About Me

Dr. Simper’s expertise and passion are in performing minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. His first bariatric procedures were in 1984 at Wilford Hall Medical Center, in Texas.

He joined Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians in 2001, at the time in which laparoscopic bariatric surgery was in its infancy. Over the years, with continuing education and preceptorships he has added the lap-band, laparoscopic duodenal switch, and revisional bariatric surgery to his repertoire.

He was a presenter at the 2006 and 2007 National Bariatric meetings (ASMBS), and is active in publishing papers and furthering knowledge as to the surgical treatment of obesity.

His education, training and qualifications include:
• American Board of Surgery – Board Certified General Surgery
• American Board of Surgery – Board Certified Vascular Surgery
• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society – University of Utah (BS Biology)
• University of Utah School of Medicine – Top 10% of Class – ROTC Air Force Scholarship
• General Surgery Residency – Wilford Hall Medical Center – USAF San Antonio, TX
• Top Surgical Intern
• Non-Cardiac Thoracic and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship – Biloxi VA Hospital, MS
• Compassionate Physician of the Year 1988
• Vascular Surgery Fellowship – Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA (1992-1993)
• Staff Surgeon – Incirlik, Turkey – USAF (1987-1988)
• Chief of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Scott AFB, IL (1989-1992)
• American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery – Member

Dr. Simper is a native of Brigham City, Utah. After fulfilling his Air Force commitments and training, he returned to Utah in 1999 to be closer to his family and the outdoors. He has six children, and his avocations include reading, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and hunting.

Dr. Simper is Board Certified in General Surgery, Vascular Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. His practice emphasizes minimally invasive surgery and includes both the Laparoscopic and Open Gastric Bypass procedures. He first began performing Gastric Bypasses over 10 years ago in Illinois, and joined Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians in 2001. Growing up in Brigham City, Utah, Dr. Simper attended undergraduate and Medical School at the University of Utah. He joined the U.S. Air Force and completed his General Surgery Residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. After spending one year in Incirlik, Turkey, he completed a Non-cardiac Thoracic and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Keesler Medical Center and the Biloxi VA Hospital in Mississippi. For three years he was Chief of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at Scott Air Force Base - here his practice included Gastric Bypass.

Upon fulfilling his military obligations, he furthered his surgical skills and completed a Vascular Fellowship at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. From Philadelphia he returned to Utah and joined the Ogden Clinic. Then, he was recruited to Cookeville, Tennessee to start up a comprehensive vascular program. After completing this project, he returned to Utah to be closer to family and the recreation opportunities of the Intermountain Region.

Dr. Simper is active in the surgical community, with membership in several Medical and Surgical societies. He attends seminars and mini-courses on a regular basis to keep current with the cutting edge developments occurring in medicine.

Dr. Simper has 6 children, with the three younger ones keeping him active and young. In his free time he enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping with his family.