Virginia Bariatric Center — home

Meet Our Staff

Let's introduce the caring staff members who assist you on your weight loss journey.

Matthew Fitzer, MD at Virginia Bariatric Center

Matthew Fitzer, MD

Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Matthew Fitzer is a fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon who has focused on providing excellent care to overweight and obese patients since 2005. Since 2012, he has been serving patients in Herndon, Reston, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun County, and the DC metro area.He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. He has founded and served as the Medical Director of MBSAQIP-Certified bariatric programs at multiple institutions. He has authored book chapters and articles that have been published in prestigious journals including the New England Journal of Medicine.Dr. Fitzer has performed more than 6,000 laparoscopic weight-loss operations and managed weight-loss medication treatment for more than 10,000 patients in the 21+ years that he has been helping people reach their weight-loss goals.
Gabby Marinelli, physician assistant at Virginia Bariatric Center

Gabby Marinelli, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Corinne Singh, physician assistant at Virginia Bariatric Center

Corinne Singh, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Corinne earned her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from UVA in 2019. After graduating, she worked at UVA Hospital as a laboratory technician. Her lab experience led her to pursue a career in medicine.She went on to attend James Madison University’s Physician Assistant program. She graduated in 2023 and has been with Virginia Bariatric ever since. Corinne is a patient favorite at Virginia Bariatric. She's attentive and compassionate, and she tends to build very strong relationships with her patients.When Corinne got married in 2025, the entire office staff came to Charlottesville for the wedding and the celebration. She enjoys walking her dog Lucy, cross-stitching, and reality TV.
Giselle Brito-Lopez, patient liaison at Virginia Bariatric Center

Giselle Brito-Lopez

Patient Liaison

Suzanne Howell, registered dietitian at Virginia Bariatric Center

Suzanne Howell, RD

Registered Dietitian

Suzanne is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer with 26 years of experience helping people achieve their weight loss and wellness goals. She attended the University of North Florida for her undergraduate studies, then Sage Graduate School in upstate New York. She truly loves what she does and is passionate about making healthy living practical, sustainable, and enjoyable. Outside of work, she's a mom of two and an avid runner and hiker, so she understands firsthand the importance of balancing nutrition, fitness, family, and everyday life.
Jamie Cielinski, billing manager at Virginia Bariatric Center

Jamie Cielinski

Billing Manager

Val Placencia, team leader at Virginia Bariatric Center

Val Placencia

Team Leader

Val is the Office Team Leader at Virginia Bariatric, where she oversees daily operations, supports the team, and helps ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered service. She brings more than 15 years of experience in customer service and administrative support.Val joined Virginia Bariatric in 2022 as a Patient Coordinator and was promoted to surgical scheduler for Dr. Fitzer before stepping into her current role as Team Leader. She is committed to helping all of our patients succeed in reaching their weight loss goal by whatever path they choose. Outside the office, Val is a devoted wife and mother who treasures time with her family.
Keidi Rivera, medical assistant at Virginia Bariatric Center

Keidi Rivera

Medical Assistant

Susanna Carter, PA-C at Virginia Bariatric Center

Susanna Carter, PA-C

Physician Assistant