MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Novant Health General Surgery & Bariatrics is expanding its approach to weight management with the launch of a wraparound, fully integrated care model that combines surgical, medical and nutrition expertise under one roof. Novant Health has hired two new experts to join the clinic, expanding services with internal and obesity medicine physician John Cleek, MD, and registered dietitian Summer Hudson. The two new team members join bariatric surgeon Neil McDevitt, MD, general surgeon Tyler Watson, MD, and Diana Axiotis, PA, strengthening the clinic’s ability to deliver personalized, science-based weight management plans.
“Many people focus only on the number on the scale when it comes to weight management, but that number tells only part of the story,” said Cleek. “By integrating obesity medicine, nutrition and sometimes surgery, we can support patients with comprehensive tools that go beyond a quick fix. Our team uses noninvasive metabolic testing to customize weight management for patients. It allows us to offer a deeper look at how a person’s body processes energy, leading to precise, individualized treatment plans rather than relying on estimates or guesswork.”
Nutrition is often the foundation of long-term success, added Hudson. “By combining metabolic data with tailored nutrition guidance, we help our patients understand how their bodies respond to food and build healthier, sustainable habits. Our goal is to help patients achieve meaningful, long-term health improvements.”
McDevitt emphasizes a compassionate, evidence-based approach, helping patients remove guilt or shame around weight management and understand the medical and genetic factors that influence their health.
“Too often, patients are left to navigate weight loss through generic programs or commercial clinics that lack medical oversight,” said McDevitt, a general and bariatric surgeon. “Our data-driven, individualized approach — from nutrition and lifestyle guidance to medications and surgical options when appropriate — is supported by ongoing physician oversight. We focus on science, not shame.”
With this expansion, Novant Health General Surgery & Bariatrics is positioned to evolve into a comprehensive metabolic center, providing South Carolina patients with a fully integrated, evidence-based approach to weight management. By measuring how patients’ bodies process energy and store fat versus lean muscle, the team can craft personalized, adaptable and sustainable programs, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all strategies.
Patients interested in learning more about personalized weight management through Novant Health General Surgery & Bariatrics are invited to request an evaluation by calling 843-352-4154 or book an appointment online.
About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of nearly 900 locations, including 19 hospitals, more than 750 physician clinics and urgent care centers, outpatient facilities, and imaging and pharmacy services. This network supports a seamless and personalized healthcare experience for communities in North Carolina and South Carolina. Novant Health is nationally recognized for our unwavering commitment to safety and the highest quality care, and we serve as a catalyst for healthcare transformation through clinical trials, leading-edge research, innovative care delivery models and robust virtual care networks. The expertise and empathy of our more than 41,000 team members along with more than 8,600 independent and employed clinicians are at the heart of Our Cause as industry leaders caring for communities across the Carolinas. In 2024, Novant Health provided more than $1.6 billion in community benefit, including financial assistance and services.
For more information, visit NovantHealth.org. Follow Novant Health on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
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