VBD MAGAZINE'S COVER STORY: James “Butch” Rosser Jr., MD, FACS, and Mrs. Dana Rosser

AGAINST ALL ODDS

The Rossers on Faith, Medicine, and the Fight for Health Equity

James “Butch” Rosser Jr., MD, FACS, and Mrs. Dana Rosser

Few stories carry the weight of lived experience and the power to transform perspectives like that of James “Butch” Rosser Jr., MD, FACS, and his wife, Dana Rosser. He is a world-renowned laparoscopic surgeon and trailblazing innovator in the medical field. She is a bestselling author and passionate advocate who has given voice to the often-overlooked emotional journey of loving someone battling obesity. Together, the Rossers are transforming the national conversation around health equity, family healing, and what it means to truly care.

In an unforgettable interview with VBD Magazine, the Rossers welcomed us into their world with authenticity, humor, and heart. From the laughter that echoed throughout our Zoom conversation to the deeply moving truths they shared, the couple brought every moment to life with vulnerability and grace. Our discussion unfolded into a masterclass in courage, compassion, and conviction. Whether confronting systemic injustice, challenging cultural stigmas, or simply choosing to love deeply during adversity, this dynamic duo proves that healing is possible—and that love, anchored in truth and purpose, can indeed change the world.

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE

Dr. Rosser is far more than a globally respected surgeon. He’s a scholar, inventor, mentor, futurist, and—by his own definition—a “terminal twelve-year-old” who brings joy and childlike wonder into everything he does. Over his decades-long career, Dr. Rosser has served on the faculties of Yale University School of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Morehouse School of Medicine. Currently, he serves as Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and as Chief of Surgery and Director of the Center for the Advanced Treatment of Heartburn at Gila Regional Health Center in New Mexico.

His portfolio includes over 450 national and international lectures, 70+ peer-reviewed articles, 16 book chapters, and 11 digital books. He is the author of Playin’ to Win: A Surgeon, Scientist and Parent Examines the Upside of Video Games. His upcoming books—Top Gun Laparoscopic Skills and Suturing 2.0 and The Heartburn Chaperone—are expected to advance surgical education while offering fresh insights on gastrointestinal care.

A true media ambassador, Dr. Rosser has been featured in numerous documentaries and has made regular appearances on CNN, The Today Show, Fox News, and The Dr. Oz Show. He even earned an Emmy nomination in 2013 for his contributions to the show. He’s also hosted his own iHeart radio show and has been dubbed “the medical messenger” for his uncanny ability to translate complex topics into relatable, life-saving insights.

FROM INNOVATION TO EDUCATION

Born in Mississippi during the Jim Crow era, Dr. Rosser was one of the first three African Americans to graduate from the University of Mississippi and later attend its medical school. He helped establish the school’s first African American fraternity (Omega Psi Phi-Eta Zeta Chapter) and was inducted into its Hall of Fame.

Throughout his career, Dr. Rosser has prioritized expanding diversity in STEM and medicine. From leading MiniMed School experiences for high schoolers at the American College of Surgeons to launching the Drone STEM MiniMed Experience, his groundbreaking educational model—Stealth Learning—combines pop culture with pedagogy to make science more accessible and fun. Think cinema, video games, music, and drones—all used to empower the next generation.

Dr. Rosser’s advocacy doesn’t stop with students. He also established the Top Gun Surgical Squadron, an elite mentorship program that nurtures the next generation of surgical leaders—especially among underrepresented communities. With over 70 members and chapters in the U.S. and Canada, the squadron is guiding aspiring doctors from high school to residency.

Since 1990, Dr. Rosser has been a pioneering force in minimally invasive surgery, making his mark as a global leader in the field. He was among the first to perform and teach laparoscopic cholecystectomies, including on some of the youngest pediatric patients in the world at the time—ranging from just 15 to 19 months old. Dr. Rosser also broke new ground by performing laparoscopic removal of common bile duct stones and advancing inguinal hernia repairs using minimally invasive techniques. A trailblazer in gastrointestinal procedures, he was part of the early wave of surgeons to adopt these cutting-edge approaches.

Most recently, Dr. Rosser helped spearhead the Issues of Race, Diversity, and Inclusion lecture series at the Jacobs School of Medicine to spark essential conversations within the surgical field.

LIFELONG ADVOCACY

Dr. Rosser’s most personal crusade is against size discrimination—an issue he knows intimately. At one point in his life, he weighed 460 pounds and had a BMI of 56. The microaggressions and assumptions he faced during that time still fuel his advocacy.

“I’ve walked into rooms where people made assumptions before I ever said a word,” he shares. “Size discrimination is real, and it breaks people in ways we don’t talk about enough.”

His critically acclaimed TED Talk, Fat and Black in America, brought this issue into sharper focus, resonating with audiences and sparking necessary conversations around equity, dignity, and the need for systemic change. Dr. Rosser’s career now includes healing cultural mindsets and institutional practices, all while remaining a hands-on surgeon and mentor. “I want to be known as a healer—not just someone who cuts, but someone who restores.”

FROM SILENCE TO STRENGTH

Mrs. Rosser is a certified bariatric coach, a graduate of the University of Akron, and a nationally recognized speaker and author. She is a contributing author to Unbreakable Spirit: Rising Above the Impossible, curated by renowned motivational speaker Lisa Nichols. Her insightful writing has been featured in Today.com, Daily Mail, Southern Writers Magazine, Bariatric Today, and more—amplifying the often-unspoken experiences of those who love someone battling severe obesity.

A sought-after speaker, Mrs. Rosser has taken her message to national platforms such as The Dr. Oz Show, The Today Show, and Daily Mail TV. Her TEDx Talk, Obesity Through the Eyes of a Loved One, offered raw, heartfelt wisdom. She has also presented at prestigious gatherings including the National Medical Association, both regional and national conferences, the Harvard Patient Safety and Obesity Surgery Conference, and the American Academy of Family Physicians Conference—cementing her role as both an advocate and educator. She is also a member of The Orlando Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

 When Dana married Dr. Rosser on December 9, 1995, she stepped into a life filled with joy, shared values—and unspoken challenges. Loving a man battling obesity brought complexities that few people understood and even fewer acknowledged.

“When I met Butch, of course I noticed his weight—how could I not?” Mrs. Rosser reflects. “But what captivated me was his intelligence, his faith, and his incredible smile. We shared the same Christian values, we laughed constantly, and I saw the depth of his character. That’s what I fell in love with.” Still, not everyone was accepting. “People called me a gold digger. They couldn’t imagine someone genuinely loving a man that weighed 460 pounds. They assumed I was in it for fame or money because Butch was a successful laparoscopic surgeon. That really hurt my feelings.”

But it wasn’t just public judgment, Mrs. Rosser had to navigate. At home, she wrestled with overwhelming concern for her husband’s health and well-being. “He couldn’t walk long distances without sweating and experiencing pain. He couldn’t run around with our daughters. He snored loudly and would stop breathing in his sleep. I lived in fear. I’d nudge him through the night just to make sure he was still alive. I was exhausted—physically, emotionally, spiritually. I didn’t know how to process what I was feeling, much less say it out loud. I loved my husband, but I was drowning in emotions—fear, helplessness, guilt, even resentment.”

Her breakthrough came through truth-telling—first to herself, then to God, and finally to others. That journey birthed her powerful and transparent book, Thru Thick & Thin: Facing Obesity Thru the Eyes of a Loved One. The book—and its companion workbook—has become a resource for couples, support groups, and churches nationwide, offering guidance and validation to families caught in similar emotional storms.

“I wrote it for the quiet warriors,” Mrs. Rosser says. “The spouses, children, and caregivers in the background—praying, hurting, hoping. Everyone is affected. Obesity is a disease, and I don’t think people realize that.”

Today, Mrs. Rosser is a fierce voice for change, championing the need for dedicated support systems for families affected by obesity, something akin to Al-Anon, but focused on weight-related struggles. “There are millions of us out here with no roadmap, no community,” she says. “We need safe spaces where we can speak, heal, and learn how to truly support our loved ones. This silence is costing lives.”

THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND HEALING

The Rossers’ love story is as much about healing as it is about heart. They believe that language holds the power to either uplift or destroy.

“Fat is the new four-letter word,” Dr. Rosser states with conviction. “Language can either humanize or dehumanize. In medicine and in culture, we must move away from harmful labels like ‘morbid obesity’ and instead use respectful terms like ‘individuals of excess weight’ or ‘excess health conditions.’ It’s not about avoiding the truth—it’s about dignity.” 

Mrs. Rosser echoes this sentiment. “Don’t be the food police. Don’t reduce someone’s identity to a number on a scale. Most of all—don’t stop loving them because they struggle.” For her, love meant action—quiet, consistent, compassionate action. She turned to what she calls “stealthy healthy” cooking, substituting turkey for beef, lowering sodium levels in sauces, and gradually changing their family’s food habits without shame or resistance.

“Butch tried many diets, but after years of frustration, he chose gastric bypass surgery in 2001. He lost about 160 pounds,” Mrs. Rosser recalls. “The sleep apnea disappeared, his energy returned, and his confidence soared. But the struggle doesn’t vanish. Obesity is a lifelong battle. He still wrestles with making healthy choices, and I’m still walking beside him.”

Now, the couple walk, swim, and even parasail together—embracing wellness not as a destination, but as an ongoing, shared commitment. To those quietly supporting a loved one with severe obesity, Mrs. Rosser offers this heartfelt assurance, “You are not alone. There are millions of us. Your feelings matter. You deserve support too.”

GROUNDED IN GRACE

The Rosser family—now parents to five children and grandparents to two—makes their home in Orlando, Florida. Their deeply moving documentary More Than What We See gives voice to the emotional toll of obesity and the unseen strength of families enduring it.

For the Rossers, faith is the cornerstone. It’s the quiet strength behind every courageous step and every bold conversation. “I can’t depend on me,” Mrs. Rosser shares. “I need God. Every day. I have to quiet the noise to hear His voice. He’s the one who carries me through the storms.” That spiritual dependence shapes the rhythm of her life—from early morning devotionals and peaceful walks to time spent near the water and in creative spaces that feed her soul. “Quietness is healing,” she says simply.

Dr. Rosser is equally anchored in faith, and he credits his spiritual walk with shaping his identity not just as a surgeon, but as a healer. “Science can’t explain everything I’ve seen,” he says. “I’ve prayed with patients before surgery. I’ve watched the impossible become possible. Faith isn’t just something I profess—it’s how I serve.” His approach to medicine is holistic. “I’m not a hostage to Jesus,” he adds. “I’m a willing participant.” That distinction speaks volumes to the way he sees his work—an extension of divine purpose.

Through faith, the Rossers have turned pain into purpose, and purpose into power. “Your story isn’t a detour,” Mrs. Rosser says. “It’s the message. Whether you’re in a hospital, a classroom, or your own living room, your voice matters. Use it to change the narrative.”

Read more here: Subscribe to VBD Magazine's July 2025 Issue (Free)

Click & Visit:

Website:  http://www.facingobesity.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/FacingObesity

Photo Credit: Jay Hemphill Photography

Make up: Tiffany Hernandez 

Jewelry (Black outfit only): Kym Jackson @Urban Rocks

Nails: Van @SilverNails&Spa