Deron J. Ludwig, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Dr. Ludwig is Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery and has received the Focused Practice Designation for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. His first exposure to Weight-loss surgery was during surgical training at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA., when open surgery procedures were considered high-risk. However, it was apparent even then that there was a remarkable transforming power in bariatric surgery to improve the quality of life and length of life for patients suffering from severe obesity. After completing time as a staff surgeon in the US Air Force in Biloxi, Mississippi, an opportunity came in 2003 to take over a bariatric surgery practice in the area. Due to Hurricane Katrina, a job transition became necessary, and he accepted a position in Chico, California, where he developed and directed a minimally invasive, award-winning, surgical weight-loss program over 18 years. The program achieved and maintained the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons/American College of Surgeons accreditation as a center of excellence. He joined Providence St. Patrick Hospital to partner with the hospital and physicians to grow an established bariatric surgery program and become the location of choice for Montana and adjacent regions. The transformational power of weight-loss surgery is now low risk, minimally invasive, and with improved results. Dr. Ludwig firmly believes in pre-operative education, postoperative support, and long-term follow-up to enhance success and minimize problems. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his wife and two sons. Hobbies include breeding and training British Labrador retrievers, hunting and weight-lifting with his sons and jujitsu.