Support Groups

Every patient must attend at least one support group meeting before having Bariatric Surgery. We recommend that you get involved in a support group as soon as possible since most only meet once per month. We have two large internet support group through FaceBook and Yahoo Groups. Click on the logos below to join. This does NOT count as attending a support group, unless specifically cleared by your surgeon at the time of your consult in our office.

Connect With Our Online Network

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Yahoo

Bariatric Support Groups

• The Maintenance Support Group meets on the 1^st Monday of each month (beginning on 4/5/10) at 6:30pm at Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church in Karns. This group is for those patients who are at least 18 months post op.

• The Parkwest Bariatric Support Group meets on the 1^st Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm in the Education Classrooms located on the main floor of Parkwest Hospital.

• The Gastric Band Support Group meets on the 2^nd Monday of each month from 6:00-7:00 in the Education Classrooms located on the main floor of Parkwest Hospital.

• The Roane County Support Group meets on the 2^nd Monday of each month at the Roane County Community Center, Room B from 7:00-8:00.

• The Cumberland County Support Group meets on the 2^nd Tuesday  of the month at 5:00 at Cumberland Medical Center Wellness Complex at Fairfield Glade conference room.

• The Oak Ridge Bariatric Support Group meets on the 2^nd Saturday of the month at 10:00am at the Methodist Medical Center Conference Room A.

• Temporarily Suspended – The Lafollette Bariatric Support Group meets on the 3^rd Monday of each month at the Rec Center in Lafollette at 7:00pm

• The Smokey Mountain Obesity and WLS Support Group meets on the 3rd Monday of the month from 6:30-8:00 at Le Conte Medical Center.

• The North Knoxville Bariatric Support Group meets the 3rd Thursday of the Month will meet at 7:00 PM at Fountain City Methodist Church.

• The Monroe County WLS Support Group meets at the Grand Vista Hotel main lobby meeting room on the 4th Saturday of each month at 10:30am.

Directions and Contact Information

• Maintenance: Meetings will be held at the Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church in Karns. Take Oak Ridge Highway to the traffic light at Byington Beaver Ridge Road. At the traffic light, Hardees is located across the street from the church. We will be meeting in Room 209 of the main office building. Please park in the front of the church and come in the door next to the Chapel. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Spencer at jen_spen_99@yahoo.com.
• Parkwest / Gastric Band – You may park at the Physicians Plaza 9330 Parkwest Blvd.  When facing the Physician’s Plaza building there is a set of automatic sliding doors to your right that connects to Parkwest Hospital. Enter through those sliding doors and turn right.  Turn right again at the end of the hall and the education classrooms will be on the left in front of the glass windows.
• Roane County: The Roane County Community Center is located across the street from Roane County High School. Follow the signs posted on the outside of the door.  Moderators are Kristi Utley: kritter521@bellsouth.net or cell 865-300-3413 and Hannelore Gray: hgray70854@aol.com or home 865-376-1326
• Cumberland County: If you are coming from E. or W. on 40 it is ext. 322 Peavine Rd. Peavine Rd. to Fairfield Glade – at four way stop sign. Make a left on Stonehenge Drive.  The Wellness center is on the right past the mall.  Moderators are Sally Dixner (931-484-0193; ralpn2000@yahoo.com) and Evelyn Cross (931-484-7870)
• Oak Ridge : Take Pellissippi Parkway to Oak Ridge . Pellissippi turns into Illinois Ave. Take the first right onto Lafayette. Go through the lights and turn right onto Oak Ridge Turnpike. Turn left at signal light #4. The hospital will be on your left. Turn into the parking lot. Go to the double sliding glass doors. Inside there will be reception desk with elevators to the right of the desk. Follow the hall to the right of the elevators to the third conference room on the left. Signs will be posted. Contact Carolyn Adcox at 435-6278 or email jetdry37763@yahoo.com
• Lafollette: From I-75: Go up I-75 North to exit 134 and turn onto Hwy 63 East/ 25W North. Go about 7 miles to red light #6, 9th Street, make a right and the Rec center is on the left. Go in the main entrance and make a right and we will be in the small craft room on the left. From Speedwell, Middlesboro or Tazewell: Go Hwy. 63 West to the 5th red light, which is red light #6, 9th Street. Make a left and the Rec center is on the left. Go in the main entrance and make a right and we will be in the small craft room on the left.  Contact Dorothy Morgan at 423-566-2298 or dmlibra@comcast.net
• Smoky Mountain Obesity and WLS: From I-40 – Take exit 407 toward Smoky Mountains/Gatlinburg/ Sevierville. Turn right at The Great Smoky Mountains Pkwy/TN-66/Winfield Dunn Pkwy. Turn Left on Main Street/Dolly Parton Parkway. Go Right on the new Veterans Blvd at the Kentucky Fried Chicken (after Middle Creek Road traffic light). Go through first traffic light. Go left at next road which is Middle Creek Road. Hospital is on the left. Go in main entrance in the middle of the hospital at main level. You will see a sign leading to support group in Classrooms and there is an information desk. Moderator is Marilyn Lynch. You can contact her at 250-9354 or Nsg4Him@aol.com.
• North Knoxville: Sandra Hatcher and her husband Leroy Hatcher are the moderators for this pod. Directions to Fountain City Methodist Church: Broadway to the Fountain City Lake (Duck Pond), Turn Left at Hotel Ave. The Church Parking will be on your left.  For information call Sandra or Leroy at 687-9180.
• Monroe County: Meetings will be held at the Grand Vista Hotel in the Tellico West Industrial Park just outside of Vonore, TN.  From Hwy 411 go North on Hwy 72 one mile to the South Entrance to the Industrial Park, then turn left just before the Fire Barn and drive behind the Fire Station, then Left again into the Grand Vista Hotel drive.  Come into the Lobby and we meet in a small conference room next to the kitchenette.  For more information you can call Grant Fetters at 423-442-3731