Dr. Deepu Sudhakaran, MD, MBA, FACS, FASMBS
Physician | Wellness & Longevity Expert | Surgeon | Entrepreneur | Educator | Advocate
Bringing together medicine, surgery, wellness and longevity to help people improve their health, confidence and quality of life.
ZAE Weight Wellness Aesthetics
Personalized for a healthier, more confident life.
Chesterfield Bariatric Surgery
Comprehensive medical and surgical weight management.
Best Wound Clinic
Advanced physician-led wound care and healing.
Chesterfield Clinical Research
Innovating tomorrow’s treatments.
Podcasts
Podcasts where medicine meets mindset.
Advocacy
Advocacy. Leadership. A stronger voice in healthcare.
About
Dr. Deepu Sudhakaran is a physician, wellness and longevity expert, surgeon, entrepreneur, educator and advocate dedicated to helping people live healthier, more energetic and fulfilling lives.
He leads ZAE Weight Wellness & Aesthetics, a physician-led concierge practice integrating comprehensive weight management, wellness and longevity medicine, hormone optimization, lifestyle and strength, and advanced aesthetics. Through Chesterfield Bariatric Surgery, he also provides medical and surgical weight management and advanced robotic and minimally invasive surgery.
His broader clinical work includes wound care and healing, general surgery and clinical research. He believes the best outcomes come from looking beyond a single treatment—bringing together physicians, dietitians, therapists, fitness professionals and other specialists around each person’s goals.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Sudhakaran is deeply involved in medical education, mentorship, physician leadership and healthcare advocacy. Away from work, he enjoys painting, traveling and creating memories with his wife, Amaya, their children, Daya and Ameya, family and friends.
Incredible service! Was skeptical going into it, but Dr Deepu made sure to walk me through everything going on. He took a deep dive into my health and was able to diagnose and correct underlying issues impacting energy throughout the day.
– John Kenaga
Education & Advanced Training
Medical Education
Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, University of Kerala, India — Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery (MBBS), 1997.
University of Adelaide / Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia — Research Associate, 1999–2001.
Business & Healthcare Leadership
Washington University in St. Louis – Olin Business School — Executive MBA, 2013.
Harvard Business School — Managing Health Care Delivery, 2015–2016.
Harvard Medical School & Levinson Institute — Leadership for Physician Executives, 2014.
American College of Surgeons — Surgeons as Leaders: Operating Room to Board Room, 2014.
Selected Advanced Professional Training
Lifestyle Medicine & Food as Medicine — American College of Lifestyle Medicine, 2025; Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery; Robotic Surgery; Hyperbaric Medicine & Wound Management; and Physician Leadership & Healthcare Management
Professional Experience
Current Leadership & Practice
ZAE Weight Wellness & Aesthetics
Founder & Medical Director | Chesterfield, Missouri | 2025–Present
Chesterfield Bariatric Surgery
Owner & Medical Director | St. Louis, Missouri | 2024–Present
Best Wound Clinic
Owner & Medical Director | Chesterfield, Missouri | 2025–Present
Chesterfield Clinical Research
Owner & Medical Director | Chesterfield, Missouri | 2026–Present
Current Clinical Appointments
Gateway Regional Medical Center | Granite City, Illinois
Robotic General & Bariatric Surgery • Wound Care • Telecritical Care
2026–Present
Mercy Hyperbaric & Wound Care | St. Louis, Missouri
Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine
2025–Present
St. Luke’s Hospital | Chesterfield, Missouri
Advanced Laparoscopic & Robotic General Surgery
2026–Present
SSM St. Joseph’s Hospital | St. Charles, Missouri
Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine
2026–Present
Mercy Hospitals | St. Louis, Missouri
Advanced Laparoscopic, Robotic General & Bariatric Surgery
2021–Present
Des Peres Square Surgery Center | St. Louis, Missouri
General Surgery
2025–Present
Previous Clinical Leadership
SSM Health | Centralia & Mt. Vernon, Illinois | 2015–2021 — Medical Director, Weight Management Services • General & Bariatric Surgery • Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine.
Southern Illinois Healthcare | Herrin, Illinois | 2011–2015 — General & Bariatric Surgery • Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine.
Surgical Training
Greenville Hospital System / University of South Carolina — Fellowship, Minimally Invasive & Bariatric Surgery | 2010–2011.
Louisiana State University, New Orleans — General Surgery Residency • Academic Chief Resident | 2007–2010.
Ryder Trauma Center / University of Miami — Fellowship, Trauma Surgical Critical Care | 2006–2007.
Jackson Memorial Hospital / University of Miami — General Surgery Residency | 2004–2006.
Board Certifications & Credentials
GENERAL SURGERY — American Board of Surgery.
SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE — American Board of Surgery.
METABOLIC & BARIATRIC SURGERY — American Board of Surgery, Focused Practice Designation.
Medical Licensure
Licensed to practice medicine in Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana and South Carolina, with additional international medical licensure.
Focused Practice Designation in Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.
Professional Credentials
FACS — Fellow, American College of Surgeons.
FASMBS — Fellow, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
ECFMG Certified.
Selected Awards & Honors
Distinguished Alumnus Award — Trivandrum Medical College Alumni Association | 2025.
Exceptional Service Recognition
Association of Kerala Medical Graduates, North America | 2024–2025
Recognition for service as President.
Academic Chief Resident – General Surgery
Louisiana State University | 2009–2010
Exceptional Performance Recognition
SSM Health | 2021
Recognized by senior leadership for exceptional performance and service above and beyond expectations.
Outstanding Intern of the Year
Jackson Memorial Hospital / University of Miami | 2004–2005
Additional Academic Honors
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
National Dean’s List | 2004
Academic & Teaching Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery — Ponce Health Sciences University, St. Louis | 2025–Present. Teaching and mentoring medical students in surgery and clinical medicine.
Clinical Assistant Professor — Southern Illinois University | 2014–2017. Clinical education of medical students and surgical residents.
Academic Chief Resident — Louisiana State University, New Orleans | 2009–2010. Teaching and organization of general surgery resident education.
Tutor – Problem-Based Learning — University of Adelaide Medical School, Australia | 1998–2001. Problem-based medical education for medical students.