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Let’s start at the beginning Jenny, how long have you been doing this? 

I’ve been working at Upper GI Surgery for 5 years now, specialising in the management of obesity and bariatric care. But before joining the team at UGIS I was a GP for many years, encountering many patients with the same challenges that I see in my role now. 

Dr Jason Maani
Dr Jason Maani

What is your role and how do you contribute to part of the team? 

I work with the nurses, dietitian and surgeons helping patients before and after weight loss surgery, to ensure they are getting the best care. My role involves helping patients to make the lifelong changes they need to manage obesity.

Not all of our patients have bariatric surgery to achieve weight loss – those patients I work with are on a medical path towards reaching a healthy weight goal through the use of other methods such as medication. 

Why did you get into the bariatric field? 

Although I love being a GP, I was keen to work in a niche role. Moving into bariatric care and helping people living with obesity has given me the opportunity to make a major impact on my patients’ lives in a holistic way, including their emotional, physical and general well-being. I love helping people make behaviour changes to improve their health, so this role has enabled me to do something I really love doing, all of the time. Working at UGIS means I get to work as part of a team (which I also love) while seeing first-hand the impact that we can have on people’s lives. 

Why are you passionate about caring for those living with obesity? 

When people receive the right evidence-based treatment for obesity, it’s incredibly satisfying to see the change that can happen in their lives as they manage obesity well in our care. If people manage obesity well, it often impacts every part of their life. Aside from their physical health such as diabetes or sleep issues, it also has a tremendous impact on other areas such as their social life, work life or general well-being. The consequences of that behaviour change can be quite profound; it’s incredibly satisfying to see somebody who has felt so down about themselves years down the track now flourishing. 

What excites you about the future of bariatric care? 

The most exciting things about bariatric care at the moment are the medical interventions to help long-term weight loss and management. As a wider range of effective medications become available that help people manage potential weight gain after bariatric surgery, we are able to improve their chance of long-term healthy weight maintenance. Weight loss medication, as part of a combination therapy, is an important tool for the future. 

What’s it like working at UGIS? 

I love working in a team; everyone is hard-working, respects each other and it’s a very functional team that works well together. A very positive team to work in. 

I also love that the patients come from all over the state and interstate, from many cultural backgrounds and different walks of life. I love helping people from different places and backgrounds, it makes my job interesting. 

What’s the favourite part of your day? 

It’s a funny thing for me to answer, as 95% of my day is seeing patients (maybe 5% paperwork). So almost all of my day is talking to people, which is ideal because I love people and love that most of my day is talking to people. It is definitely playing to my strengths… 

Reflux

What do you do when you’re not being a doctor? 

I’m a mother of 4 adult children. I am married to the Anglican Chaplain at the University of NSW and spend a fair part of my week working with university students and young graduates (18-25-year-olds). As well as helping with the Campus Bible Study. 

Where’s your favourite place to travel? 

Definitely Europe. The UK, because we have lots of friends and family over there. 

Favourite movie? 

Something you might not know about me is that I Iove Korean dramas! So I almost exclusively watch K dramas on Netflix (there are hundreds on there!). They’re just really good stories, a little bit more wholesome than Australian dramas but still good! My favourite movie is Pride & Prejudice. 

 

What sort of music do you like? 

I think I like Indie stuff, relaxing music. I have a brother who is a very good guitarist who is in a small jazz band and I love listening to him play. 

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