John R Pender, MD

Wish I could leave zero stars. Horrible human who treated an EXCEPTIONAL human terribly. If you're looking for someone to trust your health with - GO ELSEWHERE!

Exceptionally poor experience, do not recommend. No compassion or listening skills, no bedside manner. I’m sorry I asked for a referral here. I’ll be going elsewhere for care. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect no matter what situation we are coming from.

I had my original surgery 18 years ago. Back then follow up education was not offered. I did well losing weight...over 120+ pounds even while pregnant. In those 18 years I have had 3 children, 5 hospitalizations with near death illnesses, and ever increasing mobility issues after being attacked at work and left with a degenerative disc disorder. In the last 6 years I have regained my weight plus some. I have battled for the last few years with feeling helpless and hopeless. About 6 months ago I found out that gastric bypass revision surgery with follow up care and education could be possible and for the first time in years I felt hopeful. I sought out the Billings Clinic Metabolic Center because I'd read great things about it. The first doctor they had me see was Pender. Because my mobility issues have me in a wheelchair my husband took me to my appointment. I was so excited until I met the most hateful condescending doctor I've ever had the displeasure of meeting. He asked me why I'd… failed and then cut me off abruptly 10 seconds into my answer. He told me I need to be guilty so that I would feel bad about the poor decisions I'd made in life. Although he hadn't spoken 2 words to my husband he told me I needed to be more like him because clearly he would never eat badly and not exercise like me. Really??!!? My husband eats fast food multiple times a week, thinks vegetables are evil, and has never exercised a day in his adult life. He is blessed with an unbelievably high metabolism so, sure, doc...tell me who do I talk to about going back in time and being born with a better metabolism? If you can just point me in that direction that's great! I'm all in! As my tenuous hope crumbled I teared up only to be told that my crying meant I was headed in the right direction but he couldn't offer me a Kleenex because according to him studies show that offering me that bit of kindness would make me cry more. Well heaven forbid! I cried more anyway because as he continued to tell me that he thought it would be a waste of his time and effort to do a revision surgery my heart broke. He lectured me about how I really need to DO something about my weight and my underlying problems "whatever those are". I thought, apparently mistakenly, that by seeking out surgery and aftercare and education that I WAS DOING SOMETHING. John Pender is a horrible human being with a worthless, condescending bedside manner who clearly defeats fat people so why in the world is this man a bariatric surgeon???

Would never recommend this person to anyone I care about. Doesn't listen or care what you have to say, extremely rude and arrogant. I needed hernia repair, wouldn't consider it until I lost 100 lbs. Wanted lap band to sleeve, absolutely refused to consider sleeve, bypass only. Pleased with surgeon I am seeing now...no comparison.

I went to see Dr. Pender specifically because he specialized in Bariatric surgery. I was looking at having a possible revision surgery after my Band became inflamed. Instead of talking me through my options and listening to my concerns, he was rude, arrogant, mean, and inappropriate in his comments. Which he did in front of my spouse. Because he was THAT arrogant. He doesn't know how to be nice, to be supportive, or to LISTEN. He clearly likes the sound of his own voice. Which he droned on with for some time while drawing rudimentary pictures on the back of my chart to make his point as if I was 6. After making me wait for AN HOUR AND A HALF for the appointment I drove SIX hours for. Instead he called me "fat" like all the other "fat girls" out there who just "grew tired" of the Band and having to "eat right and exercise" and instead wanted to "eat pasta and ice cream and drink soda again". It appears he has a problem with some of his other patients and I do NOT appreciate being lumped… in with them, but I also don't appreciate him calling ANY of us "fat" without knowing the facts. I suggest more education. Maybe some HR training. And I was NOT rude back. I listened quietly and even let him perform an adjustment (which he did just fine) and then waited til I got out to my car to be upset. I would never, ever, ever, go to this Dr. for any surgery or any medical treatment. Ever. Nor would I recommend him. Ever.

I had set up follow-up care with Dr. Pender for lap band after surgery out of state. I scheduled an appointment and drove over 4 hours each way to see him. He was extremely arrogant and was not supportive of my decision to have the lap band. When I met with him for my follow-up, he refused to help me with my band and sent me on my way. He even went so far as to tell me that he was sure there was something wrong with my band and that he wanted to do surgery to revise to the sleeve. I got a second opinion from my surgeon who said it was obvious that Dr. Pender didn't have a full understanding of the mechanics of the lap band and that there was no issues with the band. He tried to put me through another unnecessary surgery just to pad his pockets. At the time of the appointment his nurse had them refund my money sure to the fact that he hadn't done anything and said I wouldn't be billed for the appointment. Weeks later I received a bill and have been fighting with the office about it for… months. No compassion but very happy to take your money.

Rude, misinformed, arrogant with the personality of an old shoe.

Dr Pender is the most caring surgeon i have ever met. He will direct you on how to continue in the weight loss. LISTEN TO HIM AND DO WHAT HE SAYS. he told me to do cardio and i didnt think i had it in me to do that since i was out of breath every time i tried. but i had to build myself up to it. it took me about a month. but i went from 3 min on the elliptical the tread mill on an incline to 45 min on the elliptical. it was a great feeling to have reached that goal. give me my cold water, a towel and my music and im in the ZONE. my hip gives me a fit in the winter but i try to push through it and at least do something. i have kept the weight off. and i practice discipline in my eating habits daily. sometimes i fail. but i get back up and FOCUS again. Dr Pender shows pride in his patients when they progress. the surgery is just an assist, the rest has to come from the patient. you have to change the way you think about food. increase protein, decrease carbs, increase fiber. our… bodies dont need that many carbs. and carbs are so easy to get. its in peas, carrots, corn, beans. so an excess of potatoes, rice, pastas, is only needed when doing a heavy workout. anyway. HE is amazing. and taught me so much. i love this Docor!

he cares, he is thorough in expressing the importance of lifestyle change. if he says do something listen to him he knows what he is talking about. when he told me to do cardio i didnt think i could . built up my resistance and raised my resistance to the right heart rate for my age. it took a few months to get use to working out but now i love it. im healthier and feel better. the lifestyle change motivated me to change not only the amount of food i eat but what i eat and to choose wiser when i am hunger. thank you Dr. Pender for all you taught me. you changed my life. and most importantly .... He truly cares.

the most important factor in going through post op and pre op is following the doctors orders to the letter. Dr Pender knows exactly what he is doing and does this surgery numerous times on a weekly basis. the shows much concern for his patients before, during and after surgery. i chose the lap band not only because it was recommended by him but also because i get the opportunity to follow up every month for one year to assure i am changing my lifestyle correctly. Dr Pender informs you of the things you should or should not be doing because he cares. bariatrics is a lifestyle change for the better and of you have any questions or concerns of any kind he and his staff and there to assist you without hesitation. I highly recommend Dr Pender and his staff if you are considering lap band or gastric bypass. he takes pride on the weight loss success of his patients because it is a team effort and he and his staff work very hard in doing their part. he is polite and courteous to the patient… when medical students come into his facility to discuss a patient's procedure, i feel like im in a gray's anatomy tv show. also has a layed back sense of humor. Dr Pender is an all around great doctor and human being.