Constance A. Schmidt RN, BSN, MHA, CBN
Service Line Administrator
Oncology & Bariatric Services
Phone (307) 633-6185 Fax: (307) 633-7621
Cell 307-286-3480
Constance.schmidt@crmcwy.org

Constance has a wealth of experience in weight loss surgery. She is a registered nurse (RN), a Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN), and has her Master's Degree in Health Care Administration (MHA). Constance has specialized in Bariatric Surgery since 1999. Her experience includes 2 years in the operating room, 2 years on the post operative surgical unit, and 1 year in a bariatric surgeon's office. This experience has led her to the role of directing and building Bariatric Centers of Excellence around the country. She is an active Member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. We are fortunate to have her expertise for our program.

Constance lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming with her husband and two of her children. She has two daughters who are grown and married and she is a grandmother of five as well as being a foster parent. Constance had open gastric bypass surgery on 10-7-1999 and enjoys successful weight loss. In addition, her husband has had Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, and her parents and one daughter have had the Lap-Band.

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Becky Grant, LPN
Program and Office Manager
633-6114
Rebecca.Grant@crmcwy.org

Becky is the CRMC Bariatric Program Operations Manager. She administrates all aspects of the program including the Centers of Excellence designation, data management, quality management, personnel, etc. Becky attended nursing school in Colorado and has worked at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center since 2004. Becky was raised in Cheyenne, and she and her husband, Darrell, chose to raise their three children here after living in Montana for a few years. Becky has worked with the Weight Loss Center since December 2006 and was the bariatric office nurse until promoted into her present position. Becky has supervised and made successful our move to our new office on 17th street. She was a big part in helping us to become and maintain our ASMBS Centers of Excellence Program.

Becky is a successful Lap Band patient and had her surgery November 2008. Becky is an especially great personal resource for Gastric Banding procedures. However her experience as our office nurse qualifies her to be is our senior source of clinical patient knowledge, as well as the expert behind the management not only of our offices, but the program as a whole.

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Shala Swarm , MS , FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
Shala.Swarm@crmcwy.org

Shala is the program bariatric nurse practitioner. Her training allows her to manage patients at an advanced practioner level, including pre and post operative evaluation, assessment, and management. Shala performs the initial screening for bariatric surgery as well as teaches the pre-operative classes. She works closely with the bariatric surgeons for optimal follow-up care. She is a capable and available resource for the surgical patients in our program.

In addition, one of Shala's primary functions is to develop and manage the Medical Weight Loss Program at CRMC. She manages patients in the medical weight loss program who are preparing for surgery and patients who can benefit by a comprehensive non-surgical weight loss program, run by a knowledgeable bariatric medical professional. Shala is a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. She lives in Cheyenne with her husband and daughters.

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Gretchen Halley, RD, LMNT, MAT
Gretchen.Halley@crmcwy.org
307 (307) 432-6462
866 633-7619

Gretchen is CRMC’S Weight Loss Center’s Registered Dietitian. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in nutrition as well as her Master’s in the Art of Teaching Physical Education. She has been a Registered Dietician since 2006. Her passion is to assist others in overall wellness through nutrition and exercise in order to help them achieve their personal goals. Gretchen has received the American Dietetic Association’s Certificate in Adult Weight Management. She is also an AFAA certified Personal Trainer and Group Aerobic Instructor. Her classes are featured at the CRMC Health & Fitness Center.

Gretchen is a native of Scottsbluff, NE. She has been a staff member at CRMC since March 2010.

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Caroljean Bongo PsyD or Dr. Caroljean Bongo
cbongopsyche@hotmail.com
866 633-7619

Caroljean has provided consultation services for the Weight Loss Clinic since December 2007. She earned a master's and doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology at Argosy University in Honolulu Hawaii, with an emphasis in diversity. Her doctorate research focused on weight loss surgery candidates and their relationship with themselves, others and food. While earning her degrees, she worked in an eating disorder treatment program as both an individual and group clinician and program manager for two years. The clinic served women and men who struggled with bulimia, anorexia, binge eating disorder, and weight loss surgery candidates. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Wyoming Psychological Association, Society for Personality Assessment, National Eating Disorders Association, International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Since beginning her affiliation with the Weight Loss Clinic she has attended the annual meetings of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric surgery and was a panel presenter at the 2010 meeting. As a Wyoming licensed psychologist, she offers services in Cheyenne and Laramie.

Caroljean came to Wyoming to complete her post doctoral residency at the University of Wyoming University Counseling Center and liked it here so much, she decided to stay. She grew up in Arizona, lived in Hawaii for 12 years, and spent one year in southern Louisiana. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her partner Gary, cycling, cross country skiing, hiking, walking, cooking and playing with her cats.

Caroljean welcomes your phone calls with any questions you may have @ 307-760-1871.

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Tara Kunz, LPN
Nurse
633-7619
Tara.Kunz@crmcwy.org

Tara is the Weight Loss Center office nurse. She has had 14 plus years of nursing experience. Her primary responsibility is to assist the surgeon and the Weight Loss program with all aspects of patient care from the initial consultation with the surgeon to scheduling surgery to post-operative follow up. Among thousands of other functions, she coordinates appointments, the surgeon’s schedule, labs, consultations, and other studies. Tara is experienced and knowledgeable and is a great resource on all clinical and logistical questions. Tara is the go to person for just about everything.

Tara had a successful Gastric Bypass September 2009. More importantly she is a very successful RYGB patient. Tara is a great resource for all the procedures we perform.

Tara is a Nebraska native and moved to Wyoming to be with her husband Matt. Tara and Matt have three children in their combined family.

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Sandy Ronne
Medical Assistant

Sandy Ronne joined the Weight Loss Center team in April 2011.  She is the medical assistant for the medical weight loss program and works closely with Shala, Gretchen, and our patients preparing for surgery as well as non-surgical  weight loss patients.

Sandy grew up in Torrington and moved to Cheyenne to be closer to family.  She was previously working for an Orthopedic Surgeon in Cody as an Office Manager and brings with her 25 years of medical experience.  Sandy has 3 children and 2 grandsons.

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Brittany Thorpe
Patient Coordinator
E-Mail

Brittany has been with the CRMC Weight Loss Center since 2006. Her primary responsibility is to guide patients through the process from their initial appointment with Nurse Practitioner and Dietician to their first appointment with their surgeon. She will be the first person that contacts new patients to get the necessary paperwork moving in the right direction and to expedite the preparation for weight loss surgery, ensure post operative success, and to help make medical weight loss successful. For those patients that are participating in non-surgical weight loss plans, Brittany will also be the go-to person as they move through the program. In addition to being the contact person for patients as they move through their preoperative appointments and tests, Brittany’s knowledge of insurance and billing makes her the primary contact in our clinic for billing questions. Brittany also manages our supplements and vitamins that we have on hand for the convenience and health of the patients.

Brittany and her husband, Aaron and her son Drake, welcomed a baby brother, Destin, in September 2010.

Brittany had a successful Lap Band June 2008 and is a great resource especially for our gastric band patients.

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Sarah Medhurst
Insurance Coordinator
Sarah.Medhurst@crmcwy.org
1-866-633-6849

Sarah joined the Weight Loss Center team in May 2010. Her main role in the clinic is to advocate for our patients through the insurance authorization process. Sarah uses her experience and knowledge of insurance billing and coding, as well as the relationships that she has cultivated in the insurance industry, to obtain bariatric surgery approvals. She also does all of the surgery scheduling and guides our patients through the necessary presurgery testing and educational requirements. Additionally, Sarah is an experienced EMT and assists with patient care in our clinic as a phlebotomist.

Sarah understands that the insurance approval process can be nerve racking and frustrating and works hard to make it as smooth as possible. She has seen how life-changing weight loss surgery can be and is dedicated to helping our patients through the journey.

Sarah is a Cheyenne native who recently returned to the area with her sons, Ashton and Aiden, after living in Germany. She enjoys watching football and spending time with her family and friends.

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Kristie Bibbey, BS
Exercise Physiologist, Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor,  Wellness Director
307 633-7060

Kristie is our program-specific exercise physiologist. She received a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology from the University of Wyoming and is a Certified Personal Trainer.  Kristie has experience in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, fitness instruction, and corporate wellness.  She has taught the Weight Loss Center exercise class for pre-op and post-op bariatric patients for several years, as well as offering personal fitness training opportunities.  Kristie's training in Exercise Physiology enables her to help our patients learn to enjoy exercise safely.

Kristie was raised in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. She loves to spend time with her husband and two sons and enjoys hiking, hunting, playing basketball and volleyball.

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Misty Goodman
Receptionist

Misty Goodman is our receptionist and is often the first person that you’ll meet when calling or coming into the Weight Loss Center. She plays a key role in greeting our patients, answering their questions, providing hands on patient care, and managing the clinic schedule. Misty is a Medical Assistant and has worked in the medical field since 2006.  She has worked at the Weight Loss Center since August 2011.

Misty was born and raised in Cheyenne, WY.  She has two wonderful children, Anthony and Laceyanna.

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