Michael P. Hocking M.D. Bariatrics Bariatric Center

I first met Dr. Hockings Sept/02. From the moment His low key presonality took all the worries I had. The office staff are so nice and easy going. Always available by phone or email.
I am having the surgery on Monday just met with him yesterday. I could not belive that he sees so many and remembered me from last Sept. Amazing! Great guy.

Dr. H. is an angel sent from GOD! I sent out a letter to the ASBS begging for someone to help me. He was the first to respond to me and he was so non-judgmental and supportive. He was only offering 'moral' support at the time, and I never dreamed HE'D wind up being my surgeon..but he is the most caring hman being I've ever met! I've had my face-to-face interview with him now and my impression of him only gets better.
The office staff is friendly and efficient.
Aftercare is important to him, but, in my case, I live 800 miles away! So, I'll stay in the area for 4 weeks post-op. Then he will co-ordinate my post op care over the next year with my own family doctor.
Dr. H. doesn't hold anything back. He tells it like it is.
<b> I'V HAD MY SURGERY AND MY MIND HASN'T CHANGED ONE IOTA!AND HE HAS A TERRIFIC BEDSIDE MANNER.</B>

Appt schedule 12/6/02 so impressed with his office. He also personally emailed me and told me he wasn't accepting new patients but would be glad to do my eval and accept me. His office manager called me with a March appt but said the doctor added another clinic day and moved my appt up to 12/6/02.

I found Dr. Hocking to be a sympathetic and knowledgeable surgeon. He was very straight forward and answered ALL of my questions very directly. I feel very confident with him as my surgeon.

I had my consultation with Dr.Hocking on May 10,2002, after contacting him by E-mail.Dr.Hocking is the only Surgeon I know of that actually reads and answers his Patients and prospective patients .On consultation he explained the operation and answered all of my Questions.I called his insurance person,Jenika and his secretary,Mariam and recieved a Surgery date of 8/8/2002.Pre-op on 8/6/2002. I am over 5 weeks post-op now with no complications.I lost 41 lbs.as of9/3/2002.when I awoke after 3 hours of surgery I was impressed with how small the incision was! only 4.5 to 5 inches.
I also had no Nasal-Gastic tube ant no foley catheter. Only the drain tube in my stomach.Dr Hocking is an excellent and experianced Surgeon.Since I had Medicare and medically needy I didn't have to do all the tests to get approval,e.g.Psych test,diet history,upper GI,etc.Overall I would have to rate Dr.Michael P.Hocking a 10 out of 10!

<font face="Verdana" size="4" color="#336600">I have been to a few of Dr. Butler's meetings and am very impressed by what I see and here. They even talked to me and weighed me when I was in with a friend who had surgery -- no charge! I am so very happy and hope that when I change insurance's they will allow me to go with Dr. Butler.

Well -- due to insurance reasons I am going to see Dr. Hocking. He too has been a credit to his profession. He answers my emails and is going to work with me to get the insurance thing taken care of. Thank you Dr. Hocking!

After my first visit on 10/12 I can see Dr. Hocking is just as wonderful in person as he is in email. His staff has been great. Not to much aftercare, but there is a great support group that is wonderful.

Another comment . . .I was dissapointed with my date --and Dr. Hocking Quickly responded and told me he was looking to getting more OR time to fit me in -- wow!</font>

Oh My Goodness, Dr Hocking is a man sent from GOD! I have known him several months now, and he, and his staff, are wonderful people. Shands Hospital in Gainesville is a teaching hospital and he is the kindest person I have ever met. From our first meeting, and when the surgery was scheduled, he gave me his e-mail and told me to e-mail anytime with any questions, concerns, worries, etc. Quote: "Please E-mail me as many times as needed - the more you know and the more "comfortable" you are with the "process", the better it is for us both!!"
As a result, whenever something pops up in my mind, or through reading on the board here, I email and get answers within 24 hours! It is unreal.. better than a telephone! AS a result, I (so far) don't have any fear about my upcoming surgery!

5/20/02 JUST MADE MY FIRST APPOINTMENT. SCHEDULED FOR 8/9/02.

8/29/02 I REALLY LIKED DR HOCKING. HE SEEMED VERY INTERESTED IN ME. WE TALKED FOR QUITE A WHILE AND HE DIDN'T MAKE ME FEEL RUSHED OR HURRIED ALONG. HE EXPLAINED EVERYTHING INDETAIL.

Dr. Hocking is a very nice man, who is very knowledgable in his profession. He is up-front re: possible complications and risks. His office staff is very competent and pleasant to deal with.

The only problem I had was with an infection at the surgery site 1 week after surgery, that required me to be hospitalized again for an additional 4 days. This infection was in no way Dr. Hocking's fault. He explained to me that a significant percentage of patients get this infection...I just happened to be one of the "lucky" ones !

One negative thing I can remember from my hospital experience, is that The University of Florida is a teaching hospital (obviously !) and there were quite a few faces passing in front of me every day. I was a little embarrassed that I could not remember the names that went with the faces.

Dr. Hocking has a very structured aftercare program and is always available to me by e-mail or phone, as is the nutritionist.

Dr. Hocking's bedside manner is superb. He saw me sitting in the waiting area the morning I checked in for surgery, and he stopped and reassured me and my husband and my family and answered all of my parents questions. Even my mother was impressed with him, and that says alot !!

I would highly recommend Dr. Hocking. He is not afraid of being human and is a compassionate person.

Even if I lose no more weight than I have in the last 4 monthes (127 pounds), I consider it a worthwhile ordeal to have undergone and a great success !

Thank you, Dr. Hocking !

wonderful and careing person,truely cares for fluffy people they are not just a dollar sign to him.

never has changed he is always the same always has a big smile for you.

pretty good Jenicca in insurance is wonderful
there isn't anything to not like about him

that he will always be there for you no matter what.he gives you his email address so you can get in touch with him at all times
very good and structured aftercare
Mary Branigan is always there for you also she is the diatition and is wonderful.
Answered all questions asked and made sure all risks were addressed
on a scale of 1-10 i would rate him at a 20

Surgical competence is first and formost but if you get both you are truly Blessed and that is what you get with DR.HOCKING