Dr. Robert E. Brolin has performed thousands of weight loss surgery procedures over his distinguished 35+ year career. He is well known for his diagnostic expertise in evaluating problems and complications of bariatric operations performed by other surgeons.
Dr. Brolin was Board certified to practice general surgery in December of 1981 and has twice been recertified in that practice (in 1992 and 2001). By the mid-1990’s, the growth of his bariatric surgical practice made it impossible to continue practicing general surgery, with the exception of selected operations for his bariatric patients (hernias, gallbladder removal, bowel resection, etc.).
As the expiration of his general surgery certification approached, he applied to the Verification Subcommittee of the American College of Surgeons for an exemption for recertification in general surgery, which was granted in 2014. Dr. Brolin continued to practice bariatric surgery until his retirement in the spring of 2016.
Career Highlights
- 36 years of bariatric experience
- More than 3,500 operations performed
- Recipient of the 2014 ASMBS Outstanding Achievement Award
- Best Doctors in America: 1998 – present
- #5 of Thirty ASMBS Members Who Made a Difference
Dr. Brolin regularly serves as an expert witness for legal cases that require bariatric expertise. For more than 30 years, he’s reviewed cases throughout the country for both defense and plaintiff’s attorneys in the general areas of bariatric and gastrointestinal surgery. He’s been associated with only one adverse defense verdict in 30+ years of testimony.
Experience
- 35+ years of bariatric experience
- Over 3,500 bariatric operations performed, both open and laparoscopic:
- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (900+ laparoscopic)
- Gastric Sleeve
- More than 300 revisions; many selectively performed using laparoscopic techniques
- Organized the first fellowship devoted entirely to bariatric surgery
- Hundreds of Awards, Honors and Publications »
- Administrative leadership in bariatric surgery:
- 2000-2001 President of American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)
- ASMBS Executive Council Member for 15+ years
- ASMBS Committee Member for 30+ years
- ASMBS Fellowship Training Committee
- Academic leadership in bariatric surgery:
- 80+ publications in medical journals
- 150+ national/international lectures
- 25 chapters in medical textbooks
- 60 published abstracts
- Research leadership in bariatric surgery:
- Speaker 1991 National Institute of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Panel on Gastrointestonal Surgery for Severe Obesity
- Cochairman ASMBS/NIH sponsored workshop on research considerations in bariatric surgery
Education
Academic
- DePauw University (1966 – 1970)
Greencastle, IN
Bachelor of Science in Premedical Science - University of Michigan School of Medicine (1970 – 1974)
Ann Arbor, MI
Doctor of Medicine
Postdoctoral Training
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (1974 – 1980)
Pittsburgh, PA
Surgical Resident
Notes
- Teacher for entire 30+ year career
- 20 years on full time faculty at UMDNJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Preceptor for American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)
- Original and active member of the ASMBS committee that designed the preceptorship program
- Compiled the written examination for preceptees
Appointments
University Medical Center at Priceton
- Director of Bariatric Surgery (2003 – 2016)
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Adjunct Professor of Surgery (2002 – 2016)
Rutgers University
- Associate, Graduate Faculty Applied Human Nutrition/Dietetics (1992 – 2016)
- Associate, Graduate Faculty Department of Engineering (1989 – 2016)
UMDNJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Professor of Surgery (7/1/1989 – 9/30/2000)
- Chief, Section of Gastrointestinal Surgery (1988 – 1999)
- Associate Professor of Surgery (1984 – 1989)
- Assistant Professor of Surgery (1980 – 1984)
Memberships
- Fellow American College of Surgeons (FACS) 1982-present
- American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 1983-present
- Society of University Surgeons (SUS) 1988-2014
- Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) 1984-2012
Credentials
Board Certification
- American Board of Surgery #27341 (12/14/1981)
- American Board of Surgery #27341 (1/8/1992 – recertified)
- American Board of Surgery #27341 (12/16/2001 – recertified)
Medical Licensures
- State of New Jersey #37406 (April 1980)
Personal Life & Hobbies
Dr. Brolin is currently enjoying semi-retirement at his home in Plainsboro, NJ. He enjoys gardening, stamp collecting, and spending time with his five young grandchildren.