Transforming Obesity Treatment: Elevating Nutrition and Person-Centered Care

Carley Rusch, PhD, RDN, LDN

Adult Medical Science Liaison
Medical Affairs & Research
Abbott Nutrition 
Gainesville, FL, USA

Carley Rusch is a Medical Science Liaison in Medical Affairs & Research at Abbott, specializing in Adult Therapeutic Nutrition. Prior to joining Abbott, Dr Rusch completed her bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida (UF), specializing in Dietetics. She earned her master’s degree and completed her dietetic internship through the MS-DI program at UF. During her dietetic training, she also served as a research coordinator on a variety of study protocols, including topics on gastrointestinal dysfunction, inflammation, pre- and probiotics, and the gut microbiome. She then went on to work as an inpatient dietitian at AdventHealth Orlando and served as a preceptor for their dietetic internship program. Her clinical experience spans a variety of disease states, such as cancer, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders, malnutrition, and critical care.

After working in clinical practice, Dr Rusch completed her PhD in Nutritional Sciences at UF. Her doctoral research investigated the effect of the Mediterranean diet on improving constipation and intestinal inflammation in Parkinson’s disease. She has taught multiple undergraduate and graduate courses on nutrition, metabolism, and research methods during her graduate programs. In 2020, she was awarded Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr Rusch has several publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been invited to present at national and international conferences.

Patty Nece, JD

Lawyer & Patient Advocate 
Alexandria, VA, USA 

Patty Nece, JD, is a passionate advocate for patient access to science-based obesity treatments and the eradication of weight-based bias, stigma, and discrimination. She is the immediate Past Chair of the Obesity Action Coalition and currently chairs OAC's Weight Bias Committee. She is also a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine's Roundtable on Obesity Solutions. Patty retired from the U.S. Department of Labor after 37 years of service in the Solicitor's Office. She encourages change by sharing her own experiences with lifelong obesity.