Teresa LaMasters

Dr. LaMasters received her medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine in 2001. She completed her residency in General Surgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita in 2006. She then went on to complete advanced training with a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery with an emphasis in Bariatric and Robotic Surgery in 2007 at Stanford University in California. She joined the UnityPoint Clinic Weight Loss Specialists in August of 2007. She is the Medical Director of the UnityPoint Clinic Weight Loss Specialists in West Des Moines Iowa and leads a comprehensive team providing both medical and surgical treatment for people with the disease of obesity. Dr. LaMasters has performed over 4000 weight loss surgeries with excellent results. She was the first surgeon in Iowa to use the DaVinci Robot for Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and was also the first surgeon in Iowa to perform the sleeve gastrectomy procedure as a stand alone procedure for weight loss. Dr. LaMasters has a passion for treating people with the disease of obesity and guiding them through their weight loss journey. She expanded her expertise by completing a second board certification in Obesity Medicine treatment as a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She has brought cutting-edge technology and techniques to Iowa. She has served in many leadership roles in ASMBS and currently serves as the Immediate Past President of ASMBS completing her service as President of ASMBS in 2023. She is an invited quality improvement coach and expert speaker nationally and internationally. "I chose to dedicate my career to metabolic weight loss surgery because the problem of obesity is so overwhelming in our society. My own family is affected by the disease of obesity. I feel the treatment of obesity is very complex and challenging. We have only just begun to understand this disease and the optimal treatment of the disease of obesity. This is one area that I can really help people change their lives. This is truly live-saving surgery and I can't imagine a better area to dedicate my time and talent. I am also committed to serving people who suffer with the disease of obesity through education, advocacy, and quality improvement coaching at a national and international level with my dedicated colleagues at the ASMBS."