Presented by  

UT Southwestern Medical Center Nutrition and Obesity Research Center (NORC) 

Weight Wellness Day 2024 (WWD 2024) is a community education and outreach initiative offering information on strategies to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Now in its second year, the event was developed by UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Nutrition and Obesity Research Center (NORC).  

Please see the talks scheduled for Weight Wellness Day below. The event is open to UT Southwestern employees, patients, family members, and friends. There is no cost to attend.  

To register for this event: https://forms.office.com/r/0zSepygr5v 

UT Southwestern physicians, researchers, advanced practice providers, and nurses will lead talks during WWD 2024. Attendees also can speak informally with experts at information stations. Numerous medical discoveries and facts will be explored, such as: 

• Why obesity is a chronic disease, not a lifestyle choice 

• Understanding what a healthy weight is and the impact of individual factors 

• Pros and cons of Ozempic and other incretin-based therapies – plus alternatives to these popular medications 

• Bariatric surgery, from procedures available to what to expect 

• Practical tips for choosing and preparing delicious food that’s also healthy, including a cooking demonstration  

NORC is one of 11 centers nationwide designated by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and funded by the National Institutes of Health. The UTSW NORC supports research infrastructure, enrichment programs, and collaborative activities for investigators conducting research in the causal factors of nutrition and obesity-related health problems, including consequences, prevention, and alleviation.  

Who should attend Weight Wellness Day 2024? 

UT Southwestern patients and employees, along with family members and friends, who: 

• Want to learn about solutions to manage weight and wellness, including medications, surgical treatments, healthy eating, and other resources 

• Currently take or are considering medications to lose/manage weight and wellness and are interested in the implications of therapeutics  

• Are affected by obesity and overweight, now or in the past 

• Want to understand how to maintain a healthy weight and wellness 

What topics are included in the event’s program? 

Common Myths About Body Weight 

Hilary Trevino, M.S.N., APRN, FNP-BC 

Weight Wellness Clinic 

UT Southwestern Medical Center 

Ozempic and Other Similar Medications: Are They Right for Me? 

Jaime Almandoz, M.D. 

Associate Professor 

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology 

When Ozempic and Other Similar Medications Are Not an Option 

Melissa Shoemaker, M.D. 

Assistant Professor  

Department of Internal Medicine 

Accessing Weight Wellness Resources in D/FW 

Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen, Ph.D.  

Assistant Professor  

Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health 

Weight-Loss Surgery 

Melanie Hafford, M.D. 

Clinical Assistant Professor  

Department of Surgery 

Food Is Medicine: A Family Affair (Cooking Demonstration) 

Jaclyn Albin, M.D.  

Associate Professor 

Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics  

Milette Siler, M.B.A.-HC, RDN, LD, CCMS   

Lead Culinary Medicine Instructor 

WWD 2024 includes a cooking demonstration spotlighting ways to select and prepare delicious, nutritious food.