American Academy of Family Physicians (04/20/2023) Devitt, Michael

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) have approved the Mercy Family Medicine Residency program at Mercy Hospital St. Louis's plan to offer an extra year of training in prevention and management of obesity and related complications. "Because family physicians are not only their patients' first point of contact, but often the ones managing those conditions associated with obesity, we decided to emphasize a community-based, primary care-led approach to management of obesity and its associated conditions," said Mercy Family Medicine St. Louis Program Director Sarah Cole, DO. During the optional fourth year, residents will work with Mercy Clinic Weight and Wellness Medical Director Kara Mayes, MD, and with multispecialty and interdisciplinary teams in behavioral and medical care related to obesity. Residents will also gain skills in assessing individual and community needs related to obesity management and prevention, and leading local programs to resolve those needs. Participants who complete the additional year and acquire primary certification from the ABFM or the American Osteopathic Board of Family Practice will qualify for specialty certification from the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Cole said the program's long-term goal is to reduce the measured rates of obesity and related conditions in patients treated by graduates. "In the short term, we can measure steps along the way, such as establishment of weight management initiatives led by family physicians in communities where graduates practice, community stakeholder and patient satisfaction surveys indicating perceived effectiveness of these initiatives, or improved health metrics," she added. Cole said because residents learn at different rates, "I do think it's important that a medical student or resident have options for additional training across the specialty of family medicine."

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