WVU launches first Obesity Medicine Fellowship in West Virginia

West Virginia University School of Medicine has launched the first Obesity Medicine program in the state.

The new program is housed within the Department of Medicine’s Section of General Internal Medicine under the Medical Weight Management Program.

The Obesity Medicine Fellowship offers a majority of its training through direct clinical care provided in WVU Medicine’s Medical and Surgical Weight Loss Center’s Medical Weight Management Clinic.

"Obesity is one of the largest public health threats in the United States and is especially prevalent in West Virginia,” said Manuel Vallejo, M.D., DMD, associate dean and designated institutional officer for Graduate Medical Education. “It is critical that we provide fellowship training to treat this disorder as many patients living in rural areas may not have access to the few practicing specialists. WVU is unique in that it has a strong commitment to rural health."

The Obesity fellowship will work in cooperation with the Bariatric Surgery Program and Medical Weight Management obesity medicine program to offer a full spectrum of obesity treatment options.

The year-long fellowship program accepts one fellow each year and is available to physicians who have completed either an internal medicine or family medicine residency. Fellows will be trained in health promotion, prevention, and obesity treatment.

“We are thrilled to be starting the first obesity medicine fellowship in West Virginia which will train physicians in the skills to address this public health problem in the state,” Laura Davisson, M.D., MPH, FACP, associate professor and chief of obesity medicine, said.

As part of the fellowship, trainees are required to give local presentations on obesity medicine to residents, medical students, and other healthcare teams and are encouraged to participate in local or national advocacy efforts to enhance obesity treatment.

Recruitment for the first fellow is underway through January 7, with intentions for the first fellow to start in July 2021.

To learn more about Department of Medicine, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/medicine.