Redefining Obesity Care: A Comprehensive Primary Care Workshop

Date: Friday May 2, 2025

Time:8am – 4pm CT

Location: Online virtual workshop

Registration

Free to attend.  Registration Required. 

Event Overview: This one-day live/virtual hybrid workshop equips primary care providers with essential skills and knowledge to address obesity as a chronic disease effectively. Recorded sessions will also be available as an enduring online content for added flexibility.

Workshop Features:

• Comprehensive Training on the holistic management of obesity, covering diet, exercise, behavioral strategies, pharmacotherapy, and surgical options.
• Practical Skills Development using motivational interviewing and shared decision-making techniques.
• Guideline Updates to incorporate the latest evidence-based approaches.

Learning Objectives: 

By the end of this CME workshop, participants will be able to:

• Approach the treatment of obesity as a chronic disease.
• Reduce weight bias in clinical practice, allowing for open and safe conversations about weight with patients.
• Communicate with patients about weight management using effective techniques such as motivational interviewing and shared decision-making.
• Apply the most recent evidence-based guidelines and emerging data for the diagnosis and management of obesity as a chronic, treatable disease.
• Employ holistic care plans for patients with obesity that incorporate education and principles of shared decision-making (SDM) while avoiding the perception of stigma or bias.
• Individualize treatment based on an understanding of nutritional, behavioral and physical activity strategies, as well as the latest pharmacologic and surgical treatments.

Faculty:

• Christina Wells, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP, DipABLM, DABOM, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine at University of Illinois
• Lauren Oshman, MD, MPH, FAAFP, Associate Professor, Program Director, Michigan Collaborative for Type 2 Diabetes - Family physician, researcher, QI expert diabetes, obesity, substance use care
• Naomi Parrella MD, FAAFP, FOMA, DABOM, Chief of Lifestyle Medicine at Rush Univ, Chief Medical Officer at Zero, Obesity Medicine Physician
• Christine E. Schultheiss, MD FAAFP, Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania  
• Daphne E. Smith Marsh, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES , Director of Diversity, Equity, Engagement and Inclusion (DEEI), Clinical Assistant Professor , Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy 

Schedule of Events

8 am Welcome & CME Information 

8:15 am          Obesity 101 for the Primary Care Physician

Christina Wells, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP, DipABLM, DABOM

9:15 am          Weight Inclusive Care: Creating a Positive Patient-Clinician Relationship in Obesity Treatment

Lauren Oshman, MD, MPH, FAAFP 

10:15 am     Weight Management for Primary Care: Getting to Treatment

Naomi Parrella MD, FAAFP, FOMA, DABOM 

11:15 am            Lifestyle Medicine for the Prevention and Management of Obesity

Christina Wells, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP, DipABLM, DABOM

12:15 - 12:45 pm LUNCH BREAK

12:45 pm           Pharmacologic Treatments for Obesity Management

Daphne E. Smith Marsh, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES 

1:45 pm             Management of Bariatric Surgery Patients for the Family Doctor    

Christine E. Schultheiss, MD 

2:45 pm             Developing Individualized Treatment Plans – Clinical Case Studies 

Panel 

3:45 - 4 pm Q&A and Evaluation

Accreditation

The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation 

AMA PRA Category 1 - The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians designates this internet live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 7.5 credit™. 

Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.

Cancellation Policy