ObesityHelp Conference Speakers 2016 Saturday

ObesityHelp Conference Speakers: OH2016 Saturday Sessions

May 19, 2016

Meet the ObesityHelp Conference Speakers for Saturday!

We are excited to announce the 2016 ObesityHelp National Conference Speakers and their sessions! This is going to be a fantastic conference in Anaheim, CA on September 30th and October 1st. It will be two jam-packed days of education, support and celebration! We'd love to see you there. Join us and Reserve Your Tickets NOW!

Also be sure to check out the:

	Emcee: Diana Vogel, MS, MFT, Intern Diana is passionate about balancing life through stress, anxiety and depression management. The focus of her work is to help clients overcome and manage the emotional stressors that keep them from achieving life long goals and finding ultimate happiness. In addition to working with individuals and couples, Diana specialize in working with weight loss surgery patients and those who suffer from addiction. Diana is also passionate about the population that suffers from obesity, but more importantly believes in the power of good mental health as the key to unlocking long term success. Learn more about Diana as the Fireside Chat Interviewer & Emcee
	Jennifer Shapiro, PhD Jennifer Shapiro, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist in San Diego, CA. Her practice is exclusively devoted to eating disorders and obesity. She is a certified eating disorders specialist (CEDS) and has been working with eating disorders since 1999. Most recently, Dr. Shapiro was the Scientific Director at Santech, Inc in San Diego, CA, in which she directed research studies on the use of mobile and wireless technologies (e.g., text messaging, building Internet treatments) to enhance treatment for obesity. Dr. Shapiro has published numerous scientific papers on disordered eating and annually presents at international conferences related to Eating Disorders and Obesity. Learn more at Jennifer’s talk, Through Thick & Thin, Relationships After WLS
	Sameer Murali, MD Dr. Sameer Murali is a bariatric medicine physician providing weight management services for approximately 120,000 obese adult Kaiser Permanente members in San Bernardino County. He is also the Kaiser Permanente physician lead for Bariatric Surgical Services for the Southern California region. Dr. Murali completed medical school and internal medicine residency at UT Southwestern in Dallas, and a masters in health services research at UCLA. Dr. Murali has also produced and contributed to research in dietary assessment and bariatric surgical outcomes, and has served in an advisory capacity for the Center for Medical Technology Policy and the California Technology Assessment Forum. Learn more at Sameer’s talk, Weight Regain: Mind and Body
	Jenny Arussi, MS, RDN Jenny Arussi, MS, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and obesity expert in delivering medically-based weight loss interventions. Jenny brings with her a wealth of clinical experience from treating thousands of patients at Cedars-Sinai’s Center for Weight Loss and The Diabetes Outpatient Treatment and Education Center. Jenny’s methods guide her clients through the process of changing their eating through education, problem-solving and accountability. In her individual and group sessions, Jenny conveys the importance of accountability through regular contact and consistent self-monitoring. Learn more at Jenny’s talk, Do I Really Need To Measure & Track Forever?
	Steven Reyes, EdD Dr. Steven Reyes, EdD has worked with thousands of people striving to achieve and maintain their health long-term for more than a decade. He has conducted pre-surgery psychological assessments, facilitated pre-surgery educational classes and support groups at multiple Centers of Excellence (COE) bariatric programs in southern California. Dr. Reyes is an Associate Member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), member of the American Psychological Association (APA), and has served as a writer/contributor for ObesityHelp, Splurge magazine, Shape Up America!, & BariMD. Learn more at Steven’s talk, Now You See Me, Now I Don't!
	Benjamin Shadle, MD, FACS Dr. Shadle stresses that the successful treatment of obesity requires a team approach including the patient, bariatric surgeons, medical weight loss doctors, dietitians, therapists, and support people. Dr. Shadle received his medical degree from The Ohio State University. He graduated with honors from his residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He then dedicated a year to fellowship training in minimally invasive bariatric surgery at the University of California, San Francisco-Fresno, where he trained under Dr. Kelvin Higa, a world-renowned leader in the field of bariatric surgery. Dr. Shadle is an active member of ASMBS, SAGES, and IFSO. Learn more at Benjamin’s talk, Fact Or Fiction, Dispelling Bariatric Myths
	Elena Kibasova Elena Kibasova got a fresh chance at a healthy life after undergoing Lap-Band surgery in 2008 (and a revision to the VGS in 2013 due to complications) at a top weight of 305lbs. Through continuous participation in weight loss surgery forums, support groups, and conferences over the last eight years, she has realized that in order to maintain her 150lb weight loss, she has to take a holistic approach to her health. Two years ago, Elena found her passion after attending her first Zumba class. Since then, not a week has gone by without at least once dance party! In 2014, she became a licensed Zumba instructor and has enjoyed motivating others through dance fitness. Learn more at Elena’s talk, Let's Dance - Zumba Fitness Class
	Natalie Kennedy After spending two years in a sit-down 8-5 job in pharmacy technology and becoming riddled with gastrointestinal problems, Natalie began to understand the self-destructive workplace dynamic that causes exhaustion, stress, and a lack of resources to exercise and eat well: a perfect recipe for obesity. She has been a leader in the fitness and wellness communities at University of California, Irvine as well as a health coach for peers and co-workers. As an instructor at Mixx Yoga, she teaches both Gentle Yoga to relieve stress, and a faster-paced yoga to rev the metabolism. She also coaches online evening meditation for people with insomnia and anxiety disorders. Learn more at Natalie’s talk, Gentle Yoga
	Q&A Panelist: Sue Arevalo Sue (Siham) Arevalo holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology with a focus on Exercise Physiology, AFAA Personal Trainer Certification, AFAA Primary Group Exercise Certification, AFAA Step Certification, Keiser/Scwinn/ and Star Trac Spin/Cycle Certifications, she is also licensed in Nutrition with Exercise and Nutrition Works (NENW). She has extensive experience in coordinating group exercise programs for 24 Hour Fitness, Linda Evans Fitness Centers, corporations such as Rockwell (now Boeing), and Chevron. She also taught classes at Sports Club of LA and Racquetball World. Learn more at Sue's session, Planning Ahead - Plateaus, Maintenance and Regain Strategies!
	Q&A Panelist: Melissa Bailey Dr. Bailey is a licensed clinical psychologist with active practices in several states. She has been in the field for over 20 years and received her doctorate from Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Chicago with an emphasis in Health Psychology. Her vast career includes crisis team work, individual and family therapy, psychological assessments, public speaking and teaching. She has taught at community colleges, Pepperdine University, Ryokan College and is currently on staff at Arizona State University in its Doctorate of Behavioral Health Program. Learn more at Melissa's session, Planning Ahead - Plateaus, Maintenance and Regain Strategies!
	Q&A Panelist: Misti Gueron With over 15 years of experience, Misti comes to the Khalili Center from her private practice specializing in weight control, weight loss surgery and eating disorders. Her experience ranges from inpatient as well as outpatient care at both Cedars Sinai Medical Center and Saint John’s Medical Center. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Weight Management and Behavioral Health Specialty Groups. Misti is specialized in weight management, bariatrics, and eating disorders. She also has extensive experience working with diabetes, gastrointestinal conditions, cardiovascular disease and sports nutrition. Learn more at Misti's session, Planning Ahead - Plateaus, Maintenance and Regain Strategies!
	Q&A Panelist: Nirav Naik Dr. Nirav Naik, MD, FACS has over 15 years of experience in performing weight loss surgery. Beginning with his residency training and open gastric bypass surgery, he has evolved his techniques and breadth of surgeries he performs to include laparoscopy and cutting edge technology to provide the best potential outcomes for his patients. He is always learning about new ways to improve his outcomes and patient satisfaction. Dr. Naik started New Life Weight Loss Solutions to offer a better, more comprehensive program to ensure better results and a supportive environment in which patients put their own health as the goal of treatment. Learn more at Nirav's session, Planning Ahead - Plateaus, Maintenance and Regain Strategies!