Western Pennsylvania Bariatric Institute
Verified listingAbout Western Pennsylvania Bariatric Institute
What is Western Pennsylvania Bariatric Institute?
Western Pennsylvania Bariatric Institute is a weight loss practice at 415 Napoleon Place in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and it is part of Conemaugh Physician Group. It offers two kinds of care: medical weight loss, which is nonsurgical, and bariatric surgery. Its surgeries are performed at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. In its own words: "Medical weight loss care is a nonsurgical way to manage weight, guided by an expert care team."
The two people listed as prescribers are Dr. D'Arcy Duke, FACS, MD, the surgeon, and Jessica Custer, NP. Dr. Duke is board certified in general surgery and specializes in bariatric surgery. Jessica Custer works in both surgical and medical weight loss. The team also includes a registered dietitian, Debbie Juda, RD, LDN, and a bariatric coordinator, Melissa Brubaker, RN, BSN. The medical weight loss side covers an initial evaluation, nutrition and lifestyle support, and prescription medicines when they are appropriate. GLP-1 medicines are among the options it discusses. The surgical side lists sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, SADI-S, revisional bariatric surgery, and gastric band repair or removal. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. The phone number is 814.539.8725.
What does it cost?
It does not publish prices, a consultation fee, or membership terms. It also does not say whether medication is included in any program cost. On insurance, it says coverage for bariatric surgery and medical weight loss "varies by plan," but it does not say whether it accepts insurance. It does say its team helps with insurance questions and reviews typical requirements at the first visit. Ask for the full cost in writing before you book.
What should you ask before you book?
Ask who writes the prescription, and whether that is Dr. Duke, Jessica Custer, or someone else on the team. Ask whether a monthly fee includes the medication, and if it does not, what the medication costs on its own. Ask whether the medication is brand-name or compounded, since that changes both price and what you are getting. Ask what the initial consultation, follow-up visits, and lab work cost, and whether any of them are billed separately. Ask whether your plan covers medical weight loss or bariatric surgery, and what you would owe out of pocket. Ask whether any visits can be done by video, because the clinic does not say. Finally, ask whether there is a commitment period and what it costs to cancel.
Who is it a good fit for?
This is a good fit if you want a single practice that can offer either nonsurgical treatment or surgery, and you want to talk through both before you decide. It may be less suited to you if you need a published price before you call, since none is listed.
Sources: westernpennsylvaniabariatricinstitute.com, westernpennsylvaniabariatricinstitute.com/medical-weight-loss, westernpennsylvaniabariatricinstitute.com/contact, westernpennsylvaniabariatricinstitute.com/our-team
Services Offered
What we confirmed
Read off Western Pennsylvania Bariatric Institute’s own website on 2026-10-12. These are their words, not ours.
- ✓Medical weight loss — listed on their site as “Medical weight loss care is a nonsurgical way to manage weight, guided by an expert care team.” source
Hours
Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 4 pm