WOS 2024 Spring Symposium

Embark on a transformative journey into the New Era of Anti-Obesity Medications. Discover the cutting-edge pharmaceutical advancements that are reshaping the landscape of obesity treatment. Learn about the powerful impact that anti-obesity medications and lifestyle interventions have on obesity and other chronic diseases. This session challenges previous treatment paradigms offering primary care and specialty healthcare providers with an expanded understanding of the evolving treatment of obesity.

Presenter Bio: Board certified in family medicine, Sports medicine, and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Principal investigator of numerous clinical trials assessing pharmacotherapies for obesity. Secretary and Founding Member of the San Diego Obesity Society. Medical Director and obesity medicine specialist at San Diego Sports Medicine Weight & Wellness. San Diego Magazines “Top Doctor” Award for Family Practice and Sports Medicine.

Most primary care providers ask “how can I add another disease to be treated to my already very busy schedule, especially one that is impacting so many of my patients?” This presentation will demonstrate through a case study how to integrate the treatment of obesity into primary care using evidence based guideline treatment.

Presenter Bio: Board certified family nurse practitioner who holds the Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine from the Obesity Medicine Association and the Specialist Certification of Obesity Professional Education from the World Obesity Federation. Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. 2023 America’s Top NP Award. Past president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Owner and obesity medicine specialist at NP Obesity Treatment Clinic in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Explore the crucial aspects of post-bariatric surgery care in this presentation. Delve into effective strategies for managing nutritional deficiencies and addressing challenges related to weight regain. Gain valuable insights to enhance patient outcomes and ensure comprehensive care and support post bariatric procedures.

Presenter Bio: Dr Saurabh is a board-certified general surgeon, and a fellowship trained bariatric surgeon. He is part of Swedish weight loss services in Seattle and Issaquah. He specializes in advanced laparoscopic, robotic, and endoscopic surgical techniques in general and bariatric surgery. He is involved in research related to bariatric surgery and has presented his results at various national conferences. He is part of several local and national committees related to American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). He is also board certified in Obesity Medicine. His practice focuses on medical and surgical treatment of obesity. He strives to provide excellent surgical care to his patients in a compassionate and respectful manner. He believes in shared decision making with his patients. He cherishes having a long-term association with his patients.

In this session, Christina and Sandra will demonstrate how to initiate an effective conversation using motivational interviewing to address patient concerns about bariatric surgery.

Speaker Bio – Christina Nelson, MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC: Christina is a masters trained board certified family nurse practitioner. She attended undergraduate at Washington State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and the University of Cincinnati for her masters degree in nursing. She practiced in primary care for the first four years of her career where she developed a passion for treating obesity as the root cause of many common and preventable diseases. She holds an advanced certification in obesity medicine from the obesity medicine association. Works at Overlake Bariatric and Metabolic Clinic in both the bariatric and medical weight loss clinics. She is the Chair of Washington Obesity Society Education and Events Committee.

Speaker Bio – Sandra Christensen MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC, FOMA, FAANP: Board certified family nurse practitioner who holds the Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine from the Obesity Medicine Association. Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Trustee of the Obesity Medicine Association and Trustee and Founding Member of the Washington Obesity Society. 2022 OMA Obesity Medicine Clinician of the Year. Owner and obesity medicine specialist at Integrative Medical Weight Management in Seattle, Washington.

We will look at the indications for joint replacement, the biases and barriers to patients with severe obesity receiving joint replacement surgery, the outcomes of joint replacement for patients with obesity, and how you can advocate for your patients.

Presenter Bio: Enrica Basilico, MD is the medical director of Obesity Medicine at Swedish Weight Loss Services. Dr Basilico is board certified in both obesity medicine and internal medicine. She graduated from NYU after completing her training in Primary Care in a program which focused heavily on doctor patient communication.
She has been a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine in 2018. Prior to this she was a primary care physician. In her practice she began treating her own patients for metabolic disease as well as providing consultation for patients in her group practice. She has been practicing obesity exclusively since 2020. She works with her patients to effectively address the strong forces that promote weight gain. Her evidence-based approach focuses on addressing the biological factors affecting a person’s metabolism, developing new sustainable habits, and creating plans that our tailored specifically to the individual.

She is a founding member and the treasurer for the Washington Obesity Society.

Speaker Bio: Michelle Rappaport, MD is board certified in obesity medicine and internal medicine. She trained at the University of Washington, completing a residency in internal medicine with a focus on primary care. She then practiced primary care in Seattle, where she developed a niche treating obesity in her patients and offered consultations to her colleagues’ patients as well. In February 2022, she transitioned to Swedish Weight Loss Services to devote her entire practice to obesity medicine. She works to ensure patients know she is an ally to help them navigate a chronic, complex, and unfairly stigmatized disease. She enjoys teaching residents and her medical community about the treatment of the disease of Obesity. She is a founding board member of WOS.Obesity medicine specialist at Swedish Weight Loss Services in Seattle, Washington

WOS President, Dr. Alexis David, will shine a light on the unique health needs of women with PCOS and obesity in her presentation – PCOS & Obesity: Bridging the Gap.

With 13 years in family medicine and 5 years in obesity medicine, Dr. David understands the challenges PCPs and obesity specialists face when treating women with PCOS and obesity.

Using real-world clinical scenarios and the latest science, she will build a bridge that takes you from where you are to better outcomes for your patients.

She will reveal:

• The relationship between PCOS & obesity
• The role of insulin resistance in PCOS
• How to diagnose PCOS without getting into the weeds
• Why early diagnosis & effective treatment improve current & future health

Speaker Bio: Board certified family medicine physician and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. President and Founding Member of the Washington Obesity Society. Owner and obesity medicine specialist at Premiere Medical Weight Management in Bellevue, Washington.

Primary care providers and obesity specialists face many challenges when managing their perimenopausal and menopausal patients. Weight gain, body composition changes, and emerging or worsening cardiometabolic risk factors affect women in the menopausal transition, even those who have maintained a healthy weight prior. If these issues are not managed successfully, obesity may develop or worsen.

Many clinicians struggle with how to manage peri-menopausal and menopausal women who are experiencing weight gain, body composition changes, and deteriorating health.

In addition to the time spent in the menopausal transition, many women spend 40% or more of their lives in a postmenopausal state, making it important for clinicians to understand this complex state. And as women enter their 60s and 70s, adiposity-related health issues emerge or worsen, yet are often not recognized or effectively addressed.

In this presentation you will learn about the health risks at various points of the menopausal state so that you can effectively intervene. This presentation will provide you with a roadmap of the entire spectrum of menopause and help you “connect the dots”to improve outcomes.

Speaker Bio: Jennifer L.D. Heuberger, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, MSCP is a Master’s trained and board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who has been in practice since 2004. Jenni grew up in Oregon and attended Oregon State University where she majored in History with a focus on the History of Medicine. She attended nursing school at Seattle University (BSN, 2001) and obtained her Master’s degree (MSN, 2004) as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Seattle University. Jenni has a keen interest in helping to make the quality of all women’s lives better through quality care, patient collaboration, health, and wellness. She has a specialty focus in Mid-Life and Menopausal health and is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She practices general gynecology, but has a keen focus in gyn dermatology, menopause, and contraception. Jenni is a member of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), is an affiliate member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), The Menopause Society, International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), and the Puget Sound Nurse Practitioners Association (PSNPA). Jenni is a Teacher-Proctor for Bayer Women’s Health Pharmaceuticals. IUD division. She also has served as a preceptor for multiple universities in the area. In July of 2022 after 14 years with Bellegrove OB-GYN, she left to join Drs. George Min, Daniel Levy, and Brian Sung at Newvue Medical in Bellevue. She helps anchor the second practice in the Newvue Medical Group: Newvue Dermatology, Aesthetics, and Wellness in Kirkland, Washington.

Speaker Bio – Sandra Christensen MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC, FOMA, FAANP: Board certified family nurse practitioner who holds the Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine from the Obesity Medicine Association. Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Trustee of the Obesity Medicine Association and Trustee and Founding Member of the Washington Obesity Society. 2022 OMA Obesity Medicine Clinician of the Year. Owner and obesity medicine specialist at Integrative Medical Weight Management in Seattle, Washington.

Embark on a transformative journey into the New Era of Anti-Obesity Medications. Discover the cutting-edge pharmaceutical advancements that are reshaping the landscape of obesity treatment. Learn about the powerful impact that anti-obesity medications and lifestyle interventions have on obesity and other chronic diseases. This session challenges previous treatment paradigms offering primary care and specialty healthcare providers with an expanded understanding of the evolving treatment of obesity.

Presenter Bio: Board certified in family medicine, Sports medicine, and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Principal investigator of numerous clinical trials assessing pharmacotherapies for obesity. Secretary and Founding Member of the San Diego Obesity Society. Medical Director and obesity medicine specialist at San Diego Sports Medicine Weight & Wellness. San Diego Magazines “Top Doctor” Award for Family Practice and Sports Medicine.

Most primary care providers ask “how can I add another disease to be treated to my already very busy schedule, especially one that is impacting so many of my patients?” This presentation will demonstrate through a case study how to integrate the treatment of obesity into primary care using evidence based guideline treatment.

Presenter Bio: Board certified family nurse practitioner who holds the Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine from the Obesity Medicine Association and the Specialist Certification of Obesity Professional Education from the World Obesity Federation. Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. 2023 America’s Top NP Award. Past president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Owner and obesity medicine specialist at NP Obesity Treatment Clinic in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Explore the crucial aspects of post-bariatric surgery care in this presentation. Delve into effective strategies for managing nutritional deficiencies and addressing challenges related to weight regain. Gain valuable insights to enhance patient outcomes and ensure comprehensive care and support post bariatric procedures.

Presenter Bio: Dr Saurabh is a board-certified general surgeon, and a fellowship trained bariatric surgeon. He is part of Swedish weight loss services in Seattle and Issaquah. He specializes in advanced laparoscopic, robotic, and endoscopic surgical techniques in general and bariatric surgery. He is involved in research related to bariatric surgery and has presented his results at various national conferences. He is part of several local and national committees related to American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). He is also board certified in Obesity Medicine. His practice focuses on medical and surgical treatment of obesity. He strives to provide excellent surgical care to his patients in a compassionate and respectful manner. He believes in shared decision making with his patients. He cherishes having a long-term association with his patients.

Primary care providers and obesity specialists face many challenges when managing their perimenopausal and menopausal patients. Weight gain, body composition changes, and emerging or worsening cardiometabolic risk factors affect women in the menopausal transition, even those who have maintained a healthy weight prior. If these issues are not managed successfully, obesity may develop or worsen. Many clinicians struggle with how to manage peri-menopausal and menopausal women who are experiencing weight gain, body composition changes, and deteriorating health. In addition to the time spent in the menopausal transition, many women spend 40% or more of their lives in a postmenopausal state, making it important for clinicians to understand this complex state. And as women enter their 60s and 70s, adiposity-related health issues emerge or worsen, yet are often not recognized or effectively addressed. In this presentation you will learn about the health risks at various points of the menopausal state so that you can effectively intervene. This presentation will provide you with a roadmap of the entire spectrum of menopause and help you “connect the dots” to improve outcomes.

Speaker Bio – Sandra Christensen MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC, FOMA, FAANP: Board certified family nurse practitioner who holds the Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine from the Obesity Medicine Association. Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Trustee of the Obesity Medicine Association and Trustee and Founding Member of the Washington Obesity Society. 2022 OMA Obesity Medicine Clinician of the Year. Owner and obesity medicine specialist at Integrative Medical Weight Management in Seattle, Washington.

We will look at the indications for joint replacement, the biases and barriers to patients with severe obesity receiving joint replacement surgery, the outcomes of joint replacement for patients with obesity, and how you can advocate for your patients.

Presenter Bio: Enrica Basilico, MD is the medical director of Obesity Medicine at Swedish Weight Loss Services. Dr Basilico is board certified in both obesity medicine and internal medicine. She graduated from NYU after completing her training in Primary Care in a program which focused heavily on doctor patient communication.
She has been a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine in 2018. Prior to this she was a primary care physician. In her practice she began treating her own patients for metabolic disease as well as providing consultation for patients in her group practice. She has been practicing obesity exclusively since 2020. She works with her patients to effectively address the strong forces that promote weight gain. Her evidence-based approach focuses on addressing the biological factors affecting a person’s metabolism, developing new sustainable habits, and creating plans that our tailored specifically to the individual.

She is a founding member and the treasurer for the Washington Obesity Society.

Speaker Bio: Michelle Rappaport, MD is board certified in obesity medicine and internal medicine. She trained at the University of Washington, completing a residency in internal medicine with a focus on primary care. She then practiced primary care in Seattle, where she developed a niche treating obesity in her patients and offered consultations to her colleagues’ patients as well. In February 2022, she transitioned to Swedish Weight Loss Services to devote her entire practice to obesity medicine. She works to ensure patients know she is an ally to help them navigate a chronic, complex, and unfairly stigmatized disease. She enjoys teaching residents and her medical community about the treatment of the disease of Obesity. She is a founding board member of WOS.Obesity medicine specialist at Swedish Weight Loss Services in Seattle, Washington

Speaker Bio: Board certified family medicine physician and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. President and Founding Member of the Washington Obesity Society. Owner and obesity medicine specialist at Premiere Medical Weight Management in Bellevue, Washington.

Primary care providers and obesity specialists face many challenges when managing their perimenopausal and menopausal patients. Weight gain, body composition changes, and emerging or worsening cardiometabolic risk factors affect women in the menopausal transition, even those who have maintained a healthy weight prior. If these issues are not managed successfully, obesity may develop or worsen.

Many clinicians struggle with how to manage peri-menopausal and menopausal women who are experiencing weight gain, body composition changes, and deteriorating health.

In addition to the time spent in the menopausal transition, many women spend 40% or more of their lives in a postmenopausal state, making it important for clinicians to understand this complex state. And as women enter their 60s and 70s, adiposity-related health issues emerge or worsen, yet are often not recognized or effectively addressed.

In this presentation you will learn about the health risks at various points of the menopausal state so that you can effectively intervene. This presentation will provide you with a roadmap of the entire spectrum of menopause and help you “connect the dots”to improve outcomes.

Speaker Bio: Jennifer L.D. Heuberger, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, MSCP is a Master’s trained and board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who has been in practice since 2004. Jenni grew up in Oregon and attended Oregon State University where she majored in History with a focus on the History of Medicine. She attended nursing school at Seattle University (BSN, 2001) and obtained her Master’s degree (MSN, 2004) as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Seattle University. Jenni has a keen interest in helping to make the quality of all women’s lives better through quality care, patient collaboration, health, and wellness. She has a specialty focus in Mid-Life and Menopausal health and is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She practices general gynecology, but has a keen focus in gyn dermatology, menopause, and contraception. Jenni is a member of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), is an affiliate member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), The Menopause Society, International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), and the Puget Sound Nurse Practitioners Association (PSNPA). Jenni is a Teacher-Proctor for Bayer Women’s Health Pharmaceuticals. IUD division. She also has served as a preceptor for multiple universities in the area. In July of 2022 after 14 years with Bellegrove OB-GYN, she left to join Drs. George Min, Daniel Levy, and Brian Sung at Newvue Medical in Bellevue. She helps anchor the second practice in the Newvue Medical Group: Newvue Dermatology, Aesthetics, and Wellness in Kirkland, Washington.

Speaker Bio – Sandra Christensen MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC, FOMA, FAANP: Board certified family nurse practitioner who holds the Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine from the Obesity Medicine Association. Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Trustee of the Obesity Medicine Association and Trustee and Founding Member of the Washington Obesity Society. 2022 OMA Obesity Medicine Clinician of the Year. Owner and obesity medicine specialist at Integrative Medical Weight Management in Seattle, Washington.