The ALA Surgery Family

Bariatric Surgeon Joseph C. Moran, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at Rex Healthcare in Raleigh, NC

Joseph C. Moran, M.D, F.A.C.S, completed his undergraduate education in New York at The State University of New York at Stony Brook, before receiving his medical doctorate from Ross University School of Medicine in Roseau, Dominica. He completed his general surgery training and chief residency at St. Agnes Healthcare in Baltimore, Maryland. Following this, Dr. Moran completed a formal two year fellowship in Mastery of Complex and Minimally Invasive Surgery at St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons, as well as a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.  He is a member of several surgical societies including the American College of Surgeons, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.  Dr. Moran serves as a surgical proctor and clinical faculty member for Allergan Medical.  He continues to serve on the Allergan Council for Advancement in Bariatric Surgery and is a recognized LAP-BAND Total Care Program Certified Practice Champion.

His areas of interest and expertise include laparoscopic colon resection for benign and malignant diseases, laparoscopic treatment of hiatus hernias and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band placement (LAP-BAND), and Laparoscopic and open Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery. Dr. Moran is the first and only Board Certified, Laparoscopic fellowship trained Bariatric surgeon in Raleigh and continues to be a leader in the field of weight loss surgery in the Southeastern United States.  Advanced Laparoscopic Associates and the Raleigh Center for Surgical Weight Loss continue to offer the latest in pre and postoperative care for our bariatric patients.

Michelle Carroll, RTR, Patient Services Manager

Michelle received her Bachelor of Business, Healthcare Management with a minor in Human Resource Management from Mount Olive College. She has been in the healthcare field for over seven years and is looking forward to helping our patients through their weight loss journey.

Farrah Pontz, Practice Manager

Farrah received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from NC State University in 2001. She has been in the medical field for over seven years and has a vast knowledge of all aspects of a medical practice, including billing and insurance processes.

Julie Johannes, PA-C

After graduating from Wingate University in 1989, Julie received her Master's Degree in Sports Science from the United States Sports Academy. She then served as Assistant Athletic Trainer for Davidson College for two years prior to becoming the Head Athletic Trainer and a faculty member at the University of Virginia-Wise. Five years later, she went to work for a physical therapy clinic where she was Coordinator of Sports Medicine for Gaston County Schools. In 1998, she graduated from the Trevecca Nazarene University Physician Assistant Program in Nashville, TN. She has worked in Internal Medicine for one year after PA school and in Orthopedics for the past 11 years.

Jennifer Pontz, Financial Service Representative

Jenny has been a part of the ALA family since its inception in 2006. She has over five years of experience in the medical billing field and has a vast knowledge of all aspects of medical billing and insurance processes. She looks forward to assisting you with your pre- and post-operative financial concerns.

Brittany Crews, Patient Services Representative

Brittany received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Relations and minor in Communications from High Point University in 2009. Brittany joined ALA working in patient services with a year's worth of experience in organizational development at High Point Regional Health System. She looks forward to assisting you throughout your wieght loss journey to connect you to the ones that can provide you with the most beneficial advice.

Brandi Coffee, Patient Services Representative

Brandi joins the ALA team bringing over four years of medical office experience. She received her certificate as a Medical Front Office Assistant in 2005. She looks forward to assisting our patients that come into our office.

Lynn Fitts, Patient Services Representative

Lynn joins the ALA team with over 10 years of experience in the medical field. Her training includes insurance verifications, referrals, and working as a Patient Registrar in the emergency room at Mesa Lutheran Hospital in Arizona. She will assist you in confirming that you have insurance coverage for bariatric services as well as obtaining insurance authorizations for any services that you may need from our office.

Sandi Kelly, RN - Clinical Nurse

Sandi joins the ALA team with 27 years of medical experience in various aspects of the field. She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ in 2005. She looks forward to helping our patients along their journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Bonnie Henry, Medical Assistant

In 1985 Bonnie received an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Compton Community College in Compton, California. In 1987 she received her Medical Assistant Certificate at Southern California Regency Occupation in Torrence, California. You will see Bonnie often at your appointments in the office.

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