Clinical Care
The fellow’s clinical home is the Medical Weight Management (MWM) clinic, part of the WVU Medicine Medical and Surgical Weight Loss Center. This collaborative medical and surgical program is nationally recognized with Obesity Medicine accreditation through the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). WVU Medicine’s comprehensive obesity program stands out for the breadth of services offered across the full spectrum of treatment options.
In addition to medical and surgical obesity treatments, bariatric endoscopy services are available and led by Dr. Shailendra Singh. A robust behavior change program, Finding Wellness, is offered system-wide to support long-term lifestyle changes. Pediatric obesity services—led by Dr. Treah Haggerty and conducted jointly with pediatric psychologist Dr. Jennifer Ludrosky—are expanding rapidly to meet growing demand. This multidisciplinary pediatric program embraces a family-centered approach to obesity care.
Fellows will develop the clinical skills needed to provide high-quality, evidence-based obesity treatment through hands-on experience in the high-volume MWM clinic. The multidisciplinary team includes physicians, advanced practice providers, registered nurses, health coaches, registered dietitians, a patient navigator, embedded psychiatry, and a pharmacy team—offering truly comprehensive care.
To accommodate increases in patient volume and clinic staffing, the program is expanding into a new $1.9 million dedicated Medical Weight Management clinic. The new facility will feature:
- 16 exam rooms
- Telehealth and consultation rooms
- Four large bariatric-accessible rooms
- A dedicated front desk team
- A spacious conference room for team-based care
This conference space is essential for hosting group visits, interprofessional meetings, and educational conferences. Virtual group visits ("Eat Well") are also offered to improve access and engagement.
We are proud to report that from July 2022 to June 2023, the Medical Weight Management program achieved an average 13.2% total body weight loss and a 14% reduction in BMI—from an average of 42.8 to 36.8. This reflects a significant shift from Class 3 to Class 2 obesity in our patient population.
Fellows will also have opportunities to participate in education. The MWM clinic serves as a clinical training site for approximately 100 learners annually, including medical students, residents, and other fellows from WVU Health Sciences Center.
Educational programming is expanding with the launch of an Obesity Medicine Track within the Internal Medicine Residency Program. The track sparked significant interest with the inaugural class, welcoming five residents. The residents will spend additional time in the clinic, engaging in scholarly and clinical quality initiatives.
We are honored to have received the WVU Health Sciences Center Chancellor’s Go First Team Award in recognition of our innovative, multidisciplinary, team-based approach to obesity care.