Building an Obesity Medicine Workforce: Implementation of a Comprehensive Resident Training Pathway in an Underserved Care Environment.

BACKGROUND: Internal medicine (IM) programs often inadequately prepare trainees to manage obesity. AIM: To develop a novel obesity medicine (OM) pathway for IM trainees. SETTING: Clinic-based weight management program at an urban Federally Qualified Health Center. PARTICIPANTS: PGY2 and PGY3 categorical residents within a large urban IM residency training program. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: This 1-2-year longitudinal OM pathway includes (1) foundational knowledge: developed through asynchronous on-line modules and in-person journal clubs; (2) experiential training: direct, longitudinal care of a patient panel at a weight management clinic; and (3) professional development: completion of the professional requirements for the OM board certification. PROGRAM EVALUATION: Eighteen residents participated in the pathway and completed pre- and post-pathway surveys. The pathway resulted in an increase in self-reported confidence and practice patterns in OM management. One hundred percent ranked their confidence as high/moderate for the clinical skills of counseling on diet and nutrition and prescribing anti-obesity medications. Eighty-three percent of the residents felt they would likely/very likely sit for the OM board exam. DISCUSSION: This novel comprehensive OM pathway showed increased self-reported physician confidence and obesity management behaviors among IM residents. Additionally, the professional development component will be a promising avenue to prepare residents to become obesity board certified.