Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, Associated Faculty and Senior Staff

Kelly Costello Allison, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St., Suite 3029, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309
kca@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 898-2823

Kelly C. Allison, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. She received her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Miami University.

Dr. Allison's research interests include the timing of eating, night eating syndrome, binge eating disorder, and the role of weight and eating behaviors on women’s health. She is also engaged in studies on bariatric surgery outcomes and clinical trials for weight and disordered eating. Dr. Allison enjoys providing psychotherapy related to weight management and disordered eating at CWED, and she provides pre-operative bariatric surgery psychological evaluations at Penn Medicine’s bariatric program. Additionally, she provides supervision and mentoring for pre- doctoral psychology students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members.

Dr. Allison has also worked at the Philadelphia Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center where she provided cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia to veterans through the National Telemental Health program.

Dr. Allison is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders and a Fellow of The Obesity Society. She has published over 185 peer-reviewed papers and chapters, and two books.

Recent publications include:

• Allison KC, McCuen-Wurst C, Raevsky A, Holmes N, Goldbach M, Guerra CE, Rendle KA, Cadet TJ, Krouse RS, Tchou J. The Group-basEd Telehealth behavioral WEight Loss Program Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot and Feasibility Study. Obes Sci Pract. 2024 Dec 21;10(6):e70023. doi: 10.1002/osp4.70023. PMID: 39713088; PMCID: PMC11662970.
• Sarwer DB, Wadden TA, Ashare R, Spitzer JC, McCuen-Wurst C, LaGrotte C, Williams N, Soans R, Tewksbury C, Wu J, Tajeu G, Allison KC. Psychopathology, disordered eating, and impulsivity as predictors of weight loss 24 months after metabolic and bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2024 Jul;20(7):634-642. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2024.01.019. PMID: 38480031; PMCID: PMC11193608.
• Allison KC, Chao AM, Bruzas MB, McCuen-Wurst C, Jones E, McAllister C, Gruber K, Berkowitz RI, Wadden TA, Tronieri JS. A pilot randomized controlled trial of liraglutide 3.0 mg for binge eating disorder. Obes Sci Pract. 2022 Jul 26;9(2):127-136. doi: 10.1002/osp4.619. PMID: 37034559; PMCID: PMC10073825.
• Allison KC, Parnarouskis L, Moore MD, Minnick AM. Insomnia, Short Sleep, and Their Treatments: Review of Their Associations with Weight. Curr Obes Rep. 2024 Jun;13(2):203-213. doi: 10.1007/s13679-024-00570-3. PMID: 38776004; PMCID: PMC11150288.
• Allison KC, Hopkins CM, Ruggieri M, Spaeth AM, Ahima RS, Zhang Z, Taylor DM, Goel N. Prolonged, controlled daytime versus delayed eating impacts weight and metabolism. Current Biology, 31(3):650-657.e3, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.092.

Matthew R. Hayes, Ph.D.
Albert J. Stunkard Professor in Psychiatry, Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Neuroscience Research, Director, Molecular and Neural Basis of Psychiatric Disease Section, Dept. of Psychiatry, Director of the Obesity Unit, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism (IDOM), University of Pennsylvania
hayesmr@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Matthew R. Hayes, Ph.D. is the Albert J. Stunkard Professor in Psychiatry, Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Neuroscience and Director of the Molecular and Neural Basis of Psychiatric Disease Section in the Department of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. As an educator, Dr. Hayes holds a secondary appointment in the School of Nursing where he teaches core courses for the Nutrition Major at Penn. Dr. Hayes earned his Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University and conducted his postdoctoral fellowship in psychology and neuroscience at The University of Pennsylvania under the mentorship of Dr. Harvey Grill.

Hayes is considered a leading expert on the neuroendocrine systems that regulate energy balance. In particular, the Hayes laboratory focusses their research efforts extensively on understanding the neural, behavioral, cellular, molecular, and physiological mechanisms by which hormones, such as GLP-1, amylin, GIP, PYY, and leptin regulate food intake and body weight through action in the caudal brainstem and mesolimbic reward system. These basic science research efforts are conducted with the intention that they will translate into improved pharmacological / behavioral treatments for obesity, diabetes, and co-morbid diseases. Dr. Hayes has been PI / MPI on multiple NIDDK R01 awards, as well as Investigator Initiated Sponsored Proposals from pharmaceutical partners. These and other awards have supported his research into neuroendocrine controls of energy balance and obesity, with a track record of over 140 publications in this area. He has and continues to provide service as program chair and as an executive board member and scientific advisor for multiple international scientific societies, industry partners, and non-profit organizations dedicated towards neuroscience, nutrition, diabetes and obesity research / clinical care. Dr. Hayes also continues to provide service to NIH, having served on the BNRS and NORC review study sections reviewing NIH research proposals.

Hayes Lab Website

Recent publications include:

• Fortin SM, Chen JC, Petticord MC, Ragozzino FJ, Peters JH, Hayes MR. The locus coeruleus contributes to the anorectic, nausea, and autonomic physiological effects of glucagon-like peptide-1. Sci Adv. 2023 Sep 22;9(38):eadh0980. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adh0980. PMID: 37729419; PMCID: PMC10511187.
• Geisler CE, Décarie-Spain L, Loh MK, Trumbauer W, Gaisinsky J, Klug ME, Pelletier C, Davis JF, Schmidt HD, Roitman MF, Kanoski SE, Hayes MR. Amylin Modulates a Ventral Tegmental Area-to-Medial Prefrontal Cortex Circuit to Suppress Food Intake and Impulsive Food-Directed Behavior. Biol Psychiatry. 2024 May 15;95(10):938-950. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.07.011. PMID: 37517705.
• Borner T, Reiner BC, Crist RC, Furst CD, Doebley SA, Halas JG, Ai M, Samms RJ, De Jonghe BC, Hayes MR. GIP receptor agonism blocks chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Mol Metab. 2023 Jul;73:101743. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101743. PMID: 37245848; PMCID: PMC10326744.
• Borner T, Geisler CE, Fortin SM, Cosgrove R, Alsina-Fernandez J, Dogra M, Doebley S, Sanchez-Navarro MJ, Leon RM, Gaisinsky J, White A, Bamezai A, Ghidewon MY, Grill HJ, Crist RC, Reiner BC, Ai M, Samms RJ, De Jonghe BC, Hayes MR. GIP Receptor Agonism Attenuates GLP-1 Receptor Agonist-Induced Nausea and Emesis in Preclinical Models. Diabetes. 2021 Nov;70(11):2545-2553. doi: 10.2337/db21-0459. PMID: 34380697; PMCID: PMC8564411.
• Fortin SM, Lipsky RK, Lhamo R, Chen J, Kim E, Borner T, Schmidt HD, Hayes MR. GABA neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius express GLP-1 receptors and mediate anorectic effects of liraglutide in rats. Sci Transl Med. 2020 Mar 4;12(533):eaay8071. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay8071. PMID: 32132220; PMCID: PMC7211411.

Tanja Kral, Ph.D.
School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, 418 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4217
tkral@nursing.upenn.edu
(215) 573-7512

Tanja V.E. Kral, Ph.D., is the Ellen and Robert Kapito Endowed Professor and Professor of Nutrition Science in the School of Nursing (primary appointment) and in the Perelman School of Medicine (secondary appointment). She also co-directs the School of Nursing’s Graduate Nutrition Programs. Dr. Kral received her M.S. (2001) and Ph.D. (2003) in Nutritional Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University.

A nutrition scientist with training in the study of human ingestive behavior, Dr. Kral’s NIH-funded research focuses on the cognitive, sensory, and nutritional controls of appetite and eating in children and adults and their relevance to obesity, a unique juxtaposition of behavioral, genetic, experimental, and technology-based research methods in the study of human ingestive behavior. The overarching goal of her interdisciplinary research program is to advance the prevention and treatment of obesity by identifying behavioral phenotypes for obesity as an innovative approach for the development of more personalized obesity prevention and treatment interventions that are tailored to individual predispositions (precision nutrition). She also aims to develop evidence-based strategies that promote healthy eating in children with autism spectrum disorder through personalized technology-based interventions.

Links:

• School of Nursing Bio page
• Master of Science in Nutrition Science page

Recent publications include:  

• Johnson SL, Moody EJ, Kral TVE, Dahl E, Withrow NA, Levy SE, Reynolds AM, Robinson Rosenberg C (2025). A multi-site community-based, case-control study to examine the nutrient intake adequacy of young children with and without developmental delays and other disorders: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in press.   
• Abene J, Tyburski S, Kral TVE, Quinn R, Deng J (2025). Diet as an adjunct therapy in reducing chemotherapy toxicities and improving patient quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition and Cancer, 77(3): 341-359.   
• Slater CN, Schroeder K, Fultz A, Kuschner ES, O’Malley L, Johnson K, Benvenuti T, Chittams J, Quinn RJ, Graham Thomas JG, Pinto-Martin J, Levy SE, Kral TVE (2024). Insights from user experience and evaluation of a mobile health nutrition intervention for children with autism: a qualitative study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 37(6): 1439-1353.
• Reigh NA, Pearce AL, Rolls BJ, Kral TVE, Hetherington MM, Romano O, Keller KL (2023). Inter-individual differences in children’s short term energy compensation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 118(6): 1202-1213.

Thomas A. Wadden, Ph.D., Former Director

Thomas A. Wadden, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as director of the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders from 1993 to 2017 and was appointed in 2011 (through 2021) as the inaugural Albert J. Stunkard Professor in Psychiatry. He received his A.B. in 1975 from Brown University and his doctorate in clinical psychology in 1981 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Wadden’s principal research is on the treatment of obesity by methods that have included lifestyle modification, very-low-calorie diets, physical activity, medication, and surgery. He has also investigated the metabolic and psychosocial consequences of obesity and of intentional weight loss, the latter as represented by findings from the 16-year long Look AHEAD study. He has published over 500 scientific papers and book chapters and has co-edited seven books, the most recent of which is the Handbook of Obesity Treatment (with George A. Bray). His research has been supported for more than 35 years by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Wadden has served on expert panels for the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine). He served as president of the Obesity Society in 2005-2006 and as associate editor of Obesity (the Society’s journal) from 2008-2012 and again from 2020 to the present.

Recent publications include:

• Heymsfield SB, Wadden TA. Mechanisms, pathophysiology, and management of obesity. N Engl J Med 2017;376:1492.
• Look AHEAD Research Group, Wadden TA, Chao AM, Anderson H, Annis K, Atkinson K, Bolin P, Brantley P, Clark JM, Coday M, Dutton G, Foreyt JP, Gregg EW, Hazuda HP, Hill JO, Hubbard VS, Jakicic JM, Jeffery RW, Johnson KC, Kahn SE, Knowler WC, Korytkowski M, Lewis CE, Laferrère B, Middelbeek RJ, Munshi MN, Nathan DM, Neiberg RH, Pilla SC, Peters A, Pi-Sunyer FX, Rejeski WJ, Redmon B, Stewart T, Vaughan E, Wagenknecht LE, Walkup MP, Wing RR, Wyatt H, Yanovski SZ, and Zhang P. Changes in mood and health-related quality of life in Look AHEAD six years after termination of the lifestyle intervention. Obesity 2021;29:1294-1308.
• Wadden TA, Bailey TS, Billings LK, Davies M, Frias JP, Koroleva A, Lingvay I, O’Neil PM, Rubino DM, Skovgaard D, Wallenstein SOR, Garvey WT. Effect of subcutaneous semaglutide vs placebo as an adjunct to intensive behavioral therapy on body weight in adults with overweight or obesity: The STEP 3 randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2021;325:1403-1413.
• Wadden TA, Bray GA (eds). Handbook of Obesity Treatment (second edition). New York, NY. Guilford Press, 2018.
• Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, Davies M, Van Gaal L, Lingvay I, McGowan BM, Rosenstock J, Tran MTD, Wadden TA, Wharton S, Yokote K, Zeuthen N, Kushner RF. Once weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med 2021;384:989-1002.

Ariana Chao, Ph.D., CRNP, RN
Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing with Joint Appointment in Medicine, Director of Research, Healthful Eating, Activity & Weight Program
ariana.chao@jhu.edu

Ariana M. Chao, PhD, CRNP, RN is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing with a joint appointment in the School of Medicine. She serves as the Director of Research at the Healthful Eating, Activity and Weight Program at Johns Hopkins where she also practices clinically as an obesity medicine nurse practitioner. She is an adjunct Associate Professor at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and a special volunteer in the Section of Sensory Science, and Metabolism at NIAAA/NIH.

Dr. Chao is internationally recognized for her leadership in obesity treatment. She is dedicated to developing innovative treatments for obesity and obesity-related eating behaviors that improve physical and mental health. Using an interdisciplinary approach, her scholarship focuses on four primary areas. The first is the identification of biobehavioral factors and phenotypes associated with obesity, particularly addictive-like eating, food cravings, and binge eating, and how these influence and change with treatment. The second is the evaluation of behavioral and pharmacological approaches for weight loss and maintenance. The third is the assessment and development of obesity treatment approaches that address social determinants of health and reduce health disparities. The fourth is the evaluation and development of obesity treatment education and training for healthcare providers.

Dr. Chao has published over 100 articles. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health as well as foundation and industry sponsors. Dr. Chao received her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing from Boston College, earned her PhD in nursing science at Yale University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

Recent publications include:

• Chao AM, Paul A, Vaidya N, Ghanta A. A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Produce Prescription Program for Adults With Food Insecurity and Obesity. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2025 Apr 9. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000001215. PMID: 40198763.
• Chao AM, Moore M, Wadden TA. The past, present, and future of behavioral obesity treatment. Int J Obes (Lond). 2025 Feb;49(2):196-205. doi: 10.1038/s41366-024-01525-3. PMID: 38678143; PMCID: PMC11729970.
• Chao AM, Agarwal K, Zhou Y, Grilo CM, Gur RC, Joseph P, Shinohara RT, Richmond TS, Wadden TA. Neural Responses to Auditory Food Stimuli Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Binge-Eating Disorder. Int J Eat Disord. 2024 Sep;57(9):1911-1923. doi: 10.1002/eat.24244. Epub 2024 Jul 2. PMID: 38953334; PMCID: PMC11483217.
• Wadden TA, Kushner RF, Chao AM. Bariatric Surgery Produces Long-Term Benefits in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence Supporting Its Expanded Use and Coverage. JAMA. 2024 Feb 27;331(8):643-645. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.28141. PMID: 38411656.
• Wadden TA, Chao AM, Machineni S, Kushner R, Ard J, Srivastava G, Halpern B, Zhang S, Chen J, Bunck MC, Ahmad NN, Forrester T. Tirzepatide after intensive lifestyle intervention in adults with overweight or obesity: the SURMOUNT-3 phase 3 trial. Nat Med. 2023 Nov;29(11):2909-2918. doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02597-w. Erratum in: Nat Med. 2024 Jun;30(6):1784. doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-02883-1. PMID: 37840095; PMCID: PMC10667099.

Gary D. Foster, Ph.D.
gary.foster@weightwatchers.com

Gary D. Foster, Ph.D., is Adjunct Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently is the Chief Science Officer at WW (formerly Weight Watchers). Dr. Foster, a clinical psychologist and obesity investigator, was previously the Founder and Director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he was the Laura Carnell Professor of Medicine, Public Health and Psychology. Prior to Temple, he was a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine from 1993-2006. He has authored more than 200 scientific publications and three books on the etiology and treatment of obesity. In 2014, Dr. Foster was awarded the George A. Bray Founders Award by The Obesity Society, which recognizes significant contributions to advance the scientific or clinical basis for understanding or treating obesity, and for extensive involvement with the Society.

Dr. Foster's research interests include the prevention, behavioral determinants, treatments, and effects of obesity in adults and children. His current focus is on scalable, evidence-based approaches to obesity management. Dr. Foster earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Duquesne University, an M.S. in Psychology from University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University.

Recent publications include:

• Polonsky, HM, Bauer, KW, Fisher, JO, Davey, A, Sherman, S, Abel, ML, Hanlon, A, Ruth, KJ, Dale, LC, Foster, GD. Effect of a breakfast in the classroom initiative on obesity in urban school-aged children: A cluster randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5531. 2019.
• Foster GD, Linder B, Baranowski T, et al. A school-based intervention for diabetes risk reduction. N Engl J Med 2010;363:443-453.
• Foster GD, Wyatt HR, Hill JO, et al. Weight and metabolic outcomes after 2 years on a low-carbohydrate versus low-fat diet: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2010;1153:147-157.
• Foster GD, Sundal D, McDermott C, et al. Feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a scalable, community-based treatment of childhood obesity. Pediatrics 2012;130:652-659.
• Foster GD, Karpyn A, Wojtanowski AC, et al. Placement and promotion strategies to increase sales of healthier products in supermarkets in low-income, ethnically diverse neighborhoods: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2014;99:1359-1368.

Naji Alamuddin, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St., Suite 3021, Philadelphia, PA 19104
naji.alamuddin@uphs.upenn.edu

Naji Alamuddin, MD, MTR, is an assistant professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Masters in Translational Research from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed an internal medicine residency at Pennsylvania Hospital, and fellowship in diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is board certified in internal medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, and is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Dr. Alamuddin’s research focuses on the treatment of obesity, involving behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical approaches. He is primarily interested in understanding metabolic changes associated with weight loss and bariatric surgery.

Recent publications include:

• Tronieri, JS, Wadden TA, Berkowitz RI, Chao AO, Pearl RL, Alamuddin N, Leonard SM, Carvajal R, Bakizada ZM, Pinkasavage E, Gruber KA, Walsh OA, Alfaris N. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Lorcaserin and Lifestyle Counseling for Maintaining Weight Loss Achieved with a Low-Calorie Diet. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017. In press
• Tronieri JS, Alfaris N, Chao AM, Pearl RL, Alamuddin N, Bakizada ZM, Berkowitz RI, Wadden TA. Lorcaserin plus lifestyle modification for weight loss maintenance: Rationale and design for a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 59:105-112. 2017
• Pearl RL, Wadden TA, Hopkins CM, Shaw JA, Hayes MR, Bakizada ZM, Alfaris N, Chao AM, Pinkasavage E, Berkowitz RI, Alamuddin N. Association Between Weight Bias Internalization and Metabolic Syndrome Among Treatment-Seeking Individuals with Obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 25:317-322, 2017
• Alamuddin N, Vetter ML, Ahima RS, Hesson L, Ritter S, Minnick A, Faulconbridge LF, Allison KC, Sarwer DB, Chittams J, Williams NN, Hayes MR, Loughead JW, Gur R, Wadden TA. Changes in Fasting and Prandial Gut and Adiposity Hormones Following Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y-Gastric Bypass: An 18-month controlled study. Obesity Surgery. 2016
• Chao AM, Shaw JA, Pearl RL, Alamuddin N, Hopkins CM, Bakizada ZM, Berkowitz RI, Wadden TA. Prevalence and psychosocial correlates of food addiction in persons with obesity seeking weight reduction. Compr Psychiatry. 73:97-104, 2016
• Alamuddin N, Bakizada Z, Wadden TA. Management of obesity. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 34:4295-4305, 2016
• Chao AM, Wadden TA, Faulconbridge LF, Sarwer DB, Webb VL, Shaw J, Thomas JG, Hopkins CM, Bakizada ZM, Alamuddin N, Williams NN. Binge eating disorder and the outcome of bariatric surgery in a prospective, observational study: Two year results. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016
• Alamuddin N, Wadden TA. Behavioral treatment of the patient with obesity. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 45:565-80, 2016
• Skarke C, Alamuddin N, Lawson JA, Ferguson JF, Reilly MP, FitzGerald GA. Bioactive products formed in humans from fish oils.  J Lipid Res 56:1808-20, 2015
• Hirankarn S, Barrett JS, Alamuddin N, FitzGerald GA, Skarke C.  CG100649, A Novel Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor, Exhibits a Drug Disposition Profile in Healthy Volunteers Compatible With High Affinity to Carbonic Anhydrase-I/II: Preliminary Dose–Exposure Relationships to Define Clinical Development Strategies. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2:379-86, 2013
• Song WL, Stubbe J, Ricciotti E, Alamuddin N, Ibrahim S, Crichton I, Prempeh M, Lawson JA, Wilensky RL, Rasmussen LM, Puré E, Fitzgerald GA. Niacin and biosynthesis of PGD2 by platelet COX-1 in mice and humans. J Clin Invest 122:1459-68, 2012
• Skarke C, Alamuddin N, Lawson JA, Cen L, Propert KJ, Fitzgerald GA. Comparative Impact on Prostanoid Biosynthesis of Celecoxib and the Novel Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug CG100649. Clin Pharmacol Ther 91:986-93, 2012

Anastassia Amaro, M.D.

Anastassia Amaro, MD is a Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She serves as the Medical Director at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders.

Dr. Amaro is a graduate of Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy in Moscow, Russia. She completed her internal medicine residency training at Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago, IL and fellowship training in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO. Board-certified in both Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine, Dr. Amaro is the founding director of Penn Metabolic Medicine translational center for non-surgical treatment of obesity. Her research interests include different therapeutic approaches to obesity and diabetes. 

Recent publications include:

• Caturano A, Amaro A, Berra CC, Conte C. Sarcopenic obesity and weight loss-induced muscle mass loss. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2025 Apr 23. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000001131. PMID: 40296814.
• Gleason E, Levine L, Lee IT, Koelper N, Amaro A, Dokras A. Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Agonist Medications on Weight Loss in Patients with and Without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2025 Apr 14:S0015-0282(25)00219-5. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2025.04.009. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40239888.
• Wadden TA, Chao AM, Moore M, Tronieri JS, Gilden A, Amaro A, Leonard S, Jakicic JM. The Role of Lifestyle Modification with Second-Generation Anti-obesity Medications: Comparisons, Questions, and Clinical Opportunities. Curr Obes Rep. 2023 Dec;12(4):453-473. doi: 10.1007/s13679-023-00534-zPMID: 38041774; PMCID: PMC10748770.
• Amaro A, Sugimoto D, Wharton S. Efficacy and safety of semaglutide for weight management: evidence from the STEP program. Postgrad Med. 2022 Jan;134(sup1):5-17. doi: 10.1080/00325481.2022.2147326. PMID: 36691309.
• Amaro A, Kaplan M, Massie DC. Managed care considerations of weight management interventions for obesity. Am J Manag Care. 2022 Dec;28(15 Suppl):S307-S318. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2022.89294. PMID: 36525678.

Chanelle T. Bishop-Gilyard, PsyD, MS
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St., Suite 3021, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309
chaneltb@mail.med.upenn.edu
(215) 746-7180

Chanelle T. Bishop-Gilyard, Psy.D. is an Instructor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Health Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University. Dr. Bishop-Gilyard also received her M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from LaSalle University. She completed a clinical internship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC)inpediatric and child clinical psychology. Dr. Bishop-Gilyard completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric obesity at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Bishop-Gilyard has expertise in pediatric obesity. Her research interests include obesity-related health disparities including ethnic differences in weight loss. She is also interested in innovative treatment approaches to weight loss induction and maintenance. She has worked on several federally-funded obesity projects gaining experience in behavioral health assessments, and the development and implementation of adolescent obesity treatments (i.e. family-based lifestyle modification programs, meal replacements, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery). She has experience in tailoring lifestyle modification programs for health disparity populations (i.e. urban African-American, Latino, and rural Caucasian youth). In addition, she has collaborated with primary care centers and trained multidisciplinary providers (i.e. physicians, nurses, dietitians, therapists) in the assessment and treatment of pediatric obesity. Currently, she is an interventionist for the NIH funded LookAHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial, in which she conducts individual and group weight loss treatment in adults with diabetes. She also provides pre-operative psychological evaluations for bariatric surgery candidates and continues to conduct evaluations and treatment for adolescents who are overweight.  She also supervises practicum students who provide behavioral weight management.

Dr. Bishop-Gilyard is a member of the Obesity Society and the Society of Pediatric Psychology.  In addition to presenting her work at professional meetings, she has also published in peer-reviewed journals.

Recent Publications include:

• Butryn ML, Wadden TA, Rukstalis MR, Bishop-Gilyard CT, Xanthopoulos MS, Louden D, Berkowitz RI. Maintenance of weight loss in adolescents: current status and future directions. J Obes 2010 (in press).
• Berkowitz RI, Wadden TA, Gehrman CA, Bishop-Gilyard CT, Moore RH, Womble L, Cronquist JL, Katz L, Trumpikas N, Xanthopoulos MS. Meal replacements in the treatment of adolescent obesity: A randomized controlled trial. Obesity 2010 (in press).
• Bishop-Gilyard CT, Berkowitz RI, Wadden TA, Gehrman CA, Cronquist JL, Moore RH. Weight reduction in obese adolescents with and without binge eating. Obesity(advance online publication, 14 October 2010 (DOI:10.1038/oby.2010.249).
• Ratcliff M, Bishop-Gilyard CT, Reiter-Purtill J, Zeller M. Racial differences in obese youth’s perception  of healthcare and weight loss. Clin Pediatr (advance online publication, 19 August 2010 (DOI: 10.1177/0009922810374976).
• Mitchell MJ, Carpenter GJO, Crosby LE, Bishop CT, Hines J, Noll, J. Growth status in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2009;26:202-15.

Sharon Leonard, RD

Sharon Leonard has been a Registered Dietitian at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders (CWED) for nearly 20 years.  She received a B.S. in Food Science and Dietetics at Drexel University.

Sharon has conducted individualized and group weight loss counseling for grant and industry trials at CWED utilizing medication, behavioral, and dietary interventions.  She has also provided nutrition assessments and counseling for Executive Health clients at Perelman.  Her interests include helping patients identify the unique patterns and circumstances related to their food and nutrition behaviors in order to develop a practical and personalized meal plan that is consistent with their health goals.

Recent publications include:

• Wadden TA, Chao AM, Moore M, Tronieri JS, Gilden A, Amaro A, Leonard S, Jakicic JM. The Role of Lifestyle Modification with Second-Generation Anti-obesity Medications: Comparisons, Questions, and Clinical Opportunities. Curr Obes Rep. 2023 Dec;12(4):453-473. doi: 10.1007/s13679-023-00534-z. PMID: 38041774; PMCID: PMC10748770.
• Pearl RL, Wadden TA, Bach C, LaFata EM, Gautam S, Leonard S, Berkowitz RI, Latner JD, Jakicic JM. Long-term effects of an internalized weight stigma intervention: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2023 Jul;91(7):398-410. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000819. PMID: 37155264.
• Pearl RL, Wadden TA, Bach C, Gruber K, Leonard S, Walsh OA, Tronieri JS, Berkowitz RI.  Effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention targeting weight stigma: A randomized controlled trial.  J Consult Clin Psychol. 2020 May;88 (5):470-480.
• Tronieri JS, Wadden TA, WalshO, Berkowitz RI, Alamuddin N, Gruber K, Leonard S, Bakizada ZM, Chao AM.  Effects of liraglutide on appetite, food preoccupation, and food liking: results of a randomized controlled trial. Int J Obes (Lond). 2020 Feb;44(2):353-361.
• Tronieri JS, Wadden TA, Walsh OA, Berkowitz RI, Alamuddin N, Gruber K, Leonard S, Chao AM.  Effects of liraglutide plus phentermine in adults with obesity following 1 year of treatment by liraglutide alone: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial. Metabolism. 2019 Jul;96:83-91.

Natasha Robinson-Link, Ph.D.
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St., Suite 3023, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309
Natasha.Robinson-link@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 746-7184

Natasha Robinson-Link, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders (CWED). She received her B.A. from Tufts University and her Ph.D. in clinical-community psychology from University of Maryland Baltimore County. Dr. Robinson-Link completed her clinical internship at Bedford Veterans Affairs Hospital in Bedford, MA followed by her postdoctoral fellowship at the Boston Veterans Affairs Hospital.

Dr. Robinson-Link provides individual therapy for eating disorders and weight-related conditions. She also conducts psychological evaluations of patients seeking bariatric surgery through the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Dr. Robinson-Link uses an integrative approach to care, drawing most heavily on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and self-compassion-based mindfulness approaches. At CWED, Dr. Robinson-Link also directs the practicum program and supervises pre-doctoral interns and practicum students.

Jena Shaw Tronieri, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St., Suite 3025, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309
jena.tronieri@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 898-7314

Jena Shaw Tronieri, Ph.D.  is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of Clinical Services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. She received her B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Drexel University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Geisinger Medical Center.

Dr. Tronieri's research focuses on identifying individual predictors of weight loss success and improving weight loss treatment outcomes for patients with obesity. She is also interested in evaluating acceptance-based treatments for weight and eating disorders. Dr. Tronieri is currently involved in studies examining predictors of bariatric surgery outcomes and clinical trials evaluating behavioral and pharmaceutical treatments for weight loss and for binge eating disorder.

In her clinical work, Dr. Tronieri provides behavioral weight control therapy in both individual and groups settings. She uses evidence-based treatments, including cognitive therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, to treat patients with eating disorders and patients seeking weight loss who have comorbid anxiety or depression. She also serves as a supervisor to practicum students at CWED engaged in the treatment of these populations.

Recent publications include:

• Tronieri JS, Wadden TA, Walsh O, Berkowitz RI, Alamuddin N, Gruber K, Leonard S, Bakizada ZM, Chao AM. Effects of liraglutide on appetite, food preoccupation, and food liking: results of a randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Obesity. 2019 Mar 29:1. DOI: 10.1038/s41366-019-0348-6
• Tronieri JS, Wadden TA, Walsh OA, Berkowitz RI, Alamuddin N, Gruber K, Leonard S, Chao AM. Effects of liraglutide plus phentermine in adults with obesity following 1 year of treatment by liraglutide alone: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial. Metabolism. 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2019.03.005
• Tronieri JS, Wadden TA, Leonard SM, Berkowitz RI. A pilot study of acceptance-based behavioural weight loss for adolescents with obesity. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies. 2019. DOI: 10.1017/S1352465819000262
• Tronieri JS, Wadden TA, Chao AM, Pearl RL, Alamuddin N, Berkowitz RI. Early Weight Loss in Behavioral Treatment Predicts Later Rate of Weight Loss and Response to Pharmacotherapy. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2018;53(3):290-5. DOI: 10.1093/abm/kay036
• Wadden TA, Tronieri JS, Butryn ML: Lifestyle modification approaches for the treatment of obesity in adults. American Psychologist 75(2): 235-251, Feb 2020 Notes: DOI: 10.1037/amp0000517.