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Key People
Constance A. Schmidt RN/BSN
Director of Lifestyle Management/Bariatric Surgery
E-Mail
“Connie” is has a wealth of experience in weight loss surgery. She herself had open gastric bypass surgery 10-7-1999 and has enjoyed successful weight loss for almost 7 years. Connie is a registered nurse (RN) and is working on a Master's Degree in Health Care Administration. Connie has specialized in Bariatrics since 1999 in the operating room, post operative surgical unit, and in a bariatric surgeon's office. This experience has led her to the role of directing weight loss surgery programs around the country. Connie is a Member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Connie lives in Greeley with her husband and two children. She also has two daughters who are grown and married, and she is a grandmother of two. In addition, Connie's husband has had Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, and her parents have the Lap-Band. We are fortunate to have her expertise for our Cheyenne program.
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Shala Swarm , MS , FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
E-Mail
Shala is the Lifestyle Management 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 will work 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 CRMC Lifestyles Management Medical Weight Loss Program. 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 daughter.
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Kate Merkle, MPH , RD
Registered Dietitian
E-Mail
Kate is the Lifestyle Management Program's dedicated Registered Dietitian. She has a strong background in the field of weight loss, weight anagement and eating disorders. Kate focuses on providing a supportive and motivating environment, helping patients access a healthy lifestyle that is right for them. She provides nutritional education and counseling to patients before and after weight loss surgery.. Kate is an important part in our comprehensive medical (non-surgical) weight loss center. She is one of the dedicated medical professionals that sets our non-surgical weight loss program apart from other non professional programs. She currently leads the Cheyenne and Casper weight loss surgery support groups. Kate has received the American Dietetic Association's Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management and is a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. |
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Becky Grant, LPN
Lifestyle Managment Program
E-Mail
Becky is the Lifestyle Management Program LPN. Her primary responsibility is to assist the surgeons with all aspects of patientcare from the initial consultation with the surgeon to scheduling your
surgery to post-operative follow up.
Becky is a Cheyenne native. She attended nursing school in Colorado and has worked at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center since 2004. Becky joined the Lifestyle Management team in December 2006. She is an associate member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
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Brittany Thorpe
Patient Coordinator
E-Mail
Brittany is the newest member of the team. Brittany has a number of functions in the program, and helps on a day to day basis with the smooth running of both the surgical and medical weight loss programs. She assists the surgeons and the other medical professionals prepare for and run their clinics and educational offerings smoothly. She helps get the necessary paperwork moving in the right direction to expedite the preparation for weight loss surgery, ensure post operative success, and to help make medical weight loss successful. She can answer most of your questions as several of her family members have had either the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass or the LapBand.
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Lucy Stacy
M.S., R.D., CDE
E-Mail
Lucy does our pre-operative, peri-operative and post-operative diabetes counseling. If a patient is diabetic, she will meet with them to come up with strategies to manage diabetes as they approach surgery and thereafter. There are dramatic improvements in diabetes even at the time of surgery, so careful management is important. Lucy is an expert and she is a great resource for our patients.
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Alice Burron
M.S.
Exercise Physiologist, Personal Trainer
Alice is originally from Laramie, Wyoming. She received a
Bachelors of Science Degree in Biology, and went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Physical Education and Exercise Science
emphasizing in Exercise Physiology at the University of Wyoming.
Alice currently works as an Exercise Physiologist at UMCs
Occupational Health and Wellness, Cardiac Rehabilitation and
Lifestyle Management. She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and health instructor for CRMCs Health and Fitness, and currently teaches Strong Women Osteoporosis Prevention exercise classes at the hospital. She is currently working on a degree in nutrition at the University of Northern Colorado.
Alice’s main passion is her four children, but she is also an avid runner, swimmer and cyclist. She and her husband Keith enjoy hunting and fly-fishing.
Alice appreciates working with people of all ages and fitness levels: from the post-surgery client to the athlete. Alice loves to challenge her clients physically and mentally to reach their fullest potential.
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 Kristie Bibbey
B.S.
Exercise Physiologist, Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor, Wellness Director
E- MAIL
Kristie is from Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. She received a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology from the University of Wyoming.
Kristie currently works as a Wellness Director for a company called IGC Management. She is a Certified Personal Trainer. Kristie has experience in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and fitness instruction. She teaches the Lifestyle Management Class for pre-op and post-op bariatric patients.
Kristie loves to spend time with her husband and their two boston terriers. She enjoys hiking, hunting, playing basketball and volleyball.
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