Dr. Fernando B. Bonanni Jr., MD, MBA, FACS, FASMBS

Expert Publications

• Venous thromboembolism after laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch: analysis of 362 patients.
• Normoglycemic ketoacidosis in a postoperative gastric bypass patient taking canagliflozin.
• Laparoscopic conversion of failed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, a step-by-step video case.

Media Releases

Get to know Dr. Fernando B. Bonanni Jr., who serves patients in Quincy, Illinois.

Dr. Bonanni Jr. is a double board certified, nationally-recognized general and bariatric surgeon.  He is the Founder and Director of the comprehensive obesity program at the Blessing Bariatric Institute in Quincy, Illinois, and serves as President of his consulting service, “General and Bariatric Surgery Consultants”.

With a dedication to patient safety and using the very latest in technique and technology, Dr. Bonanni Jr. expertly performs robotic, laparoscopic, endoscopic, and open weight loss surgery procedures that include Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RNYGB), Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG), Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch ( (BPD/DS), Single Anastomosis Duodeno Ileostomy (SADI-S), and bariatric surgery revisions. He also routinely performs hiatal hernia repair, incisional and inguinal hernia repair, laparoscopic cholecystectomy; upper and lower diagnostic, and therapeutic endoscopy. 

“The most rewarding part of my life as a doctor is the privilege of the doctor-patient relationship. Bariatric surgery is an important specialty that changes and saves lives. Together, we spend many months with patients deciding on the right surgery and getting them prepared for the surgery. Then, we spend a lifetime after surgery following up and guiding patients through the challenge of maintaining healthy lives. Like no other surgical specialty, it is a lifelong relationship in which I get to be a surgeon and a family doctor.”

Educated in the United States, Dr. Bonanni Jr. obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree at Southern Illinois University and went on to earn his Medical Degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital and, years later, received a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Tennessee. 

In 2006, Dr. Bonanni Jr. initiated the bariatric surgery program at Abington – Jefferson Health, which has since been established as the Institute for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (IMBS). He was Director of IMBS and Associate Director of the Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program until May 2020. He also served Abington Jefferson Health as Director of the Operating Room, and as Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery.

Boasting dual certifications from the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM), Dr. Bonanni Jr. is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS), and a Fellow of the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery.

His affiliations extend across various local and national professional societies, encompassing memberships in the Obesity Medicine Society, the Society of Robotic Surgery, the Obesity Medicine Association, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement, the Pennsylvania Society for Bariatric Surgery (where he serves as Vice President), the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Berks County Medical Society, and the Montgomery County Medical Society. He also holds the role of Surveyor for the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

Beyond his accolades and distinctions during his service in the United States Air Force, Dr. Bonanni Jr. has amassed a multitude of awards and recognitions. These include eleven consecutive years as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor (Regional), a decade-long recognition as a Top Doctor by Philadelphia Magazine, and a seven-time recipient of the Patients’ Choice Award. Moreover, he was elected as one of Pennsylvania’s Favorite Physicians.

An accomplished bariatric surgeon and prolific author, Dr. Bonanni Jr. has contributed to numerous publications, abstracts, and chapters. His expertise in the field has led to national and international presentations, marking a distinguished career trajectory.

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