Meet Our Weight Loss Surgeons and Staff
William A. Graber, MD, PC consists of a talented team of caring, talented, and dedicated healthcare professionals based in Syracuse and Utica. Our surgeons have performed thousands of weight loss surgeries at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica/New Hartford, NY and St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, NY.
Throughout your weight loss surgery journey you will work not only with your surgeon but our entire bariatric surgery team. This includes our physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, registered dietitian, administrative staff and insurance specialists.
Our Surgeons
Dr. William A. Graber is the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Director for both St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, New York and Mohawk Valley Health System in Utica, New York. In 2002, he recognized the need for a weight loss surgery program in Upstate New York and since then, his practice has performed thousands of bariatric surgeries on those affected by obesity, in both his Utica and Syracuse, NY locations. Dr. Graber is a board certified surgeon with vast experience performing surgical interventions for people suffering from obesity. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College in Pennsylvania, a medical doctorate from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and completed his surgical residency at Boston University in Massachusetts. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, holds a board position on the New York State Chapter of American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), and is a member of the national ASMBS.
Dr. Nandita Rao is originally from North Carolina, where she grew up and completed her early education. She went to East Carolina University on an academic scholarship in an accelerated three-year program, and obtained two bachelor’s degrees Summa Cum Laude in both biology and religious studies. Dr. Rao stayed at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine for medical school, and then moved to East Tennessee State University for general surgery residency. She was very involved in both medical student and resident education and was awarded for her efforts every year of residency, including recognition by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for Humanism and Excellence in Teaching three years in a row. She was additionally involved in clinical research related to global surgery and the establishment of medical care in internationally underserved areas. Dr. Rao was inaugurated into Alpha Omega Alpha prior to graduation, which is considered the highest honor awarded in medical training based upon compassion, servant leadership, and academic achievement. Following residency, she completed a 1-year fellowship program in metabolic and bariatric surgery at the University of Missouri.
Dr. Rao is certified by the American Board of Surgery and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Tiffany Lee, MD – Weight Loss SurgeonPhysician Assistants
Our dedicated Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are an integral part of our bariatric surgery team. They work hard in the operating room and our offices to help support patients throughout their weight loss surgery journey
Laura is a surgical assistant for Dr. Graber. She assists in the OR, and sees patients post-operatively, during hospital rounds, and for follow-up visits in our office. Laura also helps with patient education prior to and following surgery.
A graduate of Hamilton College and the Physician Assistant Program at LeMoyne College, Laura has worked in the medical field since 1991.
Clinical Staff
Kristen Conway – Registered Dietician
Practice and Billing Manager
Mary McLark OTR/L, OTD – Office Manager
