Keneth Newton Hall

Keneth Newton Hall (born November 13, 1976) is a Jamaican Americanphysician, bariatric, robotic, cosmetic surgeon, general surgeon, author, motivational speaker, businessman, inventor, and entrepreneur. He is the CEO and Founder of Innovative Multimedia Technologies Inc, Keneth N Hall, MD PC, Escape Medical PC, and VP of Tea Of Life Health Inc.

Early Life and Education

Hall was born to Desmond Hall and Sonia Richards in St. Thomas, Jamaica. Both parents were teachers, religious, and held a high regard for education. His father later emigrated to the United States, and his mother married Lloyd Brown when he was 3 years old. He had a great relationship with his stepfather, and his father remained very active in his life.

He developed an interest in medicine at an early age from watching his ailing uncle's health rapidly decline. Hall felt powerless and wanted to help, vowing to be a doctor someday. However, the beloved uncle ultimately succumbed to complications related to sickle cell disease. He was even more determined now to attain his dreams. As a child, he enjoyed going to his family doctor, who was a miracle worker in his eyes. People from all facets of life would travel from near and far, patiently waiting for their turn in a waiting room that often spilled over into the street. Though many carried a smorgasbord of illnesses, they appeared transformed by the time they left. This type of care resonated with the young Hall, who had no doctors in his family.

Hall was voted most industrious for his creative contributions to his class in elementary school. However, he developed a moderate speech impediment and could barely say his name. Though one of his teachers told him he wouldn't amount to anything, he was the only student in the class to pass the entrance examination for high school that year and the youngest in the school at only 9 years old. However, he was not quite physically or mentally prepared for high school nor was he ready to leave the comfort zone of his elementary school.

High school came with its share of challenges, and a progressive stutter combined with constitutional growth delay didn't help. He joined the Boy Scouts to boost his confidence but later became withdrawn and fell to the bottom of the class. By this time, he was told by a family member to quit high school. However, his mother saw his plight and got him a copy of Gifted Hands by |Dr. Ben Carson. Hall immediately saw the similarities between his life and Dr. Carson's and developed a thirst for knowledge and a greater motivation to pursue his career dreams. By this time, he was certain he wanted to become a surgeon because of his creativity, and he loved working with his hands. He changed his life around and completed Morant Bay High School, Jamaica, at 16 years old.

After high school, he was given the opportunity to help teach elementary school alongside his mother for one year. He later emigrated to the United States to live with his father, stepmother, and younger sister, who provided the resources and additional guidance to complete his education.

Hall did his best to run his father's used car business in Miami but ultimately traded it in for life and school in New York. He studied and tutored at York College of the City University of New York and did real estate on Long Island, NY, on the side. He made Dean's list, received several scholarships and awards for academic excellence and commitment to research including grants from the National Science Foundation and graduated with a Bachelor of Science with honors in Biology in 2001 under the tutelage of professor Dr. Jack Schlein.

Hall received a medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in 2005. He completed an internship at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Bethesda, Maryland, where he investigated and made recommendations to address disparities in healthcare based on the Surgeon General's Report. He later completed a rigorous general surgical residency program at Stony Brook University Hospital, where he also did rotations at the Northport VA Medical Center and New York University Long Island, formerly NYU Winthrop, where he homed in his surgical skills. He was initially planning to become a plastic surgeon but later met Dr. Collin Brathwaite, a highly decorated and highly regarded bariatric surgeon who would become his mentor.

Hall was accepted as the first-ever minimally invasive, bariatric, and robotic fellow at the New York University Long Island Hospital, where he completed additional advanced surgical training in 2012. At New York University, Hall was appointed Chair of the PHO Subcommittee on Obesity, Director of Bariatric Quality Improvement, and Director of Surgical Simulations under the guidance of his mentor, now Chair of Surgery. Over the years, he taught and mentored several hundred medical students, physician assistants, residents, and fellows. His department was responsible for multiple academic peer-reviewed publications, and he spoke at many surgical conferences nationwide. He was part of the team that developed the new NYU Long Island School of Medicine's curriculum for the inaugural medical school class.

Career

Hall is the former Chairman of Surgery, Medical Director of the Hernia Center, Weight Loss Center, Wound Care Center at Rome Health in Rome, New York. He is the VP of the Oneida Medical Society of the State of NY (MSSNY) and delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA), he is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, York College Alumni Association, State Troopers PBA, and Lodge Surgeon and Board Member for the NYS Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 50 among many other such prestigious organizations. He is an expert reviewer for CSATS and has been an expert witness for NYS and the federal government. Hall was one of the doctors invited to contribute in the design of the latest 3D Max Mesh by BARD, commonly used in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs throughout the world. He has over 18 years of experience in surgery.

Since taking the position of Medical Director of Bariatrics and minimally invasive surgery at Rome Health in September 2019, he has been responsible for bringing advanced surgical techniques to the institution and community. He performed the first minimally invasive weight loss surgeries at the facility.

With the start of the new bariatric program, he currently offers surgeries for obese patients, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomies, corresponding revisions for complications or weight regain, and a full complement of general surgical procedures. He also sees a large volume of patients for medical management of obesity in which he advocates for lifestyle modification with healthy eating, portion control, regular exercise, and medications where necessary.

Additionally, Hall continues to push the envelope doing several highly complex surgical procedures, including anti-reflux procedures such as but not limited to Heller myotomies for achalasia, Nissen, Toupet, and Dor fundoplication for severe Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)]] and/or Barrett's esophagus. He has gained good results with pyloroplasties to treat gastroparesis and continues to do minimally invasive hernia repairs and cholecystectomies. He has specialized training with the LINX Reflux Management System for GERD as well as the [gastric pacemaker, with plans to form a local Reflux Center in the near future.

In 2020, Hall collaborated with Dr. Nicholas Qandah, Vice Chair of Surgery and the Director of Neurosciences at Rome Health, to perform spinal fusion surgery, also called Tiger Woods Surgery, requiring the expertise of both a general surgeon or vascular surgeon and a neurologic surgeon.

In May 2022, Hall launched the first full-service surgeon-led medical spa in central NY called Escape Medical PC in Rome, NY, and serves as its Medical Director. This massive, high-end med spa specializes in the full spectrum of anti-aging, wellness, laser, medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatological procedures. At Escape, he performs procedures such as injectables including toxins and dermal fillers, vitamin infusions, noninvasive facelifts, P-Shots for men, ultrasonic liposuction including Lunchtime Lipo and mini tummy tucks where appropriate. His cosmetic practice has grown such that a new location was opened in Utica, NY, at the Fitness Mill in July 2023.

Hall is board certified by the American Board of Surgeons and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He serves as an adviser on many boards in healthcare and other industries.

Awards and Recognitions

Hall has been invited to speak and moderate at symposia, graduation commencements, and medical associations nationally and worldwide. He has received several awards and scholarships over the years for his contributions to surgery, medicine, and the community, including:

• Gilbert T. Boozer Scholarship in 1998
• McNair Scholarship in 1999
• Excellence in Teaching Award by a Surgical Resident in 2009
• Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater York College, CUNY in 2014
• 40 Under 40 Achievement Award from The Network Journal in 2016
• The New York Times Magazine Rising Star Award
• Multiple Top Doctor Awards from various organizations, among others.

He is regularly interviewed in local print media, including In Good Health Newspaper, Central New York Business Journal, Daily Sentinel Newspaper, and TV stations such as WKTV-U

Bibliography

Selected Publications:

• Small bowel obstruction Secondary to Multiple Lesions of Primary lymphoma. Aivazi A, Hall K, DeMuro P. The American Surgeon. 2014; 80(1): E1-2.

• Single Stage Conversion from Gastric banding to a Stapled Bariatric Procedure: An Analysis of Complications. Collin E. Brathwaite, Keneth N. Hall, Owen J. Pyke, Alex Barkan. Gastroenterology, 2014; 146(5) Supplement 1: S1074–S1075.

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) attenuates the progression of cardiometabolic complications in obese diabetic (ZDF) rats via alteration in gastrointestinal hormones. Raymond Lau, et al. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2015; 11(5): 1044–1053.

• Algorithmic approach to utilization of CT scans for detection of internal hernia in the gastric bypass patient. Maria S. Altieri, et al. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2015; 11(6): 1207–1211.

• Selective beneficial cardiometabolic effects of vertical sleeve gastrectomy are predominantly mediated through glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2016; 12: 65–74.

• Optimal Cefazolin Prophylactic Dosing in Bariatric Surgery: No Need for Higher Doses or Intraoperative Redosing. Obes Surg. 2017 Mar; 27(3): 626–629.

• Paraesophageal hiatal hernia Repair With Urinary bladder matrix Graft. JSLS. 2018; 22(2): e2017.00100.

• Laparoscopic Surgical Management of Symptomatic anastomotic ulcers After Gastric Bypass: A 10-Year Single-Center Experience. Adv in Laparoscopy 2020; 3(1): 82–86.

• Hiatal hernia and GERD: an indication for conversion from sleeve gastrectomy to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Hernia. 2019; 23(Suppl 1): S1–S7.

• Management of symptomatic anastomotic ulcers after gastric bypass: A 10-year single-center experience. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2018; 227(4S1): S106.

• Conversion from gastric band to sleeve gastrectomy is safer than gastric band to bypass: Results of a 10-year analysis of complications. J Am Coll Surg. 2018; 227(4S1): e131.

• Short term outcomes in patients undergoing paraesophageal hiatus hernia repair. Hernia. 2018; 22(Suppl 1): S94–S1