The Benefits of Personalized Nutrition & Lifestyle Approaches in Obesity Management: Exploring the Role of Muscle Health

Andres Acosta, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Medicine 
Precision Medicine for Obesity Program 
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 
Mayo Clinic 
Rochester, MN, USA

Dr Acosta is a physician, scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Obesity Medicine, and Nutrition. Dr Acosta holds an MD from Universidad San Francisco De Quito, Ecuador, and a PhD from the University of Florida, Gainesville. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. He co-directs the Nutrition Obesity Research Program and the Precision Medicine for Obesity Program at Mayo Clinic.  

Dr Acosta's goal is to treat and ultimately cure obesity, which he considers this century's health epidemic. Dr Acosta's research focuses on precision medicine for obesity with the aim of identifying the right therapy for the right patient and minimizing side effects. His research is supported by the National Institute of Health, many foundations, and industry. He is a recognized national and international speaker with 9 patents and more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, including publications in the Lancet, Gut and Gastroenterology, and many book chapters. His works have been featured in the New York Times, CNN, and NPR, among others.

Nina Crowley, PhD, RDN, LDN

Director, Clinical Education and Partnerships 
seca Medical Body Composition 
Mt Pleasant, SC, USA

Nina Crowley, PhD, RD, LDN, is a devoted advocate for improving communication, patient-centered care, and accessibility in obesity care. With a PhD in Health Psychology from Walden University, an MS in Health Care Policy and Management from SUNY Stony Brook, and a BS in Nutrition Science from Cornell University, Dr Crowley began her career as a bariatric dietitian and later served as the program director for the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program at the Medical University of South Carolina. Currently, in her role as the Director for Clinical Education and Partnerships for seca’s Medical Body Composition and Bioimpedance Analysis Division, she collaborates with healthcare providers to advance education on body composition analysis. Dr Crowley has significantly contributed to the field through publications, presentations, and media involvement focusing on obesity care, behavior change, policy and advocacy, and body composition. A passionate and committed volunteer and leader, Nina is deeply entrenched in professional associations for dietitians and obesity care providers and serves on the board of directors for the Obesity Action Coalition, working to educate and champion for access to care for individuals living with obesity.

Dominique Williams, MD, MPH, FOMA, Dipl ABOM

Medical Director 
Adult Nutrition, Abbott 
Columbus, OH, USA

Dr Williams is the Adult Nutrition Medical Director at Abbott, a global healthcare company. Her responsibilities include supporting the U.S. and global adult nutrition commercial operations, collaborating with the clinical project team on Abbott-sponsored clinical studies, and driving the development, submission, and execution of investigator-initiated studies, including research publication. She also leads the medical strategy and content review, including moderation for national and international advisory meetings and symposia with multi-disciplinary teams. 

Dominique is double board-certified in Obesity Medicine and Pediatrics and is an active member of the Obesity Medicine Association. Dominique is a dedicated educator and clinician with over 19 years of experience in patient-centered care, holistic mentoring, and curriculum development. In addition to her clinical work, she has mentored medical students and resident physicians and serves as Adjunct Faculty at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dominique has publications on the topics of mentoring, equity-focused initiatives in graduate education, and the care of children and adolescents with obesity. She has also worked on several local and national initiatives to address health disparities. 

Dominique obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University, MD from Wright State University School of Medicine, and MPH in Nutrition from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.