Surgeons
Dr. Lloyd Stegemann is a board certified general surgeon who focuses his practice exclusively on medical and surgical weight loss. He has personally performed over 2,000 bariatric operations including gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy, and revisional surgery. Dr. Stegemann currently serves at the Medical Director of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program at Bay Area Hospital and South Texas Surgical Hospital.
Dr. Stegemann received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and then completed his surgical residency in San Antonio, Texas. During his surgical residency, he saw firsthand the devastating emotional and health effects of obesity on patients and their families. He also got to witness the enormous impact that bariatric surgery had on patients, not only dramatically improving their health but improving their quality of life. He decided early on in his training to devote his career to battling obesity and the devastating health consequences of this disease.
Dr. Stegemann was instrumental in organizing the practice of bariatric surgery in the state of Texas. He helped organize the first meeting of bariatric surgeons in the state which eventually led to the creation of the Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery (TABS) where he served as the group’s first President. Dr. Stegemann is also very involved with the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons and has been an active member on numerous committees. Dr. Stegemann currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), the only national non-profit organization that serves to educate the public on matters of weight, increase patient access to obesity treatments, and to end obesity discrimination. He remains active in trying to increase access to obesity treatments and fighting obesity discrimination.
Dr. Stegemann remains passionate about taking care of patients long after their operation. “Operating is certainly fun and I know we do it really well, but I think what really sets The Better Weigh Center apart from other practices is our commitment to education before and after surgery. Surgery allows us to get the body to reset to a healthier weight but to keep the weight off long-term patients need to commit to leading a healthier lifestyle and we believe strongly this needs to be taught and then reinforced over time. There’s still nothing that makes me happier than seeing a patient back 3, 4 or 5 years after their operation and they are mainting a healthy weight.”
When he isn’t working Dr. Stegemann enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Jegan Gopal, MD is the newest member of The Better Weigh Center. Dr. Gopal specializes in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. He grew up in Los Angeles, CA where he attended and graduated with Honors in Biochemistry at UCLA. After a couple of productive years in cancer research, he attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He then went onto do his General Surgery residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. During his residency he focused his research in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic surgery. After residency, he successfully completed a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric surgery at Duke University in Durham, NC.
Dr. Gopal is passionate about bariatric surgery, and the major positive impact it has on the general health of his patients and their quality of life. He has experience in gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and revisional bariatric surgery. Dr. Gopal also performed the first robotic bariatric surgery ever done in Corpus Christi and has been instrumental in developing the robotic bariatric surgery program at Bay Area Hospital. He is candidate member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, and American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Additionally, he has presented at Obesity Week and has published in Bariatric Times.
In his spare time, Dr. Gopal enjoys biking, basketball, traveling, and drawing.
Professional Staff
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, I graduated from Baylor College of Medicine with my PA-C. I lived in South America for several years, where the humble residents graciously taught me how to speak spanish. Outside of my professional work, I enjoy maintaining an active lifestyle through sports and hiking, as well as exploring new destinations and trying diverse cuisines.
Shannon Rivera, MSN, APRN, FNP-C is a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Better Weigh Center, where she serves as a surgical weight loss advanced practice provider and the lead practitioner for hormone replacement therapy. With more than 23 years of experience in healthcare, Shannon brings extensive clinical knowledge and a patient-centered approach to her practice.
Shannon is passionate about health, wellness, hormone optimization, and helping patients achieve their healthiest, most balanced selves. She believes in individualized, evidence-based care and works collaboratively with each patient to develop personalized treatment plans that support long-term success. She is a certified EvexiPel provider, specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy designed to improve overall well-being and quality of life.
Originally from Massachusetts, Shannon now lives in Texas with her family. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and being near the ocean whenever possible.
Ashley Halcom is a registered and licensed dietitian nutritionist at the Better Weigh Center. Ashley graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio and holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nutrition and Dietetics along with her Master of Dietetic Studies (MDS). Ashley is involved in both surgical and medical weight loss programs and helps individuals build healthier relationships with food while achieving sustainable weight loss and long-term wellness. Her approach blends evidence-based nutrition with mindful eating strategies, empowering clients to tune into their bodies, break free from restrictive dieting, and make lasting positive health changes. She focuses on realistic, personalized guidance that supports physical health, emotional well-being, and confidence—helping clients create habits that fit their lives and support lifelong health both on and off the scale. Ashley brings her passion for nutrition and wellness into her professional career and can help guide you to your health goals with a smile!
Office Staff
Tory manages the day-to-day operations at the Better Weigh Center. She helps direct staff to make sure your experience is as enjoyable and efficient as possible!