Bhavani Pokala, MD

Bhavani Pokala, MD, FACS, DABOM, is a graduate of University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine  in Kansas City, MO. She completed her residency in General Surgery at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE. She went on to complete a fellowship in Minimally Invasive/Bariatric Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine in Carmel, IN. Dr. Pokala is board certified in Surgery and Obesity Medicine by the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Obesity Medicine. She is also board certified by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM), reflecting a commitment to treating the root causes of chronic disease through evidence-based lifestyle interventions.

Dr. Pokala has a special interest in medical and surgical weight loss, robotic surgery, and surgical education. 

Conditions treated: 
- Obesity
- Inadequate weight loss/weight regain post-bariatric surgery
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Hiatal hernia
- Benign gallbladder disease. 

Treatments and procedures may include: 
- Roux-en-y gastric bypass
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Hiatal hernia repair
- Lap band removal
- Revisional bariatric surgery
- Upper endoscopy
- Cholecystectomy
- Medical weight loss

Dr. Pokala's care philosophy is grounded in compassion, evidence-based medicine, and a holistic understanding of each patient's weight loss journey. She strives to understand her patients’ unique challenges, goals, and concerns, while fostering a safe and judgment-free environment. By performing comprehensive evaluations and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, Dr. Pokala develops personalized treatments plans that combine surgical, medical, nutritional, and behavioral strategies to address obesity. She emphasizes education and empowerment, equipping her patients with the tools they need for sustainable success. Ultimately, she focuses on building lifelong partnerships with each individual to help them achieve better health and well-being in both body and mind.

Dr. Pokala loves being a bariatric surgeon and weight management physician because it allows her to help patients dramatically improve both the quality and duration of their lives. Bariatric surgery is not just about the technical aspects of a weight loss procedure— it’s about building long-term relationships with patients and fostering sustainable lifestyle changes. Many of her patients come to Dr. Pokala after years of struggling with their weight, and it is an honor to be part of their transformative journeys. Dr. Pokala finds immense satisfaction in celebrating their milestones and supporting them through challenges. As an advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgeon, she takes pride in offering innovative, minimally invasive approaches to ensure safe and effective treatment for obesity. She enjoys working at Premier Health because of the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach and the shared commitment to delivering the highest level of care to our community. 

She is a member of American College of Surgeons (ACS), American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). Read her publications.

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Pokala enjoys traveling, hiking with her dogs (miniature Australian shepherds Stella & Ollie), and cooking.