This is a quarterly lecture series to exchange ideas and viewpoints between Clinicians, Researchers (basic, translational, and population health), and Policymakers and work towards “Decreasing the burden of obesity and metabolic diseases in Wisconsin and Beyond”. 

Obesity and metabolic disease prevalence is rising in Wisconsin along with rest of the world.  Patients we see daily, in clinics and hospitals, are increasingly suffering from these conditions. Every primary care and sub-specialty practice (e.g., Orthopedics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Transplant Surgery etc.) is trying to find ways to provide appropriate care for these patients. In addition to being challenging, these patients also need multidisciplinary care and each specialty needs to have more than basic understanding of what the available treatments and innovations are. This speaker series is open all FH and MCW providers and scientists to develop a working knowledge and understanding of the status of treatment and prevention strategies for obesity, where the gaps lie, and engage in a productive dialogue to benefit patients in future.  In addition, it is open to all health care providers who wish to attend. 

There is no such forum at the College now that brings providers from all specialties under one roof to learn and discuss these topics.  Therefore, we have no local baseline data.  Informal survey of physicians and providers from various departments reveal that there is a huge need for this activity.