Jennifer Seger, MD, FOMA grew to become a fellow of the OMA in 2016. Learn her full interview under to be taught extra about Dr. Seger and her experiences.
Why did you determine to change into an OMA member?
I first realized about OMA, again then ASBP, from the web when looking for some studying alternatives particular to weight problems. Fortunately, there was an upcoming convention in New Orleans which I attended. I knew completely nobody and I truthfully bear in mind considering “The place did these of us attend medical faculty?” as a result of a lot of what I used to be listening to within the shows was new info. Nonetheless, I used to be intrigued. I rapidly determined I wanted to be taught extra and did a deep dive into the analysis and attended the subsequent convention that following Spring. I used to be far more engaged on the 2nd convention and made buddies from across the nation whom I proceed to keep up a correspondence with right now. Everybody was so welcoming and pleasant, wanting to share their information and expertise. I bear in mind being struck by how really blissful folks have been who had made the swap to weight problems drugs. It was really inspiring. By then, I used to be hooked!
What kinds of relationships/networking alternatives have you ever discovered via OMA?
Early on, I grew to become concerned in varied committees, together with the CME planning, advocacy, and membership committees. I had the pleasure of serving as a Trustee to the OMA Board for one time period and was a co-author on the primary ever OMA Weight problems Algorithm in 2013. The relationships I fashioned and the breadth of data and expertise I gained from these experiences have been extraordinary. By means of my work with OMA, I used to be linked with different distinctive alternatives together with serving as an merchandise author and Board member for ABOM, authoring a chapter on weight problems therapy and co-author for the AACE/ACE/ASMBS/TOS/OMA Perioperative Pointers in 2020.
What member profit have you ever discovered probably the most helpful or have you ever engaged with probably the most? Record of member advantages is discovered right here.
Getting access to lowered costs for CME actions in addition to the Pediatric and Grownup Weight problems Algorithms and free webinars have been invaluable. I’ve additionally actually loved the brand new OMA Podcast collection.I’ve participated within the Mentorship program, serving as a Mentor and have discovered this to be a really rewarding expertise. Although OMA didn’t provide this program formally after I started, I little doubt had quite a few mentors that I will probably be without end grateful to for his or her assist and steerage over time.
Will you have the ability to attend an OMA convention in 2023? In that case, what are you most wanting ahead to? If not, what have you ever discovered most useful from earlier conferences?
Sure! And fortunate for me it’s in my very own yard in San Antonio! I’m excited to welcome again previous buddies in addition to have the chance to make new ones. October is a superb month to go to San Antonio! I’ll be talking on the pre-conference workshop: Constructing an Weight problems Therapy Plan which makes use of a novel mixture of conventional lectures and interactive small group discussions to work via difficult circumstances. I’m undecided how OMA manages to do that, however I can truthfully say that when once more, I’m excited to see the speaker line-up. I all the time be taught one thing new and go away feeling excited and reinvigorated to enhance my affected person care and advocacy efforts.
How would you describe your committee expertise?
Committee involvement is a good way to change into extra concerned and get to know fellow members, whereas really making a distinction in OMA, which suggests making a distinction within the lives of those that are battling weight problems. Organizations are solely as sturdy as their members, and I imagine in giving again to that which has given me a lot.
What would you inform somebody simply beginning out in weight problems drugs?
Congratulations! Taking steps to find out about weight problems, which is little doubt probably the most prevalent persistent illness of our time, is so essential. It doesn’t matter what space of medication you might be in, weight problems impacts your follow. Whether or not you determine to dedicate your profession to weight problems drugs otherwise you simply wish to change into extra educated about weight problems, recognizing the deficiency that our conventional schooling system has created in every of us and dealing to fill that void with evidence-based drugs is admirable.