medications to multiple surgical options, there are many way to combat obesity.”

Park Rapids Enterprise reports that Sanford Health in Bemidji has achieved MBSAQIP Comprehensive Center designation for its Weight Loss Surgery program, a status that “acknowledges facilities whose bariatric or weight‑loss surgery programs meet the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care.” The article said the program “successfully met extensive criteria related to clinical outcomes, staffing, training, facility infrastructure, and care protocols to ensure its capacity to support patients with severe obesity,” and that as a Comprehensive Center Sanford Bemidji “can now treat all patients, 18 and older, who are interested in weight loss surgery.”

Dr. Michael Joannides, one of the program’s lead surgeons, emphasized the accreditation’s importance for local patients. “For patients, considering weight‑loss surgery involves numerous factors, decisions, and emotions,” Joannides told Park Rapids Enterprise. “This accreditation assures patients that Sanford Health’s multidisciplinary team in Bemidji has met the highest standards for patient safety and care.” Joannides’ Sanford profile also notes he is board‑certified and provides minimally invasive and upper GI surgical care, and it lists the primary Sanford Bemidji line at (218) 333‑5283 and an additional Sanford Bagley Clinic phone at (218) 694‑2384.

Local offerings listed by Park Rapids Enterprise include gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, bariatric surgery revisions and conversions, and surgical approaches such as robotic‑assisted, laparoscopic, and endoscopic surgery. On Lakeland Currents, a PBS interview with Drs. Joannides and Faugno‑Fusci described the sleeve gastrectomy as “probably the most common one for people to lose weight and that's where we remove 80% of the stomach.”

Access changes drew particular attention on the Lakeland Currents segment, where the surgeons explained the new intake pathway: “We're also rolling out a new option for patients to kind of self-refer so they can call Sanford in Bemidji, they'll get in touch with one of our bariatric coordinators who can reach out to them, get their kind of vital statistics so that we know that they are at least in a category where they may qualify for some sort of treatment.” The show added that “Once they're in the office with us we'll usually meet with them, gauge their interests,” and that “Some people have no interest in surgery, some people want to learn about it but maybe want to try medication first, so we're happy to talk about all the options.”

The weight‑loss team photo published with local coverage lists staff from left to right as Chloe Fayette, RN; Caeley Affield, RN; Dr. Dave Faugno‑Fusci; Dr. Michael Joannides; Kayla Persons, RN, Bariatric Coordinator; and Anita Sundholm, NP. On Lakeland Currents the surgeons also noted program growth, saying “we had a lot of patients referred to our bariatric surgery program and that's actually how we were able to hire Dave this last year,” reflecting recent staffing changes to meet demand. Sanford Bemidji also offers in‑person and virtual support group options for patients working with the Weight Loss Program and for post‑operative patients, providing multidisciplinary follow‑up and long‑term postoperative care.