Saint Mary’s Weight Management Program Celebrates 11 Years as a Center of Excellence
August 25, 2025WATERBURY, Conn. — Saint Mary’s Hospital’s Bariatric and Weight Management Program, part of the Trinity Health Of New England Weight Management Institute, has once again earned national recognition as a Center of Excellence in bariatric surgery by the Clinical Sciences Institute (CSI) of Optum. This marks the 11th consecutive year the program has received this prestigious designation.
Shohan Shetty, MD (L) and Shady Macaron, MD, (R) Regional Director, Weight Management Institute with Saint Mary's Hospital's third da Vinci surgical robot.
The recognition follows a comprehensive survey conducted by CSI, which confirmed that Saint Mary’s meets rigorous clinical standards and maintains a cost-effective contract for participation in Optum’s specialty care network.
“We’re honored to be named an Optum Center of Excellence for the 11th year in a row,” said Shady Macaron, MD, Regional Director of the Weight Management Institute. “Our success comes from a compassionate, team-based approach that treats obesity as a disease and supports patients every step of the way—before, during, and long after surgery.”
Optum’s Centers of Excellence model evaluates programs based on five key goals:
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Expanding access to expert specialty care
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Ensuring evidence-based treatment
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Improving clinical outcomes
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Reducing treatment costs
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Enhancing member experience
“This recognition affirms the meaningful work we do every day at Saint Mary’s Hospital and across Trinity Health Of New England,” said Husnain Kermalli, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Saint Mary’s Hospital. “It’s a celebration of our team’s dedication and the lives we help transform.”
Saint Mary’s continues to be a leader in weight management and bariatric care, offering patients a trusted path to better health through innovative treatment and compassionate support.