FELLOW SPOTLIGHT
"I loved that the Weill Cornell Obesity Medicine Fellowship gave me a full clinical immersion experience. Learning from the experts and treating this patient population everyday allowed me to become adept at counseling patients on different diets and at prescribing various pharmacotherapy regimens."
"This is a field that requires passion and sensitivity. As patients lose and gain weight, one may become frustrated, but we must remember that patients view us as a counselor probably more than a health care provider and look to us to for empathy as well as knowledge. This field is also relatively new, so there are many opportunities for research and innovation.
"My interest in obesity medicine grew during residency from seeing a large proportion of patients in my primary care clinic as well as in the in-patient services with obesity, and many of the obesity-related comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, osteoarthritis, etc. I often felt that we were band-aiding their problems, instead of addressing the root cause which was their increase in weight. As a trainee, I felt completely inept in giving dietary advice or offering medical treatments to patients with obesity. There was very limited training on how to counsel patients on lifestyle interventions, and no training in obesity treatment both during medical school and Internal Medicine residency. So I decided that additional training in obesity medicine would be imperative to care for my patient population and did a fellowship in Medical Weight Management and Nutrition at Boston University."
"Fellowship gave me the education and clinical experience I needed to be able to provide the best possible treatment for patients with obesity. It has also distinguished me from primary care physicians who practice medical weight loss and physicians with only ABOM certification."
"Fellowship training gives you a higher level of expertise in obesity medicine. I would recommend it highly for those who are looking to distinguish themselves as experts in the field."
Current and Former Obesity Medicine Fellows
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer: Primary Care Physician, Baystate Medical Practices Wilbraham Adult Medicine
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer: Physician, Nutrition and Weight Management, Geisinger Medical Center
njbressler@geisinger.edu
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center
Primary Board Certification:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2020-21)
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Pediatrics
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Program Director, Obesity & Nutrition Fellowship Program at Geisinger Medical Center
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Geisinger Medical Center
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Obesity Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Assistant Professor of Surgery and Medicine; Director Medical Weight Management Program; Fellowship Director, Clinical Obesity Medicine Fellowship; Clinical and Education lead, Comprehensive Program for Obesity, NYU Langone Health
hollylofton@gmail.com
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Gastroenterology
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Gastroenterologist, Bethlehem, PA
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Physician, Diabetic & Metabolic Wellness Center, New Braunfels, TX
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Obesity Medicine and Physician Nutrition Specialist
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Metabolic Medicine Center, Morristown, NJ
viproudan5@gmail.com
Residency: Med-Peds
Primary Board Certification: Medicine and Pediatrics
Current Employment: Fellow: 2021-22
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Obesity Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Medical Director for bariatric and weight management center for Edward Health Ventures, Edward-Elmhurst Hospital System in Illinois.
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center
Primary Board Certification:
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center
Primary Board Certification:
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Obesity Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Specialist, Intellihealth/Flyte
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kajal-zalavadia-md/
Fellowship Training Institution: Geisinger Medical Center, Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Physician, AHN Comprehensive Weight Management Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Sr. Medical Advisor, Obesity Product Development at Eli Lilly and Company
Primary board: Family Medicine
Residency: University of Chicago (NorthShore)
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Undergraduate: Emory University
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-ahn-11502679/
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer:
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Specialist, Associate Director, Obesity Medicine Fellowship Program, Cleveland Clinic
Primary Board Certification: Pediatrics
Secondary Board Certification: Internal medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School
fstanford@mgh.harvard.edu
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2020-21)
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Director, University of North Caroline Medical Weight Clinic
Primary Board Certification: Pediatrics
Secondary Board Certification: Pediatric endocrinology
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer: Instructor, Harvard Medical School; Attending in the division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Assistant in Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children
smalhotra1@mgh.harvard.edu
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2021-22)
Primary Board Certification: Pediatrics
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Physician/Adolescent Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
Primary Board Certification: Med-Peds
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Program Director, Obesity Medicine Fellowship Program; Associate Professor, Medicine, Pediatrics, & Surgery; Medical Director, Vanderbilt Obesity Medicine; Co-Director, Vanderbilt Weight Loss Center
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer: Staff Physician Assistant Medical Director, Global Education and Care; Weight Management and Clinical Nutrition Specialist-Joslin Diabetes Center; Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Founder & Medical Director, NUMEO Medical
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (Fellowship: Stanford Medical Center)
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Medical director of weight management and metabolic health clinic, Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
katayounl@hotmail.com
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Physician, Boston Medical Center
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer: Assistant Professor, Division of Nutrition, Dept. of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
pornpoj.pra@mahidol.edu
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Director, Obesity Medicine Fellowship, University of Utah
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
ABOM Diplomate: No
Current Position & Employer: Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Division of Endocrinology; University of Tennessee Methodist Physicians Multi Specialty Practice, Memphis, TN and CNS Healthcare, Memphis, TN
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Bariatric Medicine Physician at West LA Comprehensive Bariatric Center and Primary Care Physician at Southern California Kaiser Permanente
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (021-22)
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Program Director, Obesity Medicine and Nutrition Fellowship at Boston Medical Center
Primary Board: Internal Medicine
Residency: McGill University
Medical School: Taibah University
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Director of Medical Weight Management at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer:
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer:
- Primary Board: General Surgery
- Fellowship: UCSF in Transplant Surgery
- Residency: Johns Hopkins
- Medical School: University of Michigan
- Undergrad: University of Michigan
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/babak-orandi-238206157/
Fellowship Training Institution: Weill Cornell Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2021-22)
Fellowship Training Institution: Weill Cornell Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer:
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Undergrad: Dartmouth College
Med school: Weill Cornell Medical College
Residency: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical College
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Clinical Assistant Prof. of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine; Co-Founder, Intellihealth, Inc./Flyte Medical, PC.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-saunders-md-711a8122/
Primary Board: Internal Medicine
Residency: Temple University Hospital
Medical School: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
Undergrad: Cornell University
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-schmitz-315242245/
Fellowship Training Institution: Weill Cornell Medicine, Obesity Medicine & GI
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Gastroenterology
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Fellow
Fellowship Training Institution: Weill Cornell Medicine
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2020-21)
Fellowship Training Institution: Weill Cornell Medicine, Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine
Fellowship Training Institution: Weill Cornell Medicine, Obesity Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Medical Director, Medical Weight Loss at Hartford HealthCare Medical Group
Fellowship Training Institution: Weill Cornell Medicine
Primary Board Certification: Pediatrics
Secondary Board Certification: Pediatric Endocrinology
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2021-22)
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Texas McGovern Medical School
Primary Board Certification: Family Medicine
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, Clinical Obesity Medicine & Metabolism
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Obesity Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Physician, Abrazo Medical Group
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Texas McGovern Medical School
Primary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thuyvan-hoang-a52894197/
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, Clinical Obesity Medicine & Metabolism
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Texas McGovern Medical School
Primary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, Clinical Obesity Medicine & Metabolism
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer:
Fellowship Training Institution: New York University Langone Health
Primary Board Certification: Family Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Lifestyle Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2021-22)
Fellowship Training Institution: New York University Langone Health
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Nephrology fellow at Penn Medicine
Fellowship Training Institution: New York University Langone Health
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Fellowship Training Institution: New York University Langone Health
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2020-21)
- Primary Board certification- Internal Medicine
- Residency- Griffin Hospital, Derby, CT in Internal Medicine and Chief Year Internal Medicine at Griffin Hospital
- Medical School: Nishtar Medical University, Multan, Pakistan
- Undergrad: Government Degree College for Women, Multan, Pakistan
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/aisha-khan-59abb8a8/
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2020-22
Fellowship Training Institution: Wake Forest Baptist Health
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Obesity Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Physician, Wake Forest Weight Management Center
mmocock@wakehealth.edu
Fellowship Training Institution: Wake Forest Baptist Health
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2021-22
Fellowship Training Institution: Wake Forest Baptist Health
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Endocrinology
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Specialist and Endocrinologist, Pinehurst Medical Clinic
Fellowship Training Institution: Wake Forest Baptist Health
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
ABOM Diplomate: Yes
Current Position & Employer: Duke Primary Care North Hills, Raleigh, NC
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital
Primary Board Certification: General Pediatrics
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2021-22
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital
Primary Board Certification:
Secondary Board Certification:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2021-22
Fellowship Training Institution: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2021-22
- Primary Board: Internal Medicine
- Residency: University at Buffalo- Catholic Health/Sisters
- Med School: King Saud University
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/firghom
Fellowship Training Institution: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Current Position & Employer: Obesity Medicine Specialist, Vanderbilt University
Undergrad: Miami University (Ohio)
Medical School: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Current Position & Employer: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nakuljbhardwaj/
Primary Board: Internal Medicine
Residency: Johns Hopkins Bayview
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Undergrad: University of Virginia
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacey-chae-md-52b699246/
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Primary Board Certification: Family Medicine
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2021-22
Primary Board: Family Medicine
Residency: UPMC St. Margaret Family Medicine Residency Program
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Undergrad: Carnegie Mellon University
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/john-taormina-843985244
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Primary Board Certification: Preventive Medicine
Secondary Board Certification: Lifestyle Medicine
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2020-21
Primary Board Certification: Pediatrics
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2021-22
Primary Board Certification: Family Medicine
Residency: Family Medicine at Rush
Medical school: American University of the Caribbean
Undergrad: University of Nevada Las Vegas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-azmat-6474ba1b0?original_referer=
Fellowship Training Institution: MetroHealth System
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Secondary Board Certification:
ABOM Diplomate:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow (2021-22)
Primary Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2021-22
Fellowship Training Institution: University of Toronto Sinai Health
Primary Board Certification: Ob/Gyn
Secondary Board Certification:
Current Position & Employer: Fellow 2021-22
- Primary Board: Preventive Medicine
- Secondary Board: Lifestyle Medicine
- Residency: University of California, San Diego
- Medical School: University of New Mexico
- Undergrad: Texas Tech University
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-s-79062923
Primary Board: Family Medicine
Residency: Firelands Regional Medical Center
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergrad: Ohio State University
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austensmithdo/