Meet The Team

Dr. Bruce began his medical career when he entered active duty in the US Army as a general surgeon in 1998. 

He was initially assigned to the 212th MASH, the last MASH in the US Army based in Wiesbaden, Germany. He was deployed in conflict twice during his tour and was honorably discharged in 2002. 

Dr. Bruce entered private practice as a general surgeon initially in Macon, Georgia. He has specialized in Bariatrics for 16 years and loves the field. Dr. Bruce has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed published articles, while also being a national speaker, educator, and preceptor/proctor for Bariatric surgery. 

Dr. Bruce started Bruce Bariatrics, a family-run weight loss and wellness practice, to provide exceptional care to patients. He has struggled with his own weight his entire life. He knows firsthand that weight loss is more than just eating less and exercising more.

When not in the operating room or the office Dr. Bruce loves spending time with his wife, four grown children, and two grandchildren. Dr. Bruce was raised on a farm and loves turning his home into a bit of a hobby farm.

Tony has been with Bruce Bariatrics since its inception. Tony and Dr. Bruce are brother-in-laws and enjoy working together at a family business. Tony’s career has always been in the medical field and he is excited to put all he has learned to use as Bruce Bariatrics COO.

Tony has two beautiful, grown daughters and recently became a grandfather. When not at the office Tony enjoys working out daily and taking care of his special needs cats.

Kristin has worked in the medical field for over 25 years. She has worked directly with Dr. Bruce for the past 7 years and has abundant medical office knowledge that she is excited to apply at Bruce Bariatrics.

Kristin had struggled with her weight her entire life until she underwent bariatric surgery with Dr. Bruce. After losing 100 lb., she now dedicates her time informing patients about the benefits and rewards of surgical and medical weight loss.

When not at work, Kristin enjoys spending time with her husband Elliott, and her 2-year-old daughter, Olivia. They enjoy traveling and spending time at the beach.

Dr. Tyner has specialized in bariatrics and bariatric surgery for decades. Dr. Tyner comes to Bruce Bariatrics to will impart his wisdom and passion to provide world-class care to our patients. Dr. Tyner will mainly be involved in the Medical Weight Loss part of the practice.

When not at the office Dr. Tyner loves to spend time with his wife and children. He recently added to his big family by getting a beautiful pup Sally Sue.

Carlos joins Bruce Bariatrics as a Physician Assistant, bringing his clinical skills and dedication to patient care to the field of weight loss and bariatrics. With a strong background in orthopedics, Carlos is excited to apply his experiences to help patients on their weight loss journeys.

As part of the Bruce Bariatrics team, Carlos will assist patients through medical weight loss and support Dr. Bruce during surgical procedures. His prior years of surgical experience provide a solid foundation for his transition into the field of bariatrics.

Carlos believes in working towards a healthy, active, and balanced lifestyle. His approach to wellness complements Bruce Bariatrics' mission of providing comprehensive care and support to patients seeking weight loss solutions.

As a native Spanish speaker, Carlos can provide care to a diverse patient population.

Outside of work, Carlos enjoys staying active by running, hiking, and exploring the Triangle area with his three dogs: Yogi, Roo, and Remy. He also loves traveling with his wife Vanessa and spending quality time with family and friends.

Maria is very passionate about helping others learn about disease prevention through evidenced-based nutrition & general wellness. Her areas of interest include diabetes management, prevention of chronic disease/heart disease, and treating gastrointestinal disorders. Her approach is to create realistic individualized plans for each person considering their lifestyles, preferences, and health goals.

Maria earned a BS in Food Science with a minor in nutrition at North Carolina State University in 1993. Upon graduation, Maria worked for approximately 8 years in Food Safety/Quality Assurance in the food industry. After staying home for a number of years with her children, Maria returned to school to study her passion, nutrition science. Maria completed a Master of Public Health – Nutrition Degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2012. Maria has been in private practice since graduating from UNC. She truly loves helping her patients improve their health. In her free time, her hobbies include cooking, working out, and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Rattien has been practicing PT for over 20 years. Joe tries to appreciate the "big picture" and realizes that a patient's dysfunction does not always originate from the site of pain. He has taken advanced Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar spine courses, in addition to the pelvic region. He is also trained in vestibular rehabilitation and is well-versed in treating conditions like vertigo (BPPV).

Joe also lived and studied in Madrid, Spain, and speaks Spanish fluently. Dr. Joe enjoys spending time with his wife, Jenn, and daughters, Jillian and Julianna. His hobbies include traveling, snorkeling, coaching soccer, and entertaining his orange tabby cat.

Emily is dedicated to helping her clients achieve their nutrition or weight-related goals while nurturing a joyful, balanced relationship with food. She enables people of all ages to reach and sustain a healthy weight, set individualized nutrition goals, and manage chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Emily has been a registered dietitian since 2012 when she completed her Master of Public Health in Nutrition at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina. Emily enjoys practicing yoga and preparing healthy, delicious meals with her family in her spare time. Emily is fluent in Spanish and is in-network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

With over 25 years as a personal trainer including 10 plus years as a strength and conditioning coach, Corey has enhanced individual performance from the amateur to the professional athlete including, but not limited to, football, basketball, volleyball, and softball. His experience has also allowed him the opportunity to work closely with a widely diverse population ranging from as young as 7 years of age to 80+. Throughout his entire career, his emphasis has been on maximizing results, finding creative methods to address limitations and restrictions, and fostering an environment of encouragement. For him, the passion is in the individual's experience and results. Corey's enthusiasm for health and fitness started at a very early age. His dad gave him his first set of weights at 11 years old. This was the catalyst of lifelong love and appreciation of the body, how it functions, accounting for individual challenges, and catering unique techniques to elicit optimal results.

Corey is a native of North Carolina and is the proud father of two daughters ages 27 and 19 and a 7-year-old grandson. He loves his family and has a heart for helping others both physically and mentally. Corey attended NC A&T State University studying Computers and Information Sciences and was also a member of the football team. It was during this time that he realized his true calling was in personalized human performance.