About the Center for Obesity Team

• Medical Team
• Anesthesiologists
• Gastroenterologists
• General Medical Physicians and Internists
• Plastic Surgery
• Office Staff

Medical Team

Peter LePort, M.D.
Medical Director
Dr. LePort is a bariatric surgeon at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley. He received his M.D. and surgical training in Brooklyn, N.Y., at Downstate Medical College, where he was an assistant professor of surgery for two years before moving to California. He is a member of the Faculty of the American College of Surgeons, the Orange County Surgical Society and the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons. Dr. LePort started his bariatric surgical program in 1985 in California, and he and the associates in his practice have performed more than 5,000 procedures.
Background

Mir B. Ali, M.D.
Dr. Ali earned his medical degree at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Penn. He completed an internship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and his residency at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Dr. Ali has been decorated for outstanding services in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons.
Background

Philip Chin, M.D.
Dr. Chin is certified by the American Board of Surgery and he is an Associate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. As a general and oncology surgeon, Dr. Chin focuses on breast, colorectal, and gastrointestinal cases, including gastric bypass procedures. He earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Ill., and completed his internship and surgical residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Chin is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons.
Background

Kelly M. Francis, M.D.
Dr. Francis received her medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA. She completed her surgical residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, and a fellowship at the University of Southern California in emergency surgery, laparoscopy and the teaching of students and medical residents. Dr. Francis is certified by the American Board of Surgery, and is an Associate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons and of American Medical Association.
Background

Ashley De La Haye, PA-C Ashley is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the California Association of Physician Assistants. She has been trained in family practice, cardiothoracic surgery, emergency medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology. She has an M.S. degree in physician assistant studies from Western University of Health Sciences.

Grace Lee, PA-C
Grace earned a B.S. degree in physician assistant studies at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles. Before joining the bariatrics team, she worked in a family practice clinic. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, as well as the California Academy of Physician Assistants.

Anesthesiologists

James Chang, M.D.
Dr. Chang is a graduate of National Taiwan University. He completed his internship, residency and fellowship at UCLA.
Background

Benjamin Ho, M.D.
Dr. Ho is a graduate of Loyola School of Medicine and completed his residency at Baylor School of Medicine.
Background

Magdi Sidhom, M.D.
Dr. Sidhom is a graduate of the Alexandria University of Medicine and completed his internship at Cook County and his residency at Illinois Masonic Medical Center.
Background

Larry Yip, M.D.
Dr. Yip is a graduate of the George Washington School of Medicine. He completed his internship at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., and his residency at Massachusetts General.
Background

Gastroenterologists

Jay Diliberto, M.D.
Dr. Diliberto completed his training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and UCLA.

Surinder Saini, M.D.
Dr. Surinder Saini completed his fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Background

David Truong, M.D.
Dr. Truong received his medical degree from the University of California, Davis, and trained in internal medicine at UCLA. He received additional training in gastroenterology at Tuffs University in Boston. He is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Irvine.
Background

General Medical Physicians and Internists

Frank Marino, M.D.
Dr. Marino graduated from Wright State University School of Medicine and completed his family medicine residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Background

Kathryn Rigonan, M.D.
Dr. Rigonan is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a specialist in women’s health, bariatric medicine, and cardiovascular disease.
Background

Mikio Tachibana, M.D.
Dr. Tachibana completed his residency in internal medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and was an assistant professor of medicine there until going into private practice.
Background

Plastic Surgery

Eugene D. Elliott, M.D.
Dr. Elliott received his medical degree from the University of Rochester. He is board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Background

Office Staff

Karen Shelton
Karen is the Director of the MemorialCare Center for Obesity and is involved in insurance, patient counseling, patient scheduling, and post–operative care.