Obesity Medicine Fellowship Created at Pennington Biomedical

Obesity Medicine Fellowship Created at Pennington Biomedical

Fellowship product of collaboration between Pennington Biomedical Research Center's Metamor Clinic and Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Medicine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 22, 2024

BATON ROUGE—A new Obesity Medicine Fellowship at Pennington Biomedical Research Center is now open for candidate applications. The one-year program is the result of a collaboration between Pennington Biomedical and Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Medicine. The fellowship training will primarily take place at the Metamor Institute on the Pennington Biomedical campus in Baton Rouge.

The first of its kind in Louisiana, the fellowship is open to graduates of Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education-approved residencies in the medical disciplines of internal medicine, family medicine and endocrinology. The program will primarily provide comprehensive training in obesity medicine, enabling participants to gain subspeciality expertise in obesity management. Training also includes care of patients undergoing metabolic surgery, both pre- and post-operative.

"We are incredibly proud to open this fellowship opportunity to aspiring clinicians, providing the practical and professional experience to treat those affected by obesity," said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. "We encourage all qualified residents to apply for this expertly structured fellowship and to join our team as we address the obesity epidemic. The world-class facilities, laboratories, equipment and personnel at Pennington Biomedical make this fellowship a truly one-of-a-kind experience."

The fellowship will feature specialty training under renowned experts of both LSU Health in New Orleans and Pennington Biomedical. Leadership at the Metamor Institute comprises Pennington Biomedical faculty while obesity medicine specialists and support staff are employed by Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center as part of the institute's collaborative structure.

"The School of Medicine is excited to sponsor the new Obesity Medicine Fellowship training program in conjunction with Pennington Biomedical Research Center," said Dr. Richard Dicarlo, Dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine. "Obesity is associated with an increased risk of numerous health issues, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancers, mobility issues and mental health disorders. Addressing obesity requires a multi-faceted approach that can be sustained with support and education. Training physicians is crucial to help our Louisiana communities tackle the obesity epidemic that is harming adults and children."

The Metamor Institute was established in 2019 and is a partnership of key medical research and economic partners, including Louisiana Economic Development, the Office of the Governor of Louisiana, Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, Our Lady of the Lake and LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine. The metabolic institute is uniquely focused on the advanced treatment of obesity and diabetes, and it is one of the first institutes in the nation to offer an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to caring for individuals who suffer from devastating obesity-related diseases in a single facility.

"The creation and launch of this fellowship results from the desire of biomedical research partners to provide Louisiana with leading obesity medicine researchers at our clinics and hospitals," said Dr. Robert Dubin, Associate Professor-Research in Clinical Science at Pennington Biomedical. "The Metamor Clinic on the Pennington Biomedical campus is a world-class facility for this type of training, and we are proud to encourage LSU Health New Orleans residents to apply for this unique experience."

More than 50 percent of the training program will focus on training and education in clinical obesity medicine. Fellows will gain practical experience by working with five American Board of Obesity Medicine, or ABOM, -certified physicians and scientists. These physicians and scientists, along with other faculty members include specialists in Obesity Medicine, Pediatric Obesity Medicine, Sleep Medicine, Cardiology, Metabolic Surgery, Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, Nutrition, and Exercise Physiology. Upon training, graduates will be eligible to sit for the ABOM Certification Examination.

"We are excited to offer advanced training that not only enhances patient care but also expands opportunities for our residents and students," said Dr. Kevin Reed, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in Baton Rouge for the LSU School of Medicine and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine.

About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. The Center conducts basic, clinical, and population research, and is a campus of the LSU System.

The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 530 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a state-of-the-art research facility on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge.

For more information, see www.pbrc.edu.

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More information:
Media Contacts:
Joe Coussan
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
225-763-3049
Joe.coussan@pbrc.edu

Ernie Ballard
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
225-763-2677
Ernie.ballard@pbrc.edu

Provided by Pennington Biomedical Research Center