Meet the Surgeons

Rocky Mountain Weight Loss Surgery, LLC Richard A. Fermelia, MD, FACS Richard.Fermelia@crmcwy.org M. Whitney Parnell, MD, FACS    opr8@qwest.net 2301 House Avenue, Ste 500 Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone 307-633-7619 |  Toll-free 866-633-7619   Fax 307-633-7621

Richard A. Fermelia, M.D., F.A.C.S

Dr. Fermelia was born and raised in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He graduated from Rock Springs High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with an academic scholarship to the University of Wyoming. He attended the University of Utah on the Wyoming Contract Program to earn his doctorate in medicine. Dr. Fermelia was an intern and resident in Dallas, Texas where he worked and learned in the several hospitals of the University of Texas Southwestern system, including the inner city hospital Parkland. He served as chief surgical resident in his final year of residency. His desire to return to Wyoming brought him and his wife, Shannon, to Cheyenne where he joined Consultants in Surgery with his present partner Dr. Take Pullos in private general surgery practice in 1994. Dr. Parnell joined the practice in 2000.

In Cheyenne, Dr. Fermelia has developed a robust laparoscopic surgery practice, emphasizing complex abdominal procedures, which include (but are not limited to) minimally invasive approaches to heartburn (gastro-esophageal reflux), colon surgery, appendectomy, gallbladder surgery, splenectomy, groin hernia repair, and abdominal hernia repair. Dr. Fermelia has brought innovation and technology to Cheyenne in not only laparoscopic surgery, but also breast cancer surgery, and the trauma system. He is the trauma director at United Medical Center and is involved at the state and national level in trauma systems and trauma care. He has served as Chairman of Surgery at United Medical Center and presently serves as Vice Chairman. He serves on the Medical Staff Executive Committee, serves as chairman of the Trauma Committee, serves on the Hospital Quality Assurance Committee, and serves on the ICU committee.

Dr. Fermelia, along with Dr. Parnell were one of the first, if not the first surgeons to perform open and then laparoscopic weight loss surgery in Wyoming. He is an active member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgeons and the American Society for Bariatric Physicians. With Dr. Fermelia’s leadership and partnership with United Medical Center, in conjunction with VISTA bariatric management services, the first comprehensive weight loss surgery program in Wyoming has been established: The CRMC Lifestyles Management Program, for which Dr Fermelia serves as co-director.

Dr Fermelia’s Curriculum Vitae:

Place of Birth:
Rock Springs, WY
Family:
Wife, Shannon. Two Children: Sadie and Lex.

Education:

• 1990 - 1994 Surgical Residency; University of Texas Southwestern; Dallas, TX
  Parkland Memorial Hospital; Dallas Veterans Administration Center; Zale-Lipshy University Hospital; Dallas Children’s Hospital
• 1989 - 1990 Surgical Internship; University of Texas Southwestern; Dallas, TX Parkland Memorial Hospital; Dallas Veterans Administration Center; Zale-Lipshy University Hospital; Dallas Children’s Hospital
• 1985 - 1989 M.D., University of Utah School of Medicine; Salt Lake City, UT
• 1981 - 1985 B.A., Zoology & Physiology, University of Wyoming; Laramie, WY

Professional Employment/Appointments:

• 2001 - present Trauma Director, United Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 2004 - present Vice President Wyoming American College of Surgeons
• 2003 - present Wyoming State Trauma Quality Assurance Director
• 2000 - 2003 Chairman of Surgery, United Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 2003 - present Vice Chairman of Surgery, United Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 1998 - 2001 Active Staff, VA Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 1997 - present Clinical Faculty, University of Wyoming Family Practice Program Cheyenne, WY
• 1994 - present General Surgeon, Consultants in Surgery, P.C., Cheyenne, WY
• 1994 - present Active Staff, United Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 1994 - present Active Staff, Yellowstone Surgery Center, Cheyenne, WY

M. Whitney Parnell, M.D., F.A.C.S

Dr. Parnell was born in Cody Wyoming and was raised in Laramie , Wyoming . She graduated from Laramie High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Wyoming , where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. She attended the Creighton University on the Wyoming Contract Program to earn her doctorate in medicine. Dr. Parnell was an intern and surgical resident in Phoenix , AZ where she worked and learned in the several hospitals of the in the Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency system. She served at chief surgical resident in her final year of residency. Her desire to return to Wyoming brought her and her husband, Greg, to Cheyenne where she joined Consultants in Surgery with Dr. Take Pullos and Dr. Rick Fermelia in private general surgery practice in 2000.

Dr. Parnell, along with Dr. Fermelia were one of the first, if not the first surgeons to perform open and then laparoscopic weight loss surgery in Wyoming . She is an active member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgeons . Dr. Parnell, in partnership with Dr. Fermelia and United Medical Center , in conjunction with VISTA bariatric management services, the first comprehensive weight loss surgery program in Wyoming has been established: The CRMC Lifestyles Management Program.

Dr Parnell’s Curriculum Vitae:

Business Address:
5201 Yellowstone Rd., Cheyenne, WY 82009
Phone: 307-632-1114
Fax: 307-632-9920

Date & Place of Birth:
Cody, WY
Family:
Husband, Greg. Four Children: Skyler, Braxton, Ries, and Drake.

Education:

• 1995 - 2000 Surgical Residency; Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency
  Phoenix, AZ
• 1991-1995 M.D., Creighton University Medical School, Omaha, NE
  Medical Dean’s List (top 10%) 1992-1993
  Dean’s Academic Scholarship, Spring 1994
• 1986 -1990 B.A., Zoology & Physiology, with honors, University of Wyoming; Laramie, WY
  Phi Beta Kappa, 1990
  Phi Kappa Phi, 1989

Professional Employment/Appointments:

• 2000 - present General Surgeon, Consultants in Surgery, P.C., Cheyenne, WY
• 2000 - present Active Staff, United Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 2000 - present Active Staff, Yellowstone Surgery Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 2000 - present Clinical Faculty, University of Wyoming Family Practice Program
  Cheyenne, WY

Take G. Pullos, M.D.

Business Address:
5201 Yellowstone Rd., Cheyenne, WY 82009
Phone: 307-632-1114
Fax: 307-632-9920

Date & Place of Birth:
August 22, 1951
Cheyenne, WY

Education:

• 1969 Graduate, Central High School, Cheyenne, WY
• B.S., Zoology with Honors, University of Wyoming; Laramie, WY
• M.D., University of New Mexico School of Medicine; Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Intern, General Surgery, Veterans’ Administration Medical Center, Martinez, CA
• Resident, General Surgery, University of California Davis Medical Center; Sacramento, CA

Employment:

• 1984 - present General Surgeon, Active Staff United Medical Center
  Cheyenne, WY
• 2002 - present Medical Director, Yellowstone Surgery Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 1998 - 2001 Active staff, VA Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 1994 - present Active Staff, Yellowstone Surgery Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 1988 - present Clinical Faculty, University of Wyoming Family Practice Program
  Cheyenne, WY
• 1984 - present Active Staff, Untied Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY
• 1983 - Aug-Dec Attending General Surgeon & Emergency Room Physician
  Incline Village, NV

Jason H Clark, M.D.

Education:

• 1995 – 1999 University of Colorado School of M.D
  Medicine, Denver, CO

• 1990 – 1994 Southern Methodist University B.S.
  Dallas , TX Biology

Employment:

• Aug. 2006 – Present
  practicing general surgeon Consultants in Surgery
• 2005 – July 2006
  General Surgery Chief Resident University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• 2003 – 2004
  Co-president House staff Association Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• 2002 – 2004
  Research Fellow, Dept. of Surgery Univ. of Colorado School of Medicine
• 2000 – 2001
  General Surgery Residency Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• 1999 – 2000
  General Surgery Internship Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• 1994 – 1995
  Research Assistant, Webb-Waring Lung Institute Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center