Renee Hilton

Renee Hilton, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University. She serves as Director of the Center of Obesity and Metabolism and specializes in minimally invasive bariatric surgery, complex foregut diseases, and abdominal wall hernia repair. Her clinical focus includes gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and revision surgeries for morbid obesity, emphasizing rapid recovery and reduced postoperative discomfort.

Education:

• MD: Medical College of Georgia, 2011
• BS in Biology: University of Georgia, 2007

Research Interests: Dr. Hilton’s work centers on optimizing bariatric surgical outcomes, addressing disparities in healthcare access, and improving surgical techniques for complex gastrointestinal conditions. Her current trials investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic procedures using tools like the BODY-Q quality-of-life assessment. She also advocates for policy changes to enhance bariatric patient care equity.

Key Contributions: Principal investigator on two active clinical trials at Augusta University Medical Center. Her research has been recognized nationally, including the 2023 Best Clinical Outcomes Poster Award and multiple advocacy-focused accolades from the American College of Surgeons.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Center of Obesity and Metabolism, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration in metabolic surgery and obesity management. Actively participates in surgical education through courses like SURG 5000 Basic Clerkship in Surgery and robotic surgery externships.