The surgeons affiliated with our weight loss surgery program are independent practitioners who have medical staff privileges at Palms of Pasadena Hospital. The procedures performed by these surgeons, and their protocols for weight loss surgery patients, can vary. To learn more about a surgeon's approach to weight loss surgery, you should attend a seminar or support group affiliated with that physician.

If you have any questions about our hospital, the surgeons, or the treatment options available to you, please contact us through our web form, by email, or by phone at 1-866-297-4576. We will be happy to give you any information you need.

Please meet the team of surgeons:

Dr. Ernest Rehnke

Dr. Ernest Rehnke, originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, attended medical school at St. George University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He then completed his five-year training in General Surgery at Methodist Hospital in New York, which included a Pediatric Surgery rotation at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. and a Transplantation rotation at Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Following this training, Dr. Rehnke completed a one-year fellowship in Cardiovascular Surgery at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Texas. Dr. Rehnke established his surgical practice in General/Peripheral Vascular Surgery in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1987. He has been a member of the Active Medical Staff at Palms of Pasadena Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL, since January 1988. Dr. Rehnke began performing weight loss surgery in 1998. He performs open and Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, as well as revisional bariatric surgery. Dr. Rehnke is Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) who has recognized him and Palms of Pasadena Hospital as a Center of Excellence for Bariatric Care.

Dr. Tiffany Jessee

Dr. Tiffany Jessee is a fellowship trained Bariatric Surgeon and Board Certified General Surgeon. She is the only female Bariatric Surgeon in the state of Florida. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. She received her medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in her native state of West Virgina. She completed her general surgery residency training at SunCoast Hospital in Largo, Florida. She then traveled to Coral Gables, Florida where she completed a one year fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopy and Bariatric Surgery. She is one of the few fellowship trained Bariatric surgeons in Florida. Dr. Jessee has been performing Bariatric surgery since 2002, and now offers both the LAP-BAND® and Realize™ band. She serves on the faculty of Nova Southeastern University and provides clinical training for general surgery Residents.

Dr. Richard Gordon

Dr. Richard Gordon, M.D. is a fully fellowship trained Weight Loss and Laparoscopic surgeon. Originally from Toronto, Canada he graduated medical school and completed his general surgical residency in Ottawa, Canada. He came to Florida and completed his fellowship training year at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weight Loss and Minimally Invasive Surgery. He is fully trained in Gastric Banding, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy and has been performing these surgeries since 2005. Dr. Gordon is Board Certified by both the American College of Surgeons and Royal College of Canada. He is a member of the Society for Advanced Endoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Gordon decided to stay in Florida with his family and pursue a career in general/weight-loss surgery after realizing the impact of weight loss surgery on his patients. He is one of only few fellowship trained weight-loss surgeons in this area.

Dr. Robyn Ache

Dr. Robyn Ache was born and raised in Tampa, FL. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She completed her rotating internship and general surgery residency at Largo Medical Center, Indian Rocks Campus, Largo, Florida. Dr. Ache is Fellowship trained in advanced laparoscopy and bariatric surgery. Dr. Ache performs general surgery and bariatric surgery to include sleeve gastrectomy and gastric banding using LAP-BAND® and Realize™ banding systems. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. Dr. Ache joined Dr. Tiffany Jessee at Sun Coast Bariatrics in 2011; together they are the only female bariatric surgeons in the state of Florida. Dr. Ache is Board Eligible.