From OR Nurse to Bariatric Program Leader: Angie Bunkley’s TMH Journey

Category: Bariatric Surgery Team
Author: Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare
Date: March 9, 2026

We’re spotlighting Angie Bunkley, RN, CBN, the Bariatric Surgery Program Coordinator at TMH.A woman with long straight brown hair, wearing a bright blue top, smiles while standing outdoors with leafy green trees and sunlight in the background.

Angie plays a key role in maintaining our Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) and ensuring staff are educated in bariatric surgery. She also manages program data, working with Joey Jarrard, MD and James Parker, MD quarterly to evaluate outcomes and identify improvements.

For patients, Angie provides education about surgery, follow-ups, and discharge instructions, emphasizing that our support continues long after recovery.

Inspired by her grandmother, Angie pursued nursing and earned her degree in 2004. She has always enjoyed caring for people and loved helping people feel better, making nursing a natural fit. She joined TMH in 2017 as an OR nurse and transitioned to the bariatric team in 2022 to be more involved in patients’ journeys before and after surgery.

Her favorite part? Seeing the resolution of comorbidities, like no longer needing diabetes medication or their CPAP. Angie loves hearing about patient’s achieving “non-scale victories” like crossing their legs, playing with their children, or even going skydiving!

“My patients inspire me,” shared Angie. “I don’t think a lot of people realize how much hard work each of our patients must put in prior to having bariatric surgery and the lifelong commitment afterwards. They truly inspire me.”

She’s proud to be part of a compassionate team that supports patients every step of the way.

Seven smiling medical staff in scrubs stand behind a blue table with a decorated cake and a trophy. Large gold balloons form the number 500, celebrating a milestone event in a brightly lit room. A group of smiling healthcare workers in scrubs and pink accessories stand behind a pink-themed table with lemonade, cupcakes, and treats, inside a bright, modern building with blue accents. Two people stand smiling behind a blue and white cake that says “1000 DaVinci Cases,” with large gold balloon numbers “1000” in the background, celebrating a milestone in a decorated room. Five women, some in medical scrubs and some in business attire, stand smiling together in a bright lobby area. Behind them is a large pink balloon arrangement.