Doctor Todd is the most unprofessional doctor that I have ever worked with. Four years ago I started seeing him. He strung me along for a year. Had me do every text in the book. Then two days before my surgery he called and said that he could no longer be my doctor. He gave no reason. Months later when he was asked again why, he still wouldn’t answer.
 
Three years later I had three referrals sent to him from three of my health care providers. He sent back a form letter with a box checked that said “case closed”. So I called Debbie one of the nurses at the Alaska Bariatric Center about three week ago to ask why he denied me again. Debbie had no answer. After a long conversation she said the she would pass my message along to Dr. Todd. Needless to say she never called back!
Today I called her back. 5-30-2012. I told her I was kind of expecting a call back. She tells me that Dr. Todd said no that he would not take me on as a patient. Again I asked why. She tells me that he just said no. You would think that a person has a reason for saying no. So she transfers me to Dr. Todd. I was thinking that finally I would get my chance to tell him how hard that I was working to prepare for a weight loss sugary. All he could say was no we are not a good fit. What in the hell does that mean? I’m not looking to be best friends with the man. How can anyone with a conscience say that to a 440lbs man in his mid 40’s that has as many health issues as I do. I have had Diabetes for 31 years. I was diagnosed when I was 13 years old. I have had a very hard time controlling my disease, and because of that I now have many, many complications. I didn’t start gaining weight until I was in my mid thirty's. In 2006 I was told that I had a heart attack. I also have had several eye surgery's and I am in need of more because I now have Cataracts do to the previous surgery’s. They can’t do my Cataract surgery because of my weight. Dr. Todd is aware of most all of my medical issues, and still refuses to help me or even tell me why he wont help. I have told him that without the weight loss surgery I wont live much longer. All he could say was “best of luck to you”.
 
Over the last three years my Doctors and I have found out some of the reasons why I put on so much weight so fast. We are addressing those problems, but that alone wont fix it all. Dr. Todd wouldn’t even take the time to listen to everything that I have been doing or what was discovered over the past three years. He just angrily said no and hung up the phone. Again he gave no reason why. He did say that I should try going to Seattle for my surgery.
Dr. Todd Is the only Center of Excellence in Alaska, and he knows it. I’m disabled and Medicare will only allow me to go to a Center of Excellence to get a weight loss surgery.
 
Myself and many others, including medical professionals that I have talked to think that Dr. Todd has a major God complex and is very hard to deal with. Why would anyone allow a single doctor to become a Center of Excellence all by himself? I have talked with other Center of Excellences and they all have multiple doctors. This is something that I am continuing to research. I see no reason why this man can not help me.
 
Below is a pasted copy of something that Dr. Todd has written about himself on his own website.
 
 
After training, Dr. Todd was in private practice in good standing, specializing in General and Hand Surgery, in Pittsburg, California. He decided, much to the surprise of his partners, to move to Anchorage, AK in the fall of 1998. While there, it became readily apparent that there was a population of morbidly obese patients in need of Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Todd pursued additional education in Bariatric Surgery, culminating with his completion of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery Preceptorship at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, July of 2000. (Please visit the ASBS website at http://www.asbs.org.) He is now seeing patients interested in Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) at his Anchorage office
 
Dr. Todd is absolutely right. There is a population of morbidly obese patients in need of bariatric surgery here in Alaska and I’m one of them. So why wont the man help me?!!! I’ve done everything that he has asked of me and more. Why does he get to decide who lives and dies? He’s not God! If he were compasionate enough to just tell me why he won’t help me then maybe I could work on what ever he thinks is wrong. The more time that goes by the more my health deteriorate. I’m 44 years old I’d really like to see at least see 64 or more.
 
There are other people out there that have bad experiences with this man. I would love to hear from them. Maybe we can make a positive out of such a negative. 
 
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Thank you
Dan Diamond

Great Doctor, know his job well. He is not a bubbly person ( talking to much) but He does care for his patients very much. I am lucky to have Him as my doctor.

I spent more time with Dr. Todd on the operating table then I ever did while awake. In person, he is a kind, caring man and from my reports after surgery is a skilled surgeon. He prayed with us, both in the office and before surgery - although I don't subscribe to any particular religion I admire his conviction in his own.

His staff on the other hand are completely unorganized. They lost many of my forms and records. Almost all my testing had to be sent to them at least twice. I had carried in some of my test results to an appointment, and my next appointment they tried to tell me they hadn't received what I handed them myself!

It seems Dr. Todd has hired many of his patients, which while generous of him it's my opinion that they should be trained in office skills and customer service as well as charting before put to work there.

Many of his staff are kind, and an inspiration to the patients...but those that aren't make the assembly line process of getting surgery done with them a long and frustrating process.

I would choose him as a surgeon if I had to do it over, but I would be more prepared to keep the ball rolling and organized myself instead of depending on someone else.

Dr. Todd is a very, very kind man. He is efficient, funny, and fairly straight forward. When I was still debating between the band and RNY, he brought in two of his staffers who had two different surgeries, and had them debate it out for me, without telling them what I was interested in. He didn't let me leave the office until I'd heard two sides of each story.rnrnHis office staff is very nice, albeit a bit informal at times. That is, however, a personal preference and it may not bother you at all. They are supportive and kind, even when taking your money. LOLrnrnSo far so good. Will update after I go through the surgery.rnrn8/27/2009 - Okay, so my surgery was on the third, and I've had the chance to experience Todd's aftercare. I am happy to report that it's just as thorough as the pre-op care.rnrnI recently had a stricture and wound up getting fluids in the ER on base. The on call doc paged him to discuss the situation with him, and he told her to send me to his office at 8 am Monday morning, that it might be a stricture, and he wanted to see me himself. He could've just sent me to the endoscopy doc, but he wanted to check on me himself. Then, he told her, \"Please tell her I said hello.\" How nice is that?rnrnThat Monday morning, he was running a little late, but eventually rushed in, hugged me and said, \"What is going on with you, my dear? I'm sorry I'm late, this surgery took a little longer than I thought. Now let's get you fixed up.\" He proceeded to check me over, then call the endoscopy doc HIMSELF. How many doctors do that??rnrnI'm very satisfied with my bariatric surgeon. Plus, he sent me a coughing moose in the hospital whom I have since named \"Bari.\" LOL

Super. This doctor is really committed to saving lives. His staff is just as comitted. I am blessed to have them as my team.

Dr. Todd is a cutie and super sweet. I think this is going to be a great partnership!rnrn

My first impression of Dr. Todd was that he was concerned with the health, and lofe long success of each one of his patients. My impression has never changed from my first time meeting him. In fact he has gone above and beyond what I epected from him as a surgeon. His staff was helpful with answering a lot of my post op questions, and giving me advice on my new eating habits, and exercise regimen. What I liked least about Dr. Todd..... hmmm..... there was nothing that I didn't really like about the guy. He even prayed with me before surgery which helped put me at ease. I had never had a major surgery before, but at that moment I felt that I was in good hands, and care. Dr. Todd is very upfront about his expectations of his pre-op, and post-op patients. He was informative about what we should expect from having the surgery, and that nothing is a magical solution. Dr. Todd has a very structured aftercare program, which includes internet, phone, weekly meetings, etc. At every meeting he would emphasize that this is considered as with any surgery requiring you to be under anesthesia a very serious surgery. While he and his staff will do all that they can to ensure nothing goes wrong during surgery, he'll need you to answer all medical questions honestly. His personable skills were imeasurable. But if I have to rate him overall he's at 100% in everything he does. His surgical competence, and bedside manner were impecable. Truely happy with my experience with Dr. Todd.

he is a suuuuper friendly, suuuper sweet older guy!
my impression of him has not changed!
his office staff is for the most part helpful and sweet!
he emphasizes on after care A LOT, and demands you do right by your self or dont do the surgery!!! he is a very thorough person, leaves no detail untouched!!!
I would Rate Dr. Todd at a 9.9 out of 10 and only because he is sooo popular and good that it took forever to get this done!!! but what do you expect for a COE
Surgical competence and bedside manner are both very important to me!!!

Dr. Todd on first impression didn't treat me like just another patient; I felt like there was sincerity in our conversation. My impression of Dr. todd has not changed over much; I still believe him to be sincere and very caring I value him all the more as a surgeon now that I'm post-op. There really isn't anything to dislike about Dr. Todd He does all he can with how hectic it is in his office.rn Aftercare is essential to our success in wls and our health. He ensures that before we set a surgery date. Dr. Todd was very upfront and foward with the risks of surgery, he doesn't beat around the bush and that's something to value there. After Meeting Dr. Todd I'm so glad that he did my surgery, He's so competent of the surgery, Any thing that might be wrong it seems like him or his staff know what's wrong with me with out even seeing me. They are a great group and I think they are Fantastic. I would reccomend them over and over.

Dr. Todd is a great guy. I feel blessed to have him for my surgeon. He cares about his patients. He is very up front about complications and about death. He makes sure you understand these things. He makes you go through a million hoops. But I would rather do all of that than go with a dr. who just whisks you through it. In that sense (and others) he is very competent. Thanks Dr. Todd.