Maria Iliakova, MD, FACS, MSc

Hi, I’m Dr. Maria Iliakova. I help people reach their life goals through better metabolic health.

Whether it's starting a family, boosting energy, or improving performance at work or in life, optimizing metabolic health can be the key. Through bariatric surgery, medications, and sustainable lifestyle changes, I've seen firsthand how people transform not just their bodies—but their lives.

What does a true metabolic reset look like?

Having a healthy baby after years of infertility
Crossing the finish line of your first race
Feeling so confident you go for (and get) that raise or promotion
Having the energy to keep up with life—and enjoy it

After my fellowship training in Bariatric & Minimally Invasive Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, I led the Robotic & Bariatric Surgery Program at Mercy Iowa City - guiding it through MBSAQIP reaccreditation and a hospital bankruptcy. I’ve spent the past year visiting hospitals across the country as a traveling surgeon while completing my MBA at NYU, gaining deep insight into both the clinical and business sides of care delivery.

In Summer 2025, I am launching HealthyWeight, a medical and surgical program focused on helping people optimize fertility through metabolic care. We’re thinking outside the box to partner with fertility experts, Ob/Gyns and Urologists to reach people when they need us most - before a pregnancy - to make every chance the safest for parents and babies.

ABOUT ME

Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)

Board Certification, General Surgery: American Board of Surgery

Minimally Invasive & Bariatric Surgery Fellowship: Hackensack University Medical Center

General Surgery Residency: UMKC Surgery

Internship: Carle Foundation Hospital

MBA: NYU Stern

MD: University of Kansas

Fulbright Fellow, Spain: Center for Genomic Regulation

MSc Biochemistry & Bioinformatics: Georgetown

BS Biology, BA Chemistry, BA Spanish: UMKC

Current: CEO, HealthyWeight & CEO, Innovation Surgical

Past: Medical Director Robotic Surgery, Bariatric & General Surgeon: Mercy Iowa City

Society memberships & committees: ACS, SAGES (Robotics, SDS), ASMBS (Insurance), AMA, AMWA, AWS, OMA

Patent: (63/ 603,410): System For Storage and Sorting of Surgical Instruments

AI tool: BariBuddy, Bariatric patient assistant

Check out my entire CV here.