Agenda

By the end of the congress, participants will be better able to:

  • Integrate recent evidence and clinical updates in obesity management to enhance patient outcomes
  • Evaluate and select individualized treatment options, including medical, lifestyle, and surgical interventions for obesity
  • Adopt comprehensive strategies for managing obesity-related comorbidities, body image, and motivational challenges
  • Understand the diabetes spectrum and its treatment, applying high-quality evidence to improve patient outcomes
  • Adapt diabetes management to meet individualized needs, addressing barriers and promoting lifestyle changes through motivational interviewing and advanced technologies
  • Stay informed on the latest clinical guidelines, critically evaluate emerging evidence and technological advancements to apply to clinical practice
DUO DAY 1: THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025 (OBESITY UPDATE)
Time Topic Speaker(s)
8:15 am Registration and Networking Breakfast  
8:45 am Breakfast Symposium  
9:50 am Welcome and Introductions Dr. Jeffrey Habert
Dr. Akshay Jain
PLENARY SESSION #1
10:15 am A Year in Review: Top 5 Obesity Updates
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss influential findings from recent clinical trials and studies in obesity management over the past year
• Assess clinical implications of emerging treatments and news headlines in obesity medicine to inform patient care
Dr. Sean Wharton
10:40 am Navigating Treatment: So Many Choices, Which One to Choose?
Learning Objectives:
• Evaluate current treatment options for obesity management and identify appropriate interventions based individual needs
• Examine the limitations of BMI as a diagnostic standard and explore the role of Body Roundness Index (BRI) as a novel obesity assessment tool
Dr. Akshay Jain
11:00 am The Silent Threat: Recognizing and Addressing MASH and MASLD
Learning Objectives:
• Identify strategies for the screening and diagnosis of MASH and MASLD in patients with obesity to support early intervention and tailored treatment plans
• Examine approaches for managing MASH and MASLD to optimize patient outcomes and address comorbid conditions
Dr. James Kim
11:20 am Panel Discussion and Q&A All Faculty Plenary Session 1
Moderator: Dr. Jeffrey Habert
11:40 am Networking Break and Lunch Buffet  
12:00 pm Lunch Symposium  
PLENARY SESSION #2
1:05 pm Optimizing Nutrition and Lifestyle for Sustainable Weight Loss
Learning Objectives:
• Compare dietary approaches to meet the individual patient’s needs and health goals
• Identify strategies to optimize nutritional outcomes for patients on anti-obesity medication
Ms. Alissa Steinberg
1:25 pm Is Surgery Still Considered the Gold Standard for Obesity Treatment?
Learning Objectives:
• Differentiate between medical and surgical interventions to understand their respective roles, benefits, and limitations in obesity management
• Assess the effectiveness of bariatric surgery compared to newer anti-obesity medications to guide treatment decisions based on patient-specific factors and expected outcomes
Dr. Stephen Glazer
Dr. Megha Poddar
1:50 pm Muscle Matters: A Clinical Perspective on Sarcopenia in Obesity Care
Learning Objectives:
• Identify screening and diagnostic methods for sarcopenia in patients with obesity
• Compare the effects of lifestyle, pharmacotherapy, and surgical interventions on muscle mass and assess the clinical significance of lean muscle loss in obesity management
Dr. Michael Tsoukas
2:10 pm Panel Discussion and Q&A All Faculty Plenary Session 2
Moderator: Dr. Akshay Jain
2:30 pm Health Break
PLENARY SESSION #3
2:50 pm Presented by Obesity Matters – Through the Patient's Eyes: Addressing Body Image in Obesity Care
Learning Objectives:
• Identify and apply cognitive behavioral techniques to support patients with body image concerns
• Reflect upon patient experiences to enhance empathetic communication and address body image in obesity care
Dr. Sandy Van
Ms. Sandra Elia
3:20 pm From Screening to Strategy: Managing Eating Disorders and Dysfunctional Eating
Learning Objectives:
• Implement effective screening methods to identify eating disorders in patients with overweight or obesity
• Assess the impact of pharmacotherapy on dysfunctional eating behaviours to improve treatment strategies
Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam
3:40 pm Panel Discussion and Q&A All Faculty Plenary Session 3
Moderator: Dr. Megha Poddar
PLENARY SESSION #4
4:05 pm Burning Questions in Obesity: Expert Insights and Answers
Learning Objectives:
• Address common and complex clinical challenges in obesity management to enhance clinical decision-making and personalized care
• Explore innovative tools and approaches that can be leveraged to improve patient outcomes in obesity care
Dr. Jeffrey Habert
Dr. Akshay Jain
Dr. Megha Poddar
Dr. Sandy Van
4:40 pm Closing Remarks Day 1 (OU) Dr. Jeffrey Habert
Dr. Akshay Jain
End of Day 1


DUO DAY 2: FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025 (DIABETES UPDATE)
Time Topic Speaker(s)
8:00 am Registration and Networking Breakfast
8:50 am Breakfast Symposium  
9:55 am Welcome and Introductions Dr. Akshay Jain
Dr. Alanna Weisman
PLENARY SESSION #1
10:05 am The Year in Diabetes: Trials, Triumphs, and Technology
Learning Objectives:
• Describe the most impactful clinical trials in diabetes management published in the past year
• Evaluate the impact of recent technological advancements in diabetes care on patient outcomes and quality of life
Dr. Alice Cheng
10:30 am From Theory to Practice: Mastering Diabetes Medication Management
Learning Objectives:
• Identify and initiate pharmacological treatments for diabetes specifically emerging therapies
• Introduce practical guidance to mitigate and manage the potential side effects
Ms. Lori Berard
10:50 am Beyond Type 1 and Type 2: Exploring Atypical Diabetes
Learning Objectives:
• Differentiate atypical forms of diabetes, including latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
• Implement a clinical approach to identify and diagnose atypical forms of diabetes, optimizing patient care and treatment
Dr. Peter Senior
11:10 am Panel Discussion and Q&A All Faculty Plenary Session 1
Moderator: Dr. Akshay Jain
11:30 am Networking Break and Lunch Buffet
11:55 am Lunch Symposium  
PLENARY SESSION #2
1:00 pm One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Personalizing Nutrition for Diabetes Management
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss the challenge of optimal nutrition management for patients with low BMI who are on SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA therapy
• Adapt medical nutrition therapy to diverse populations and to the cultural background of patients with diabetes
Ms. Alissa Steinberg
1:20 pm Moving with Purpose: Practical Exercise Tips for Diabetes Management
Learning Objectives:
• Identify practical exercise recommendations for individuals with diabetes, considering factors such as obesity, frailty, type 1 diabetes, and limited socioeconomic means
• Explore the benefits of at-home resistance workouts and step count in patients with diabetes
Dr. Jane Yardley
1:40 pm Conversations that Count: Motivational Interviewing for Diabetes Care
Learning Objectives:
• Implement motivational interviewing techniques in diabetes care
• Recognize common barriers to diabetes self-management, including stigma, financial concerns, pill burden and diabetes distress
Dr. Michael Vallis
2:00 pm Panel Discussion and Q&A All Faculty Plenary Session 2
Moderator: Ms. Lori Berard
2:20 pm Networking Break
2:40 pm Corridor Consult
3:05 pm Symposium
4:05 pm Closing Remarks Day 2 (DU) Dr. Akshay Jain
Dr. Alanna Weisman
End of Day 2


DUO DAY 3: SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025 (DIABETES UPDATE)
Time Topic Speaker(s)
8:00 am Networking Breakfast
8:45 am Welcome and Introductions Dr. Akshay Jain
Dr. Alanna Weisman
PLENARY SESSION #3
8:55 am Path to Prevention: Reducing the Risk of Diabetes
Learning Objectives:
• Identify individuals at risk for prediabetes and diabetes, including those living with mental health disorders, and recommend appropriate preventive strategies
• Implement current approaches for prediabetes to prevent progression to diabetes
Dr. Zaina Albalawi
9:15 am From Data to Decisions: Practical CGM Cases in Diabetes Management
Learning Objectives:
• Interpret continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data to identify patterns and trends in glucose levels
• Apply CGM data to make informed clinical decisions regarding diabetes management, including medication adjustments and lifestyle modifications
Dr. Alanna Weisman
9:35 am Panel Discussion and Q&A All Faculty Plenary Session 3
Moderator: Dr. Michael Tsoukas
9:50 am Corridor Consult
10:10 am Health Break
PLENARY SESSION #4
10:30 am A Geriatric Perspective on Antihyperglycemic Agents (AHAs)
Learning Objectives:
• Identify appropriate antihyperglycemic agents and dosing strategies for older adults with diabetes, considering factors such as age, comorbidities, sarcopenia, and risk of hypoglycemia
• Evaluate the potential benefits and risks of antihyperglycemic agents in older adults, including life expectancy and quality of life considerations
Dr. Jeffrey Habert
10:50 am The Gift That Keeps Giving: Potential Benefits of GLP-1 RAs Beyond Diabetes and Obesity
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss the current evidence around the potential benefits of GLP-1 RAs beyond diabetes and obesity
• Review the latest trials for GLP-1 RAs in Alzheimer’s disease, COPD, MASLD, osteoarthritis, alcohol misuse, CKD and HFpEF
Dr. Akshay Jain
11:10 am Panel Discussion and Q&A All Faculty Plenary Session 4
Moderator: Dr. Alanna Weisman
11:25 am Lunch Buffet
11:45 am Lunch Symposium
PLENARY SESSION #5
12:50 pm 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines: Type 1 Diabetes
Learning Objectives:
• Review the latest guideline updates for the management of type 1 diabetes
• Apply the latest guidelines in clinical practice to improve the care of individuals with type 1 diabetes
Dr. Brandy Wicklow
1:10 pm 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines: Type 2 Diabetes
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss the latest guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes, with a focus on renal and cardiovascular health
• Understand the role of pharmacotherapy and glycemic control in reducing the risk of renal and cardiovascular complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes
Dr. Baiju Shah
1:30 pm Panel Discussion and Q&A All Faculty Plenary Session 5
Moderator: Dr. Sonia Butalia
PLENARY SESSION #6
1:45 pm Myth Busting: Separating Fact from Fiction in Diabetes Care
Learning Objectives:
• Recognize common myths and misconceptions about diabetes care
• Develop strategies to stay up to date with the latest evidence-based diabetes care and critically evaluate new information
Dr. Akshay Jain
Dr. Alanna Weisman
Ms. Lori Berard
Dr. Sonia Butalia
Dr. Jeffrey Habert
Dr. Michael Tsoukas
2:25 pm Closing Remarks Day 3 (DU) Dr. Akshay Jain
Dr. Alanna Weisman
End of Day 3