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JANUARY 16-17, 2025

OBESITY SUMMIT 2025

foxwoods resort, mashantucket, ct

GUEST SPEAKERS LIST

Attendees and presenters include prominent bariatric surgeons, as well as specialists in obesity medicine, psychology/psychiatry, nutrition, and numerous other specialties that care for patients with obesity. This conference is also geared toward bariatric surgeons, obesity medicine physicians, bariatric coordinators, nurses, advanced practice providers, primary care providers, medical students, and resident physicians. We’ll enjoy two days of groundbreaking and thought-provoking presentations.

David Allison, PhD

Bubu Banini, MD, PhD

Mary Burbank, RD, CDN

Neil Floch, MD

Chris Gallagher, President, Potomac Currents, LLC

Saber Ghiassi, MD, MPH, FACS, FASMBS

Rachel Goldman, Ph.D., FTOS, FASMBS-IH

Lynn Guibbory, RD

James Healy, MD

Matthew Hornick, MD

Priya Jaisinghani, MD

John Morton, MD, MPH, MHA, BS, FACS, FASMBS

Joe Nadglowski, Pres. & CEO Obesity Action Coalition

Abdelrahman Nimeri, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Ann Rogers, MD

Jennifer Schwartz, MD

Kittie Spedding, RD

Beverly Tchang, MD, DABOM

J. Graham Thomas, PhD

Darren Tishler, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Devika Umashanker, MD

Jennifer Vinci, MS, RDN, IBCLC

Jessica Williams, MD

SEE SPEAKER BIOS
LEARN ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
DR. DAVID ALLISON, PhD

David B. Allison, Ph.D., is Dean, Distinguished Professor, and Provost Professor at Indiana University–Bloomington School of Public Health. Continuously NIH-funded as a PI for over 25 years, he has authored or co-authored more than 700 scientific publications.

Awards include the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (2006); the Friends of Albert (Mickey) Stunkard Lifetime Achievement Award  (The Obesity Society, 2021); and the Harry V. Roberts Statistical Advocate of the Year Award (American Statistical Association, 2018). In 2022 he was named a Distinguished Lecturer by Sigma Xi, and received the Hoebel Prize for Creativity (Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior). He received the 2023 Bodil M. Schmidt-Nielsen Distinguished Mentor and Scientist Award (American Physiological Society). In 2023, he was elected as a Fellow of Sigma Xi the Scientific Honor Society, elected as member of the International Statistical Institute, and elected and inducted into the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research, the first global non-profit group focused on accelerating breakthroughs in the expansion of the human health span. In 2024, Dr. Allison was elected as a member of Cosmos Club, recognized for his accomplishments by Hofstra University with an Alumni Award, and elected to be Sigma Xi’s incoming president elect (2025-2028). Elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2012, he also serves as co-chair of the National Academy of Sciences’ Strategic Council on Research Excellence, Integrity and Trust. Dr. Allison is a staunch advocate for rigor in research methods and the uncompromisingly truthful communication of research findings.

SPEAKER BIOS

*Bios are being added as they are received…

Bubu Banini MD, PhD

Bubu Banini MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Digestive Diseases at Yale School of Medicine, where she also serves as the Translational Research Director of the Metabolic Health and Weight Management Program. Dr. Banini has board certifications in Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology and Obesity Medicine. Her clinical and translational research in obesity, liver disease, and sex and racial disparities in the context of alcohol-associated and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease have been funded by various National Institutes of Health agencies including NIAAA, ORWH, NCI and NIDDK. Dr. Banini is a co-director of the Yale Obesity Symposium.

Mary Burbank, RD, CDN

Mary Burbank is a registered dietitian at Middlesex Hospital’s Center for Medical and Surgical Weight Loss in Middletown, CT. She has 10 years of experience as a dietitian, primarily focusing on disordered eating and obesity. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and completed her dietetic internship at Keene State College in 2014. She is an avid skier, mountain biker, and sewist. 

Neil Floch, MD, FACS, DABOM

Neil Floch, MD, FACS, DABOM, is a Yale School of Medicine Associate Professor in the Division of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery and Director of Bariatric Surgery at Greenwich Hospital. Dr. Floch specializes in bariatric, anti-reflux/GERD, and minimally invasive surgeries including gallbladder and hernia surgery. He has performed thousands of gastric sleeve, gastric bypass surgeries, and also laparoscopic anti-reflux and hiatal hernias procedures. Dr. Floch is board certified in surgery and obesity medicine. He is the top influencer of obesity and bariatric surgery on Twitter/X and respected on social media outlets.

He is highly regarded among his surgical colleagues in the academic surgical community for his dedication to his patients and for taking on complex procedures. Dr. Floch continues to present at both national and international conferences. He is quoted in many nationwide publications and news outlets. He lectures about social media and communications in obesity, medicine, and surgery. He has published books, chapters, and papers on reflux surgery, obesity, bariatric surgery, communications, and the microbiome.    

Dr. Floch served as the president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS). He and his brother Craig Floch funded the start of the Connecticut ASMBS chapter. He served on the National Board of the ASMBS Foundation.  He is passionate about patient advocacy and has worked with the Connecticut legislature to develop and support a bill to increase access for obesity surgery care.

He graduated from Tufts University, Boston University School of Medicine, and finished his residency at Beth Israel Medical Center. He completed his fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery at The Mayo Clinic. He has also received advanced laparoscopic training in the performance of the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, laparoscopic hernia and bowel surgery,  laparoscopic Paraoesophageal hernia repair and laparoscopic Heller myotomy.

Christopher Gallagher, Potomac Currents LLC President

Christopher is the President of Potomac Currents and manages a wide array of health care issues — working closely with Federal agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Food & Drug Administration. Christopher also directs Potomac Currents’ client advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill – consistently engaging legislators and their staff on key congressional health care committees. More often, he prefers developing and honing the advocacy skills of the members of his client organizations – helping them help themselves to build strong relationships with their elected representatives.

Since 2007, Christopher has focused the advocacy efforts of Potomac Currents on speaking on behalf of the obesity community, where he continues to serve as public policy consultant to the Obesity Action Coalition, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Obesity Medicine Association and The Obesity Society.

Saber Ghiassi, MD, MPH, FACS, FASMBS

Saber Ghiassi, MD, MPH, is a Board Certified Surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive, robotic, and bariatric surgery. He has extensive experience in treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome, and he serves as the Site Director for Bariatric Surgery at Bridgeport Hospital. He is dedicated to caring for his patients through a holistic approach to health and well-being.

Dr. Ghiassi completed his general surgery training at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where he served as the administrative chief resident and was awarded the prestigious Alfred H. Aufses, Sr. Award in Surgery. He completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he conducted research on how bariatric surgery can dramatically reduce lifelong costs for those with diabetes and hypertension.

Dr. Ghiassi specializes in all aspects of minimally invasive surgery including robotic surgery, laparoscopic bariatric surgery (gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric band, bariatric revision surgery); laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease; laparoscopic paraesophageal and diaphragmatic hernia repair; laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia; laparoscopic colon surgery for cancer, diverticulosis and diverticulitis; laparoscopic splenectomy; laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones and gallbladder disease; and laparoscopic repair of incisional and inguinal hernias.

Rachel L. Goldman, PhD, FTOS, FASMBS-IH

Rachel L. Goldman, PhD, FTOS, FASMBS-IH (aka Dr. Rachel) is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, speaker and media contributor who takes a holistic approach to health. She specializes in the mind-body connection, including stress reduction, disordered eating behaviors, health behavior change, and the treatment of obesity. 

She is also Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and has a private practice in NYC where she utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy to assist in behavioral changes that will promote healthier and happier lives.  

Dr. Rachel is passionate about helping people build their own personal mental health toolbox to help them live happier and healthier lives. She is a CBT expert and is often seen in media, including on-camera and sharing the stage with Oprah. She was a consultant for the film, The Whale and is often quoted and mentioned in many major online and print publications, including The New York Times, TIME magazine, CNN, USA Today, and Women’s Health. She is on the Wellness Board of Verywell and is a reviewer for peer-reviewed academic journals.

Dr. Rachel previously served on the IH Executive Council of ASMBS and was also the recipient of the ASMBS 2023 distinguished Behavioral Health Provider Award.

Lynn Guibbory, RD, CDN

Lynn Guibbory, RD, CDN works as a clinical dietitian with Yale New Haven Hospital’s bariatric surgery program and has almost 4 years of experience working exclusively with pre-operative and post-operative bariatric patients. Lynn completed a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences and B.A. in Psychological Sciences from University of Connecticut and completed her dietetic internship with Yale New Haven Hospital. Lynn is currently working towards her M.S. in Nutrition from University of Saint Joseph including recent courses in Nutrition & Gastrointestinal Tract and Clinical Sports Nutrition.

James Healy, MD, MHS, FACS

James Healy, MD, MHS, FACS is a pediatric surgeon at Connecticut Children’s who specializes in pediatric Metabolic and Bariatric surgery and robotic surgery.  CT Children’s is one of very few MBSAQIP accredited pediatric-only centers nationally.  He is currently serving as VP of the CT Chapter of ASMBS and also serves on the American Pediatric Surgical Association Bariatric Surgery committee. 

Matthew Hornick, MD

Matthew Hornick, MD is a pediatric surgeon who treats a broad array of conditions in patients ranging in age from newborns to young adults. He feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to treat surgical problems in children, and as a father of two boys, understands that there is nothing more important to parents than their kids’ health and well-being. His primary goal is to provide his patients with the same level of care that he would want and expect for his own children.

Dr. Hornick earned his medical degree at Yale and completed his General Surgery training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. As a research fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, he contributed to the development of an “artificial placenta” model to support extremely premature babies. Following residency, he completed clinical fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

John Morton, MD, MPH, MHA, BS, FACS, FASMBS

Dr. John Morton is the System Lead for Surgical Quality and Bariatric Services in the Yale New Haven Health System of 6 hospitals and Vice-Chair for Quality, Division Chief for Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery and Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Yale School of Medicine. He served as Chief of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Clinic Chief for the Bariatric and Metabolic Inter-Disciplinary Clinic and Director of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine from 2003-2019.

Dr. Morton received undergraduate, Masters in Public Health, and Medical Doctor Degrees from Tulane University and a Masters in Health Administration from University of Washington. He was the first surgical resident to receive a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar Fellowship in the program’s history at University of Washington and also completed an advanced laparoscopic surgery fellowship at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He served on Capitol Hill as Senator Bill Frist’s Health Policy Intern. He is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Obesity Medicine and certified in Medical Quality by the American College of Medical Quality.

He has published over 173 articles and 21 book chapters with over 300 national and international presentations. He led 5 site FDA Pivotal Trials and has received funding from National Institutes of Health and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. He has served as editor of five books: Quality in Obesity Treatment, Morbid Obesity: Perioperative Management, The ASMBS Textbook of Bariatric Surgery, 1st and 2nd editions and SAGES Handbook on Quality, Patient Safety and Outcomes. Furthermore, he is Clinical Editor for Bariatric Times (12,000 readership) and serves on 11 editorial boards including Obesity Surgery, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, American College of Surgeons Case Studies in Surgery, and World Journal of Gastroenterology. His research efforts have been recognized by 28 research awards from 5 different surgical societies. As a teacher, Dr. Morton has received 5 teaching awards at Stanford in 8 years including the 2008 Arthur Bloomfield Clinical Teacher of the Year & 2011 Henry J. Kaiser Teaching Award.

Dr. Morton has the unique distinction of having served as Surgical Quality Director for two Top 20 US News & World Report Honor Roll Hospitals. He is the inaugural national Chair of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a collaboration for 800 hospitals between the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. He has overseen 3 national standards, establishment of the clinical registry, and 3 national quality improvement projects within MBSAQIP. From 2014-18, the Stanford Bariatric Surgery program was noted to be Exemplary in five different categories by MBSAQIP.

From 2014-5, he served as elected President of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) composed of over 4000 members from 52 countries. In 2017, he received the highest honor accorded to a bariatric surgeon with the ASMBS Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement and in 2019 received the Walter Pories Award. With over 3500 bariatric surgeries performed, he has been recognized as a bariatric surgery leader by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, RAND, American College of Surgeons, Who’s Who and America’s Top Surgeons. His clinical skills have been recognized as being named Castle Connolly’s Physician of the Year for Clinical Excellence in 2012. Dr. Morton also founded the first obesity related Political Action Committee, Obesity PAC on behalf of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and Chair of the National Obesity Collaborative Care Summit for 35 Different Medical Societies.

Joe Nadglowski, President & CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition

Joe Nadglowski is President & CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) – a nonprofit organization formed in 2005 dedicated to elevating and empowering individuals affected by obesity through education, advocacy and support. A frequent speaker and author, Mr. Nadglowski is especially passionate about access to obesity treatments, tackling weight bias and sharing his own experiences with obesity. He has more than 25 years of experience working in patient advocacy, public policy and education and is a graduate of the University of Florida.

Dr. Abdelrahman Nimeri, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Dr Nimeri is the director of Bariatric Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Prior to coming to Boston, he was an Associate Professor of Surgery at Wake Forest University school of medicine, section chief of Bariatric surgery, director of Atrium Health Weight Management and the bariatric fellowship program director at Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health in Charlotte NC from 2018-2023.

Dr Nimeri serves as the secretary/treasurer for International Federation for Surgery for Obesity (IFSO) since 2019, he serves as the co-chair of the IFSO ethics committee since 2019 and served as vice-chair (2019-2021) & chair of the IFSO communication committee for two consecutive terms 2013-2019. He is an associate editor for the Obesity Surgery journal and past President of the IFSO MENA chapter (Middle East & North Africa Chapter of the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity) and past president of the Pan Arab Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (PASMBS). Dr Nimeri serves as the co-chair of the ASMBS communication since 2024 and serves on the clinical issues and Diversity & inclusion and research committees of ASMBS.

Dr Nimeri has more than 100 publications in peer reviewed journal and more than 10 book chapters and has delivered more than 200 national and international presentations.

Dr Nimeri is a graduate of Al Azhar university school of Medicine and finished his general surgery residency training at Huron hospital Cleveland Clinic Health System in Cleveland Ohio in 2004 and his fellowship in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis Missouri in 2005. He completed a surgical leadership program at Harvard Medical School.

Dr Nimeri has interests in Bariatric Surgery, Surgical Education and Surgical Quality.

Ann Rogers, MD FACS DABS-FPMBS

Dr. Rogers is the Director of the Penn State Health Surgical Weight Loss Programs. She is a Professor of Surgery at the Penn State College of Medicine and is the Vice Chair for Leadership and Professional Development in the Department of Surgery at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. She is the current president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the ASMBS, known as PSBS. She has published and presented nationally and internationally on metabolic and bariatric surgery. She is the current President of the ASMBS.

Jennifer S. Schwartz, MD, MBOE, FACS

Jennifer S. Schwartz, MD, MBOE, FACS, is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Schwartz earned her B.S. from Vanderbilt University and M.D. from SUNY Upstate Medical University. She then completed her general surgical residency and minimally invasive surgical fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

As faculty, Dr. Schwartz was instrumental in the development of the robotic surgery program at The Ohio State University- East Campus, now one of the busiest academic robotic general surgery programs in the nation. Additionally, with a focus in operations efficiency, she then earned her Master’s of Business Operational Excellence (MBOE) at Ohio State University. Dr. Schwartz was subsequently recruited to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she developed a busy clinical practice at Howard County General Hospital and was an active lecturer in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She was also a finalist for the Johns Hopkins Department of Surgery Halsted faculty teaching award for her efforts in education.

Dr. Schwartz’s clinical interests includes hernia repair including abdominal wall reconstruction, as well as medical and surgical management of reflux and obesity. Her research interests include robotic surgery and medical student and resident education. Dr. Schwartz is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is a member of several other professional societies including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Kittie Spedding, MS, RD, CSOWM, CD-N

Kittie has been a practicing registered dietitian for over 20 years, spending the last 12 years in obesity medicine. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degree at the University of Connecticut. Kittie also maintains a board certification as a Certified Specialist in Obesity Weight Management since 2020. Prior to her work in obesity she spent time as a retail dietitian, Health and Nutrition Manager and outpatient dietitian. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Beverly Tchang, MD, DABOM

Beverly Tchang, MD is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell in New York. Dr. Tchang graduated from SUNY Downstate Medical College and completed her residency and fellowships at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell and Columbia University.

She is triple board-certified in internal medicine, endocrinology, and obesity medicine. She is the Co-Program Director of Cornell’s obesity medicine fellowship and President of the non-profit organization Tri-state Obesity Society, She founded the consulting agency Weightless Consulting, with the mission of educating stakeholders in today’s health economy.

Connect with her on X @BevTchangMD and LinkedIn.

J. Graham Thomas, PhD

J. Graham Thomas, PhD, is a Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Brown Alpert Medical School and Associate Director of the Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center of The Miriam Hospital.

His background is in clinical psychology with an emphasis in behavioral medicine. His research is focused on the use of digital health technology, engineering-inspired research methods, and advanced analytics to better understand and improve health behaviors, particularly those related to obesity.

Dr. Thomas has been awarded grants from the NIH and others to use a variety of mobile and online technologies for these purposes, including smartphones, virtual reality, and mobile sensors.

Darren Tishler, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Dr. Darren Tishler currently serves as the Chief of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Hartford Hospital and the System Director for Medical and Surgical Weight Loss at Hartford HealthCare. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and is active in surgery resident and student education.

Dr. Tishler graduated with an undergraduate degree in Neurobiology and Behavioral Sciences from Cornell University and received his medical degree at the Rosalind Franklin Chicago Medical School.  He completed a residency in General Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago IL and a research fellowship in Transplant Surgery at Northwestern University.  Dr. Tishler subsequently completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at the University of Alabama-Birmingham before returning to his home state of Connecticut.

He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Tishler’s current research interests include NIH funded research exploring the brain response to bariatric as well as investigating outcomes and predictive factors for success after metabolic bariatric surgery. Dr. Tishler has co-authored more than 25 papers and given numerous lectures and peer-reviewed presentations. He is a Medical Director at Hartford HealthCare Medical Group where he also chairs the compensation and finance committee. He serves on several local, regional, and national committees and is an advocate for improving patient access to bariatric surgery through the Access to Care Committee of the ASMBS.  He has served on the board of directors for the CT-ASMBS chapter since its inception and is the immediate past president for the society.  

He is an avid and enthusiastic skier and boater and resides in Glastonbury, Connecticut with his wife Stephanie and enjoys spending time with their daughters Emma and Samantha.

Devika Umashanker, MD

Dr. Devika Umashanker is the System Medical Director for Obesity Medicine at Hartford HealthCare Medical and Surgical Weight Loss Hartford HealthCare Digestive Health Institute. She is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Frank Netter School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University and the Program Director of the Obesity Medicine Fellowship at Hartford Healthcare. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and fellowship trained in Obesity Medicine at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medicine.

Dr. Umashanker’s primary areas of expertise include weight management, preoperative weight loss, and post-operative bariatric surgical care and nutrition management.  Her research interests focus includes optimization of non-surgical treatment modalities in patients with history of bariatric surgery and obesity, association of weight stigma and bias on patient clinical outcomes, and prevalence of migraine in patients seeking treatment in medical and surgical weight loss. Dr. Umashanker was awarded the 2023 Integrated Health Emerging Scientist Award by the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders.

Dr. Umashanker has several publications and book chapters on the topics of management and treatment of obesity, pharmacotherapy for obesity, and weight stigma and bias.

Jennifer Vinci, MS, RDN, IBCLC

Jennifer Vinci is the Program Supervisor for the Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention (NPAO) unit at the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Science in Advanced Nutrition from the University of Saint Joseph. As the project director for the USDA SNAP-Ed grant as well as the USDA Farm to School grant, Jennifer oversees initiatives that promote healthy eating, physical activity, and obesity prevention across Connecticut. Her efforts focus on evidence-based strategies that create systemic and environmental changes to improve public health and address health disparities.

Jessica Williams, MD

Jessica Williams is a pediatrician, board certified in obesity medicine, and the medical director of Connecticut Children’s Department of Weight Management. She completed her medical degree at University of Connecticut School of Medicine and her pediatric residency at University of Chicago.

She practiced for a decade in primary care in underserved communities and as a teaching physician before she specialized in Obesity medicine over 8 years ago. She now works with children, teens and young adults in the Obesity division at Connecticut Children’s where cares for patients in the medical and Bariatric tracks of the team in their ASMBS Center for Excellence accredited program.