CHI Saint Joseph Health - Center for Weight Loss Surgery

10/03/2026

This afternoon, Saint Joseph Hospital – Lexington hosted its annual fall festival for our caregivers and their families 🎃🍂 The festival also kicks off the start of a year-long celebration of the hospital's 150th anniversary as the weekend marks several key milestones in the hospital's history.

On October 2, 1877, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth arrived at the original hospital, a 12-bed house located at 320 Linden Walk. One year later, the Sisters moved the hospital to Second Street, where they served Lexington for 81 years. On October 5, 1959, crews broke ground on the new location, just across Harrodsburg Road in Lexington, where Saint Joseph Hospital – Lexington still cares for patients today.

Since then, the ministry has expanded to seven hospitals and nearly one hundred care sites across Kentucky, serving more than 35 counties and carrying on the legacy of its founders as CommonSpirit Health.

Here for you then; here for you now; here for you always 🩷

10/01/2026

Katelyn Dyer was a healthy 26-year-old with a new baby at home, so it didn't surprise her that she was constantly tired. But the persistence of the fatigue prompted her to visit Jessica McMaine, APRN at CommonSpirit Medical Group – Primary Care in Wi******er for a check-up, which later led to a life-changing diagnosis of papillary carcinoma – thyroid cancer – that she says “came out of nowhere.”

Katelyn and Jessica shared the story with Drew Amman at LEX 18 earlier this week to raise awareness about the often silent disease and highlight the vital importance of a relationship with your primary care provider during Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in September. Now, at age 28, Katelyn says her labs are almost back to normal – and once the tumor marker reaches a certain number, the cancer is considered gone.

September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, and a woman in recovery is sharing her story to encourage others to seek routine care.

Katelyn Dyer had never faced a serious health issue before her diagnosis.

10/01/2026

When was the last time you had your cholesterol checked? In this HealthBreak, Dr. Tyler Elam explains LDL cholesterol – what it is, why it should be monitored and what can be done to improve cholesterol levels.

09/30/2026

Celebrate life – fund hope. The 11th annual Yes, Mamm! Yes, Cerv! 5K is just over a week away on Saturday, Oct. 10 at R. J. Corman Railroad Group in Nicholasville. Gates open at 7:30 and the race starts at 9:00, with activities for race participants, supporters, kids and families. Proceeds from the 5K benefit the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation's Yes, Mamm! Yes, Cerv! program, which provides underinsured and uninsured patients with screenings, resources and more to prevent breast and cervical cancer, and detect cancer sooner for earlier treatment. 🩷🏃‍♀️

This year's event will also feature a new, free Survivorship Day celebration immediately after race start, which recognizes cancer survivors and provides a dedicated space for sharing quality time, supporting others and hearing inspiring stories of hope and healing. 🫂

Register for the race today at https://ow.ly/GNea50ZTblZ, or RSVP for the Survivorship Celebration by using code HOPE2026 at checkout for free admission.

09/29/2026

Humankindness lives here. Felicia is a communications operator at CommonSpirit – Saint Joseph Hospital – Lexington, and a shining example of how we all hold the power to heal.

09/26/2026

CommonSpirit Health is excited to welcome Hesham Afifyi, MD, to CommonSpirit Medical Group - Cardiology in Lexington. Dr. Afify values the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, listen to each patient’s story and guide them through complex heart conditions.

Dr. Afify completed his general and interventional cardiology training at the University of Louisville. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and certified in Nuclear Cardiology and Adult Echocardiography. He earned his medical degree from Menoufia University, completed Internal Medicine training at UCF, and holds a Master’s degree in Molecular Cell Biology from Wake Forest University, where he conducted cancer research and authored peer-reviewed publications in high-impact scientific journals.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Afify to the team!

09/24/2026

Bunions are a deformity of the big toe, which causes pain and makes certain types of shoes difficult to wear. Andrew Bouwkamp, DPM, shares insights on the minimally invasive treatments available to correct bunions.

09/23/2026

CommonSpirit – Kentucky recently awarded $20,000 to The Fayette Education Foundation as part of its 2026 Art of Humankindness Initiative, providing art teachers at 12 elementary schools in Lexington with grants to support specialized projects designed to encourage kindness, empathy and friendship within classrooms.

The program is part of the health system’s Creating Safer Neighborhoods Initiative, led by manager Demetria Blair, MBA, and funded by the CommonSpirit Health Mission & Ministry Fund. It aims to promote positive expression, foster environments where students can thrive, and leave a lasting, visible impact on the school community.

Jarrett Millsaps, FACHE, President of Saint Joseph Medical Center – East Lexington, joined Andrea Walker in the FOX 56 News studio last week to talk about the healing power of humankindness in our community and some of the creative school art projects made possible through the program.

09/22/2026

Rooted in the unshakeable belief that we all hold the power to heal. Saint Joseph Health is now CommonSpirit.

09/21/2026

Meet Heather, a clinical nurse specialist who helps empower our cancer team in Lexington. By providing vital education and implementing evidence-based practices, she's elevating the care we provide to our patients and amplifying the healing power of humankindness across our ministry.

04/09/2026

Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective long-term solutions for obesity. David Swedler, DO, discusses who could benefit from this procedure and GLP-1 medications.

06/19/2024

04/30/2024

A variety of effective treatment options for weight loss are helping patients find the method that works best for them to improve their quality of life. Whether medical weight loss or weight loss surgery, a major consideration for every patient is cost of treatment.

In the latest installment of our weight loss video series, David Swedler, DO, and Benjamin Neltner, MD, discuss cost and affordability of weight loss treatments available to patients today.

To learn more about how you can begin your weight loss journey, visit https://spr.ly/6184jGEPn.