Our Team

Dr. Pohl is director of the Weight Loss Surgery program at Roger Williams Medical Center (RWMC). He has operated on many patients at RWMC since 2000. He oversees the bariatric surgery team and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Education and Training:
Medical School in Germany
Residency in Surgery in Germany and New York City
Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Washington, Seattle

Specialty

General Surgery
Weight Loss/Bariatric Surgery (including laparoscopic gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal switch and SADI)
Minimally Invasive Surgery

Dr. Bloomenthal specializes in bariatric and general surgery. He has been with the RWMC Weight Loss Surgery program since 2015. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). 

Education and Training:
Boston University, School of Medicine, MD, 2001
University of Massachusetts, General Surgery Residency Program, 2009
Thomas Jefferson University, Fellowship in Minimally Invasive and Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery, 2010

Specialty

General Surgery
Weight Loss/Bariatric Surgery (including laparoscopic gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal switch and SADI)
Minimally Invasive Surgery

Dr. Christian specializes in minimally invasive bariatric and general surgery. He has been with the RWMC Weight Loss Surgery program since 2018. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons.

Education and Training:
Florida State University, College of Medicine, MD, 2012
Surgery Residency, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, North Carolina
Fellowship in Laparoscopic Bariatric and Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina

Specialty

General Surgery
Weight loss/bariatric surgery (including laparoscopic gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal switch and SADI)
Minimally Invasive Surgery (including paraesophageal hernias and Antireflux surgery)

Dr. Alterio specializes in bariatric and general surgery. She recently joined RWMC Bariatric Surgery Program in 2024. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Education and Training:
University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2010-2014
Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School
Internship, General Surgery Residency and Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery/Bariatric 2014-2020

Specialty

General Surgery
Weight Loss/Bariatric Surgery (including laparoscopic gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal switch and SADI)
Minimally Invasive Surgery

Offices in Smithfield, Johnston and Bristol.

Holli Brousseau, a Nurse Practitioner with specialization in Adult Geriatric Acute Care, provides medical weight loss supervision in our comprehensive, non-surgical weight loss program. She also provides follow up care for patients after bariatric surgery. Holli has been with the RWMC’s Weight Loss Surgery program since 2014.  She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Jeremy Frissell, Physician Assistant, works with our surgeons during bariatric and general surgery and manages patient care in our office after surgery. Jeremy has been with RWMC’s Weight Loss Surgery program since 2002 and has assisted in thousands of weight loss surgeries He participates in the care of the patients at the hospital and in the office.  His role is important in assuring continuity of care during the years after surgery.

Education and Training:

University of Massachusetts, Lowell, BS in Exercise Physiology, 1997

University of New England, Physician Assistant, MS, 2001

Meghan Carides, Nurse Practitioner, works closely with our surgeons to deliver quality patient care. She has been with CharterCare since 2009, but more recently has joined the Weight Loss Surgery program. She participates in care of patients both in the hospital (bariatrics and general surgical procedures) and in the office. She also provides medical weight loss for non-surgical patients. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Education and Training:
Southern New Hampshire University, BS in Nursing
Rhode Island College, MS in Nursing

Gina Lombardi, Registered Dietitian, provides weight loss counseling to bariatric surgery patients and patients who are trying to lose weight with the assistance of medications. She also provides nutrition counseling for patients who have other chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, GI and other conditions. As a dietitian and former fitness instructor, Gina has a personal commitment to healthy eating & physical activity and enjoys assisting others to achieve their own individual health goals.

Education and Training:

University of Rhode Island, BS in Dietetics
Dietetic Internship, RD in 1998
Certified Diabetes Outpatient Educator, 2017

Laurel Scott, Registered Dietitian, joined the RWMC’s Weight Loss Surgery team in 2023. She has experience in working in weight management as well as working in the long-term care/rehab setting. Laurel is also a certified personal trainer. In her free time, Laurel enjoys running, going to the gym, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

Education and Training:
University of Rhode Island, BS in Nutrition, 2017
Saint Elizabeth University, MS in Nutrition and Public Health
Dietetic Internship, 2020.

Diana Beaton, Registered Dietitian, joined RWMC in 2020. She provides nutrition counseling for bariatric surgery patients and patients who take medications for weight loss. She is a Certified Diabetes Educator and provides nutrition counseling and behavior change strategies for people who have diabetes, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and other chronic medical conditions. She is the MBS Coordinator for RWMC’s Weight Loss Surgery program and runs the monthly Support Group. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Rhode Island affiliate.

Education and Training:

State University of New York, Oneonta, NY, BS in Nutrition
Tufts University and New England Medical Center, MS in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship, Boston, MA

Certified Diabetes Educator