Iowa Weight Loss Specialist Team Member Receives High Honor

Our very own Advance Registered Nurse Practitioner, Alissa Kruger recently graduated from the Obesity Medicine Association^® (OMA^®) Advanced Curriculum Fellowship Program. Kruger completed the program in less than one year.  She is the only provider in Iowa to have completed this program and the only Nurse Practitioner in the United States to achieve this honor. She assists patients in both our surgical and non-surgical weight loss programs at our West Des Moines location.

“What I love about my role is helping each patient create a specific and unique plan tailored to their needs to achieve a healthier life,” Kruger states. “I am honored to help every patient take a leap of faith and begin the weight loss journey no matter what their goals are or where they are starting.”

Kruger received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a Master of Science in Nursing from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City.

The OMA Advanced Curriculum Fellowship Program prepares healthcare providers to better treat patients affected by obesity and its associated conditions through completion of 500 hours of obesity-specific continuing medical education over a three-year period. These education sessions include, among other topics, diet and nutrition; behavior modification techniques; exercise prescription; pharmacotherapy; and pathophysiology of glucose intolerance, metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly 36 percent of U.S. adults and 17 percent of youth are affected by obesity. Obesity increases the risk of having heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, the leading causes of preventable death in the United States.

“In our own state, the prevalence of adult obesity is over 30%.” said Kruger. “I am interested in being part of the solution to this medical epidemic by locally helping patients affected by obesity who seek access to safe evidence-based medical treatment options.”

The Obesity Medicine Association (www.obesitymedicine.org) is the leading association for clinical physicians and other providers dedicated to the comprehensive medical treatment of patients affected by obesity and associated conditions. OMA holds one of the few obesity-focused medical specialty society seats in the AMA House of Delegates. Many OMA-member physicians also hold certification from the American Board of Obesity Medicine. In 2013, OMA released the first-ever Obesity Algorithm® charts, available for download at www.ObesityAlgorithm.org. Individuals can search for obesity medicine clinicians in their own area at www.FindObesityTreatment.org.