Meet the Team

Ross McMahon, M.D., medical director of Swedish Weight-Loss Services, is a Center of Excellence-certified bariatric surgeon.  He received his medical training and completed his general surgery residency at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada. After his residency, Dr. McMahon was awarded a research fellowship at Duke University Medical Center in endosurgery and laparoscopic surgery.

He then went on to complete a Clinical Endosurgery Fellowship at Duke. He took part in many of the early laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypasses performed at Duke University Medical School. He also helped expand the Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.

Richard (Rick) Lindquist, M.D., is the director of Medical Weight Management at Swedish. Dr. Lindquist has practiced weight loss medicine since 2005 and is a founding member of Monarch Medical Weight Loss Center in Oregon, where he served as medical director from 2006 to May 2009.

Prior to weight loss medicine, Dr. Lindquist spent much of his 20-year career in emergency and family medicine. He was honored to be awarded Oregon's EMS Medical Director of the Year in 2001.

Dr. Lindquist is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He studied at the University of Washington and completed his residency in Florida.

Jed Kaufman, M.D., is a fellowship-trained laparoscopic surgeon with a special interest in weight-loss surgery.  He completed his general surgery training in 2004 and went on to complete his laparoscopic foregut fellowship, both at the University of Washington.

Additionally, he trained another year with a close mentor in advanced pancreatic and general surgery. His other interests include minimally invasive surgery for solid organs, bowel, colon and anti-reflux surgery.

Dr. Kaufman enjoys fly-fishing, downhill skiing, running marathons and camping.

Arpan Waghray, M.D., currently serves as medical director for Behavioral Health at Swedish, overseeing inpatient and consultative psychiatric services. Dr. Waghray specializes in treating patients with mood, anxiety, psychotic and cognitive disorders. He also has a clinical interest in treating patients with psychiatric and medical co-morbidities like obesity, heart disease and neurological conditions.

Dr. Waghray is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and also certified in electroconvulsive therapy. His training includes a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at the University of Washington and a general psychiatry residency in New York. He went to medical school in India.

George Baxter, A.R.N.P., is a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner. His specialties include emergency and critical care, trauma, and cardiology. He received his Master of Nursing and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Washington and has an Associate Degree in nursing from Shoreline Community College. He continues to have an active role with the Emergency Nurse’s Association and is a Certified Emergency Nurse. George is also a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians and American College of Cardiology.

Beginning in fall 2010, George will be enrolled in a Doctor of Nursing Practice distance-learning program at Duke University. His capstone project will involve community education about bariatric science and integration of the family with regard to ameliorating childhood obesity.

George focuses on wellness for his patients and truly believes that lifestyle changes are fundamental in order to bring about sustained health and an improved quality of life. His positive energy and motivation is engaging and empowers our patients and their families to achieve success.

In his spare time, George is a local actor and loves to make people laugh. A highlight in his acting career is his silent role on Star Trek.  He also enjoys gardening, cruise ship travel, and politics.

Carol A. Birch, M.S.N, A.R.N.P, F.N.P.-B.C., is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. Her specialty experience includes medical, surgical, cardiology, primary care, urgent care, occupational care, endocrinopathies and bariatrics. Carol received her Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, and Masters of Science in Nursing from Seattle Pacific University. She is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

Carol focuses on managing the chronic disease of excess weight through individualized care that emphasizes positive changes in lifestyle, ongoing medical support, accountability and, when appropriate, using medications. She believes long-term success is possible for individuals who are mindful and committed to sustaining positive changes in their lifestyle.

Linda Campbell, R.N., M.S.W., offers more than 25 years of progressive experience providing clinical nursing, medical social work, pain assessment and case management to patient care. She received a Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Michigan. Her Diploma in Nursing is from Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital.

Linda has been a nurse at Swedish since 1999 in a variety of roles. Her main goal and the anchor throughout her career has been her dedication to patients; serving as a patient advocate in order to help them achieve better health.

Linda’s role at Swedish Weight-Loss Services is to help patients through the difficult and sometimes overwhelming process of collecting medical records and required documentation for surgery. Her attention to detail, and straightforward attitude, help patients get through the process without all the added frustration. She is an asset to the entire bariatric team. 

During her time off, she enjoys lampworking, making glass beads, designing jewelry and traveling. Spending time with her family is also very important to Linda.

Morgan B. Cooper, Clinic Administrator at Swedish Weight-Loss Services, brings more than 20 years of marketing, business and program development experience to the clinic. Her goal is to establish the best program practices and protocols while ensuring seamless patient care.

She was part of two major surgical and non-surgical weight-loss programs as well as a Center of Excellence in Phoenix, Ariz. She returned to the Northwest to be a part of a multi-disciplinary weight-loss program like Swedish Weight-Loss Services. 

"It has been my great pleasure to work with obese patients and their families, and to positively impact their lives. When a patient shares their gratitude for the life-changing services bariatric surgery has provided, when tears slide down their cheeks as they tell you how much you have helped them, then you know you are lucky enough to be in the right place, at the right time," said Morgan. 

In her spare time Morgan enjoys writing, sewing, cooking and traveling. She also enjoys time with her two children and her two favorite “little people,” grandson, Jacob and Taylor, her granddaughter, who live on Whidbey Island.

Some history about Morgan: She was a Northwest disc jockey for more than 13 years and spent time broadcasting on Warm 106.9. During the early formative jock years, she worked with Pat O’Day, of “rock jock” fame on KJTT Radio, a small-market radio station on Whidbey Island.

Danielle DeKay, R.D., C.D., received a bachelor of science degree with a specialization in Food Science and Nutrition from Central Washington University and completed a dietetic internship at Oregon Health Sciences University. She is a registered and certified dietitian.

Danielle has a background as a clinical nutrition specialist for medicine, surgery and intensive-care unit patients, but her primary focus and dedication is in the field of bariatrics. She has experience addressing the specific nutritional needs of bariatric patients and provides comprehensive nutritional care both preoperatively and postoperatively. Danielle coordinates nutritional care in the clinic, in the hospital and with other members of our health-care team. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time with family, cooking, scrapbooking and being outdoors.

Geri Johnston, R.N., M.S.N., received her nursing training from the University of Washington and master of science in Nursing from Seattle Pacific University. She is board certified in medical/surgical nursing and is a member of the National Association of Bariatric Nurses and the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

Geri is a long-time Swedish employee, having worked in many different areas of the hospital over her career. Her most recent past experience was as a staff nurse at Swedish/Ballard, where she cared for patients undergoing weight-loss surgery. The focus of her graduate studies was care of the bariatric patient by the advanced practice nurse.

Geri’s hobbies include traveling, and spending time with her family and miniature dachshund, Max.

Elizabeth L. Pierluissi, C.P.C., is a certified professional coder (CPC) and works as the Reimbursement and Coding Technician for the Swedish Weight-Loss Surgery Program. She is committed to knowing the current insurance policies and procedures which are vital in the field of bariatric surgery.

Elizabeth was born and raised in Manila, Philippines and migrated to this country more than 20 years ago. She has worked for Swedish Medical Center for the past 10 years.

Elizabeth’s interests are listening to a variety of music, playing guitar, composing and reading poetry, and living life with a positive attitude motivated by the goodness of mankind and the beauty of nature. Deeply involved in her church, Elizabeth serves in its Music Ministry together with her son and is head of its Community Outreach Ministry.