After spending much of his childhood hanging around his father’s family medical practice in the small south Louisiana town of Franklin, Brent Allain Jr., MD, knew he was destined for a career in medicine.
“Watching my father’s treatment of patients, as well as his community interactions, really strengthened my desire to follow a similar career path,” Dr. Allain says.
However, following his father’s footsteps only went so far. After completing medical school and a residency at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, Dr. Allain finished a fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He is now Board Certified in general surgery, a member of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
The Reward of Changing Lives
Dr. Allain is fulfilled by his specialization in minimally invasive general and bariatric surgery.
“I enjoy bariatric surgery and surgery to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, especially from a robotic standpoint,” Dr. Allain says. “It’s so meaningful to be able to make a significant impact in a patient’s life. It’s almost like you give them part of their life back.”
Dr. Allain sees patients lose weight after bariatric surgery and also have significant improvements in overall health.
“When you can improve a patient’s quality of life by this much, it allows them to do more, which in turn improves their family’s quality of life and improves other relationships too,” Dr. Allain says. “It’s similar to reflux surgery, when a patient will come back and say, ‘I don’t have any reflux symptoms anymore. I’m sleeping through the night.’ It’s so rewarding when you can play a role in someone’s life, and they come back and tell you how much of an impact that has had on them.”
Committed to the Community
As a physician, Dr. Allain works hard to ensure every patient receives individualized care.
“I’m known for being very easy to talk to, which is not always the case with every surgeon,” Dr. Allain says. “But surgery, in general, can be scary, so I think it’s important to spend that extra time listening to patients so they are more at ease. I want to construct a care path that is specific for them but also to take time to get to know them.”
Dr. Allain believes that commitment to building relationships and establishing trust with patients helps improve health outcomes. And it’s also a big part of why his practice is in his home state.
“I am proud that I received my medical training here in Louisiana,” Dr. Allain says. “I made a conscious decision to stay here and to take care of my community. And it’s wonderful that Baton Rouge has also provided a nice place to raise a family.”
Fun Family Times
With four young children, Dr. Allain spends most of his free time at home. He enjoys hunting and fishing with his family, and when his schedule allows, they travel internationally.
“I firmly believe in exposing my kids to as many different cultures and places as I can,” Dr. Allain says.
As an LSU graduate, Dr. Allain is a regular at Tigers games, although baseball remains his favorite sport.
“It’s a game that teaches you a lot of life lessons if you pay attention to it,” Dr. Allain says. “It’s kind of a sport based on failures. If you’re batting .400, you’re a success, but anything else in life, if you were only succeeding 40 percent of the time, you’d consider it a failure. That’s why I enjoy sharing the games with my kids.”
