Kenneth Kleinpeter, Jr., MD, FACS, is a Board Certified general surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge.
Dr. Kleinpeter maintains a broad practice and performs several types of surgery, holding a special interest in laparoscopic and robotic surgery to treat hernias, gallbladder disease, gastroesophageal reflux and endocrine disorders. His niche is surgery for patients with end-stage renal disease, specifically parathyroidectomy (removal of the parathyroid glands in the neck) and placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters, which supports nephrologists as they treat kidney failure.stage renal disease, specifically parathyroidectomy (removal of the parathyroid glands in the neck) and placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters, which supports nephrologists as they treat kidney failure.
Leaving the Dairy Farm for Medicine
Dr. Kleinpeter originally envisioned a career working at Kleinpeter Farms Dairy, a family-owned local dairy farm. Throughout childhood, he worked various jobs on the farm which helped him develop critical business skills at a young age. It seemed a natural fit to pursue a business degree.
“I started my formal education in business,” Dr. Kleinpeter says. “However, I noticed I was excelling in my non-business elective science courses, such as biology, physics and chemistry. Science captured my attention. That spurred my decision to change my major to medicine.”
Dr. Kleinpeter earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed an internship and residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical School in North Carolina. He received fellowship training in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery and is board certified in general surgery.
“While working at Pennington Biomedical Research Medical Center, I felt right at home in the laboratory environment,” Dr. Kleinpeter says. “Feeling so comfortable in the new atmosphere and establishing supportive relationships with other providers solidified that I made the right decision to pursue surgery.”
Patient Care As Priority
After finishing medical school, Dr. Kleinpeter returned to Baton Rouge to work at Our Lady of the Lake. He enjoys serving patients in a community he called home for many years. After living outside the state for residency, Dr. Kleinpeter appreciated the Louisiana culture even more.
Dr. Kleinpeter is proud to help as many patients as possible with his training in robotic surgery. Robotic surgery helps surgeons perform the tasks they need to in the operating room, contributing to positive patient outcomes.
“Some surgeons were reluctant to adopt robotic surgery,” Dr. Kleinpeter says. “Other surgeons dove in quickly. I was in the group of surgeons that adopted the technology more slowly, but now I’m amazed by the engineering and fully comprehend the value of robotic surgery.”
Above all, Dr. Kleinpeter prioritizes helping patients throughout their health journey.
“At the end of my career, I want to look back and see that I helped people going through a hard time,” Dr. Kleinpeter says. “The goal isn’t only finding a rapid solution to fix a problem, but also making my patients feel comfortable, heard and taken care of during their treatment.”
Beyond the Operating Room
Dr. Kleinpeter enjoys a good game of golf to unwind.
“Some suggest golf is a good walk spoiled,” Dr. Kleinpeter says. “I think golf can teach you a lot about life. Golf never goes perfectly; there are challenges, failures and successes. The point is to try to have a good time throughout the process.”
He also enjoys learning about Louisiana’s famous cuisine from books written by Chef John Folse. His favorites are “Hooks, Lies & Alibis” and “After the Hunt.”
“There’s nothing better than the smell of onions after they hit the roux,” Dr. Kleinpeter says. “Cooking southern recipes, such as gumbo, etouffee or smoked meats, is a great way to spend time with family and friends.”
A final tidbit: if you have (or already had) surgery with Dr. Kleinpeter, chances are his signature genre was playing in the background: reggae.
“I’m the son of an amazing musician,” Dr. Kleinpeter says. “I like most genres of music, but my favorite type to operate to is reggae. It counterbalances the stress that sometimes comes with surgery. And who doesn’t love reggae?”
