Mission Statement
To train and empower the next generation of healthcare leaders in the comprehensive prevention, assessment, and treatment of pediatric obesity. Through multidisciplinary clinical training, research, and community engagement, our mission is to improve the health and quality of life of children and adolescents affected by obesity, advancing evidence-based practices and innovative interventions across medical, behavioral, and surgical domains.
Program Aims
Develop Clinical Expertise
Equip fellows with advanced clinical skills to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care for children and adolescents with obesity, utilizing medical, nutritional, psychological, pharmacological, and surgical strategies.
Advance Fitness and Physical Health Assessment
Provide hands-on training in fitness assessment methodologies to enhance personalized treatment planning and monitor improvements in physical health and functional capacity.
Train in Surgical and Endoscopic Interventions
Prepare fellows to participate effectively in multidisciplinary adolescent bariatric surgery teams and gain competency in pre- and post-operative care, as well as emerging endoscopic weight management techniques.
Foster Research and Innovation
Cultivate fellows’ abilities to engage in research that advances the understanding of pediatric obesity, including the development of novel interventions, evaluation of outcomes, and exploration of social determinants of health.
Promote Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Facilitate collaboration among experts in endocrinology, nutrition, exercise physiology, psychology, and surgery to deliver holistic, multidisciplinary care models for pediatric obesity.
Enhance Community Engagement and Advocacy
Engage fellows in educational and advocacy efforts within communities, promoting obesity prevention and healthier lifestyles among children, families, and schools.
Develop Leadership in Pediatric Obesity Medicine
Prepare fellows to become leaders and educators in pediatric obesity, capable of shaping clinical practice, research agendas, and health policy to address the growing obesity epidemic among youth.
Program Leadership
program director
Angelina Bernier
Program Faculty
Shivani Berry
program coordinator
Debra Mckeown
Application Process
Applications to the University of Florida Pediatric Obesity Fellowship are submitted through the Obesity Medicine Fellowship Council (OMFC) using the centralized Standard Application.
Interested candidates should register on the OMFC website and complete the online application, which includes submission of a current CV, personal statement, and board examination transcripts, along with three letters of recommendation submitted directly through the OMFC portal.
The application cycle typically opens in late summer, with materials due in the fall for a July start date. Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis, and selected applicants will be contacted directly by our program.
Additional program-specific materials may be requested following review of the OMFC application.
Current Fellows
Tuyen N Tran D.O.
Past Fellows
| Name | Current Location | Fellowship Period |
|---|---|---|
| Shivani Berry, MD | University of Florida | 2024-2025 |